By: Sports Headline
Since boxing is an aggressive sport, which continuously develops states of high risk, much more importance has to be given to the safety concern of an athlete. Protection gear in headgear protection is considered a must in saving boxers from injuries, particularly severe head trauma. However, innovation within headgear in boxing is minimal. Many designs simply copied the older model and sacrificed comfort, mobility, or probably even safety for the sake of tradition. Here, Hit N Move steps onto the scene, guided by its visionary founder, Ozhan Akcakaya.
Hit N Move came into boxing with the fierce determination to change things and thus began a three-year journey of creating headgear that was protective, yet without the cumbersome bulk and weight from conventionally designed headgear. The ambitious journey culminated in a groundbreaking collaboration with Virginia Tech University, considered one of the respected institutions for testing sports equipment, which further helped validate and improve the Precision headgear from Hit N Move. Together, they established a new benchmark in the safety of boxing by incorporating advanced technology, rigorous testing, and fresh design philosophy.
Problem Identification: The Need for Better Headgear
Three years ago, Ozhan Akcakaya, a pro-amateur boxer and an orthopedic industry professional, identified a huge hole in the design of boxing headgear. The current models were bulky and heavy, thus limiting the freedom of movement and field of view for a boxer during a match. Therefore, most boxers, Akcakaya included, were used to sparring without headgear, knowing full well the risks this involved.
Over time, Akcakaya realized that the industry was due for a change. He didn’t want to just modify current designs; instead, he wanted something totally new, a headgear that would offer protection to athletes and also improve their performance. This is the point when Hit N Move began its quest to design a more advanced and scientifically proven headgear, specifically designed to eliminate all the defects of existing headgear.
The Grueling Three-year Journey of Development.
Approaching the development of Hit N Move’s Precision headgear was no easy task. The design course took three years, with more than 20 prototypes tried and modified to achieve that just-right balance between protection, comfort, and mobility. Concerning areas included the cheeks, chin, temple, and back of the head-all critical points that often took the brunt of impacts in the ring.
It was one of those challenges to reduce weight and bulk in the headgear without compromising on protection. Traditional designs sometimes confuse bulk with protection, but that’s a perspective that ties the mobility and peripheral vision of the boxer-two of his valuable components of defense. Akcakaya aimed to eliminate these barriers with the intention of designing headgear which would allow boxers to perform at their highest levels while remaining protected.
A Game-Changing Collaboration from Virginia Tech
Hit N Move, recognizing this need for scientific validation, partnered with Virginia Tech University, one of the prestigious testing facilities for sports equipment and particularly noted for its football helmet work. Together they drew from vast experience and established the first standardized testing protocol for boxing headgear. It was a monumental first for the sport, which previously had not enjoyed standardized methods of safety testing of headgear.
These tests were done by producing impact forces through a pendulum system at various levels of energy input. The researchers, in this study, tested a number of headgear models: several popular Japanese and Mexican and USA Boxing headgears, as well as Hit N Move’s prototypes. Each headgear was given repeated tests across the cheeks, chin, temple, and back of the head.
Results were astonishing: Hit N Move’s Precision headgear, while 5 ounces lighter and slimmer compared to traditional Japanese models, performed comparably in every category tested. This was major validation for Akcakaya’s design philosophy: headgear can be lightweight yet protective without the need for superfluous padding.
Revolutionary Results and Positive Community Feedback
The study by Virginia Tech showed that headgear does significantly reduce the risk of concussion compared to an uncovered state. To the boxing world, this was an important finding that solidified the headgear’s integral place in sparring; however, for the Precision headgear, the thing that really set it apart was its unprecedented ability to offer the same great protection as the cumbersome versions, yet streamline mobility and visibility of their wearers.
Along with exhaustive scientific testing, the headgear was used in blind tests in several boxing gyms, including the renowned Upton Boxing Gym in Baltimore, home base for sensational Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. Boxers and coaches at the gyms gave glowing reviews of the comfort, lightness, and freedom of movement the headgear allowed. Many said it’s like they are not wearing headgear-a real living testament to innovative design by Hit N Move.
The Future of Boxing Gear
The collaboration of Hit N Move with Virginia Tech thus set a new standard in boxing safety. The Precision headgear is a far cry from a trivial box product; it’s an innovative game-changer aiming not only to heighten the safety of the sport but also to elevate athletic performance. First headgear to be tested under standardized testing designed to be specific to boxing, it has already created ripples within the community-a shift toward scientifically verified and more athlete-oriented protective gear.
This is only the beginning for Ozhan Akcakaya and his team. As Hit N Move goes into further development, it will be leading in the advance of boxing equipment while making sure safety and performance for the athletes all over the world go hand in hand.
Published by: Martin De Juan
