I'm a big proponent for punching to the neck (or elbowing), right at the carotid sinus or brachial nerve. I have had great success with it for many years. Both in training, competition and real world encounters. My strikes tend to drift higher, rather than lower (if they drift) and that usually gives me the jaw when I hit higher than I aimed. I've knocked out more folks, or put them on queer street, with a neck shot than with a jaw shot. But there's many of both.
We actively train this. I have my guys familiarize themselves with this by self examination in their mirror at home - every time they shave or clean up. Two fingers held together - poke yourself in the carotid. It will take a few pokes, but you'll find it. After repeated practice with this you'll find it first time, every time. Then you start looking at the carotid when you speak with someone. Not the whole time, obviously, but you do it every time you face someone - or observe them from the side. It becomes a fighter's habit, a subconscious thing that nobody notices. Pays off, too, or at least that's been our experience.
I know all of that may sound odd, but it works quite well. I also trained my officers like that in DT because brachial stuns/strikes were big back in the day. Not sure if they still are.
However, I have never done a neck strike to a downed person, or attempted it as part of ground and pound, so I have absolutely no idea if it's viable in those case or even advisable. But it sure works sweet in stand up.
I don't want to give the wrong impression here, we don't spar each other trying to knock each other out. Not at all. But some of the guys who are well seasoned tend to go a little harder with each other, especially in ring training at times. (Ammonia capsules always at the ready)
As for the RNC. It just don't get any better than that, it just don't. I don't care how strong, how crazy or what kind of drugs they have raging through their system, when it's nap time.....everybody goes to sleep. Right quick, too.
