The dreaded Big guy headlock...

[ITRDC5]

Hi guys,

I've been doing bjj for around 1.5 years and like to think im getting a bit better at it.

However a new big guy came in last night and got me in a "headlock" on the ground, kinda like head and arm control. I couldn't do anything, barely breath aswell it was just so terrible.

Can anyone advise on some good escapes from this?

His stiff arm when I pass his guard was very strong aswell so any additional tips on that is welcome.

Cheers

 

[Jonas g33k]

Stephen Kesting from grapplers dot com can help you

 

[Lenny7]

One of the first things he says in the video is headlock escapes are a good way to get cauliflower ear. Very true. There have been times were I had to look to make sure my ear wasn't torn off and laying on the mat.

 

[Rich959]

What kind of size/weight disparity you dealing with?

 

[DVD review guy]

The only thing I learn from the Gracie Academy that I can still use today. Escaping headlocks is a great way to convert people to BJJ. It promotes most of the basic fundamentals, leverage, angles, technique beats strength.

Do schools still teach it?

 

[Ice 9 Cobra]

Stiff arm on the hips, just turn your hips inwards. It'll wrist lock em and they'll let up

 

[Nozza]

Stiff arm on the hips, just turn your hips inwards. It'll wrist lock em and they'll let up

I don't get it? How does an arm on their hips form a wrist lock?

 

[Ice 9 Cobra]

Because your hips are stronger than their wrists and twisting inward will collapse the wrist making them let go because it hurts

 

[PolishHeadlock]

No one escapes my headlock.

 

[trn450]

There are several escapes from the kesa headlock, and IME, you really should get good at all of them because a small change in body position can turn an effective escape into an ineffective one. I'd also say you should probably just find someone in your gym who is experience in this, because there are a lot of little nuances that would probably make learning from internet videos very difficult.

The hardest one to escape IMO is the modified kesa where the outside arm of the attacker is in the underhook position.

 

[Town Biz]

Because your hips are stronger than their wrists and twisting inward will collapse the wrist making them let go because it hurts

I still can't picture it.

 

[TheHereticJay]

No one escapes my headlock.

These are American headlocks. Not quite as strong as a Polish headlock.

And to answer your question... I don't. Unless they have 100lbs on me, a headlock won't do anything but irritate me... and when they get tired of holding on to my head seeing it's not doing anything. I get to have my fun.

 

[Cachimbo]

When some brute gets me in a headlock, and I mean a literal headlock where they're trying to pop my head like a grape, I usually relax and wait it out. I've learned that trying to escape will bust my ears and face, and if you're lawyering the last thing a client wants to see is half of your cheeks torn off by gi-burn.

Sometimes I'll even tap if the guy is creating friction on purpose and then proceed to stop taking it easy since it's usually the newer guys doing this. If it's the occasional evil blue belt I'll just not let them get it on me again. The same goes for guillotines, as I've had dudes cut up my entire lower lip on my own bottom teeth.

As far as actually escaping the headlock, the old school framing of the jaw/neck is my favorite way to do it. When it's a Kesa you have to go for the different series of escapes, as someone above me mentioned.

 

[Ice 9 Cobra]

I still can't picture it.

You're probably already doing it to beat the stiff arm Maybe I shouldn't have called it a wrist lock because it isn't really a submission it just creates the same pressure to beat the hand.

 

[Title Fight Productions]

There are many escapes to be honest.

Just off the top of my head......

1. Hip out, push on face, leg over his face and push him down.
2. Turn toward him hip to hip, belly to back, hook his leg and escape out the back.
3. Turn toward him hip to hip, belly to back, hugging him. if he runs away from you attempting to hook the leg, run your hips after him then abruptly stop chasing, turn your hips the other way bridge and roll.
4. Place your non stuck hand in the back of his neck, pull your trapped arms elbow onto the mat, hip out slightly and simultaneously pull your trapped arm while shoving his head straight down into the mat while switching your hips and coming up onto all fours.

 

[The Thrill]

I still can't picture it.

hes referring to someone stiff-arming you when youre passing their guard,the 2nd part of OPs question,not the headlock escape

 

[Funkoar]

The only thing I learn from the Gracie Academy that I can still use today. Escaping headlocks is a great way to convert people to BJJ. It promotes most of the basic fundamentals, leverage, angles, technique beats strength.

Do schools still teach it?

The academy I'm at does. The old school yard headlock comes up a lot in scuffles and street fights.

I'm not sure about other schools, but at mine we learn bjj from self defence AND sport aspects.