View source for Rabbit punch

{{Short description|Blow to the back of the head or base of the skull, considered illegal in combat sports}}
{{About|the illegal boxing move|the 1948 cartoon|Rabbit Punch|the video game|Rabio Lepus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{wikitionary}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox martial art form
| name          = Rabbit Punch
| other_names   = 
| image         = Rickson vs Zulu 1.jpg
| imagesize     = 
| caption       = A depiction of a rabbit punch, an illegal strike to the back of the head.
| martial_art   = Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
| origin        = 
| creator       = 
| creation_date = 
}}

A '''rabbit punch''' is a [[punch (strike)|blow]] delivered to the back of the head or to the base of the [[skull]], notorious for its potential to cause severe and irreversible injuries, including spinal cord injury or even instant death.

==Etymology==
The term "rabbit punch" dates back to the early 20th century,<ref>{{cite web |title=Rabbit punch |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabbit%20punch |website=Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary |publisher=Merriam-Webster |access-date=26 February 2023}}</ref> which derives from a hunting technique where a quick, sharp strike to the back of a rabbit's head was used to ensure a swift kill without damaging the fur, considered a humane method for killing injured or trapped rabbits.<ref>{{cite web |last=Langer |first=Richard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040501011125/http://www.motherearthnews.com/menarch/archive/issues/015/015-018-01.htm |title=Extract from "Grow it!" |website=www.motherearthnews.com |url=http://www.motherearthnews.com/menarch/archive/issues/015/015-018-01.htm |archive-date=2004-05-01}}</ref>

==Legality and risks==
Rabbit punches are illegal across all major [[combat sports]], including [[boxing]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/15/sports/othersports/15boxing.html?ref=hasimrahman |title=Lots of Fighting, but Little Resolution for Boxing's Heavyweights |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |first=Clifton |last=Brown |date=November 15, 2004}}</ref> [[Mixed martial arts|MMA]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.gov/lps/sacb/docs/martial.html |title=NJ State Athletic Control Board – Proposed Rules – Rules Governing Boxing, Extreme Wrestling and Sparring Exhibitions and Performance Bond Procedure |publisher=Nj.gov |access-date=2013-07-21}}</ref> and other combat sports<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usmta.com/PDF-Files/USMTA-Briefing.pdf |title=USMTA Briefing on Muay Thai Rules for Competitive Fighters, 2006 – 2010 Edition|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531010835/http://www.usmta.com/PDF-Files/USMTA-Briefing.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-31 }}</ref> that involve [[strike (attack)|striking]] due to the significant risk they pose to the spinal cord and brain stem. Such strikes can lead to catastrophic injuries, including paralysis, severe brain damage, or death, due to the vulnerability of the back of the head and neck area. The only exceptions are no-holds-barred events such as the [[International Vale Tudo Championship]] (prior to rule changes in mid-2012).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/380296 |title=Sergio Batarelli's IVC to return – Mixed Martial Arts News |publisher=Mixedmartialarts.com |access-date=2013-07-21}}</ref>

==Notable incidents==
Several high-profile incidents have underscored the dangers of rabbit punches:
* On 17 October 2015, [[Prichard Colón]], a well known boxer, was rabbit punched on the back of the head multiple times by his opponent, Terrel Williams, during a boxing match in the United States. During the match, Colón experienced dizziness as a result of the illegal punches. After the match ended, Colón began to tremble from his legs and started to vomit. He was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with brain bleeding and underwent surgery. He was in a coma for 221 days (7 months, 1 week) until he was transferred to his mother's house. As a result of the injuries he sustained, Colón fell into a [[persistent vegetative state]] where he no longer could move or talk. As of July 2021, 6 years after the fight, Colón is making more progress and is getting treatment for his condition, but is still expected to remain in a vegetative state.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefocus.news/lifestyle/prichard-colon-2021/ |title=Where is Prichard Colon in 2021? Will the former boxer recover? |last=McManus |first=Leigh |date={{date|August 2021}} |website=The Focus |publisher=GRV Media Ltd |access-date={{date|14 May 2022}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912123830/https://www.thefocus.news/lifestyle/prichard-colon-2021/ |archive-date={{date|12 September 2021}}}}</ref>
* Francisco Leal died from severe brain and brain stem damage in 2013 after a match with Raul Hirales, where a rabbit punch was involved.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-23 |title=Boxer Dies 3 Days After Knockout |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/boxer-francisco-frankie-dead-knock-out_n_4150429 |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref>

* On 29 June 2014, [[soccer]] referee [[Northern Guard Supporters#John Bieniewicz Fundraising|John Bieniewicz]] was punched in the neck by Baseel Abdul Amir Saad, an upset player in an amateur match he was officiating in [[Livonia, Michigan]], a suburb of [[Detroit]]. Bieniewicz died two days later of his injuries, and Saad was charged with [[second-degree murder]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-accused-of-murder-in-michigan-referee-death-due-in-court/ |title=Man accused of fatally punching Mich. referee due in court |date= July 30, 2014 |publisher= [[Associated Press]] |access-date= August 4, 2014}}</ref> Bieniewicz's [[autopsy]] showed that the force of the impact on the left side of his neck just below the base of his skull had resulted in a rare injury with twisted and torn [[arteries]] around the base of his skull, knocking him out before he hit the ground. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.freep.com/article/20140731/NEWS02/307310121 |title=Judge: Man should've known punch could kill soccer ref |date= July 31, 2014 |newspaper= [[Detroit Free Press]] |access-date= November 17, 2014}}</ref> In 2015, Saad pleaded guilty to [[manslaughter]] and received a sentence of 8 to 15 years in prison.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bassel Saad, Soccer Player, Sentenced in Killing of Referee |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/soccer-player-bassel-saad-sentenced-8-15-years-prison-killing-n323066 |access-date=24 December 2018 |work=NBC Nightly News |agency=NBC News |date=March 13, 2015}}</ref>

* Lin Yu-Ting Incident ([[2024 Summer Olympics]]). On 8 August 2024, during the women's featherweight semifinal at the Paris Olympics, [[Taiwanese people|Taiwanese]] [[Boxer (boxing)|boxer]] [[Lin Yu Ting| Lin Yu-ting]] was involved in a controversy for allegedly using a rabbit punch against [[Turkey|Turkish]] opponent [[Esra Yildiz Kahraman]]. Lin reportedly struck Kahraman in the back of the head repeatedly while Kahraman was turned and on the ropes, an action viewed by some as a clear rabbit punch.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gbnews.com/sport/olympics/lin-yu-ting-heavily-booed-and-accused-of-illegal-punch-as-olympic-boxing-row-rages-on |title=Lin Yu-ting heavily booed and accused of 'illegal punch' as Olympic boxing row rages on |date=August 8, 2024 |publisher=GB News |access-date= August 8, 2024}}</ref>

==Penalties and enforcement==

{{Expand section|reason=This section needs additional details on the specific rules and regulations governing the penalties for rabbit punches across different combat sports organisations.|date=February 2024}}
In boxing, the referee may warn against using the blow, deduct points for continuous violations, or disqualify the fighter completely and stop the fight.

==See also==

* [[Donkey punch]]
* [[Whiplash (medicine)|Whiplash injury]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Boxing}}
{{Mixed martial arts}}

[[Category:Boxing terminology]]
[[Category:Kickboxing terminology]]
[[Category:Punches (combat)]]
[[Category:Violence in sports]]
[[Category:Banned sports tactics]]
[[Category:Skull]]
[[Category:Rabbits]]