Defense against Headlock from Behind

This position refers to a hold in which the attacker is on his back placing a bar arm or carotid hold on the defender. The attacker will also generally have his heels hooked into the defender’s legs. Note how principles and movements from the standing headlock apply on the ground as well.

Starting Position: Attacker is on his back, with defender face up in attacker’s guard.

As the attacker begins the head lock, turn your chin away from the attacking side to relieve the pressure of the choke. Send both hands up and backward to pluck at the attacker’s joined hands.

With your feet, drive your shoulders up and back toward the attacker’s shoulder on the holding side (i.e., if his right arm is around your throat, drive up toward his right shoulder). Continue driving until your head and/or shoulders touch the floor on that side. Shift your hips to the side. Your goal is to get your hips and rear flat to the floor—even if this means lying on top of his leg. At this point, the headlock is gone.

Turn sharply inward; you will most likely end up on top in the attacker’s guard or side mount.

Follow up with counterattacks.

Tips: Because of the ground position, reaching your hands up and back will probably have less effect on the attacker than the standing version. Your goal is relieve some pressure.

Takedowns Takedown #1: Simple Takedown

This is a simple takedown that relies very little on technique.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance, facing the attacker.

Get in close, drop low, and wrap your arms around your opponent’s legs, with your head and/or shoulder in his stomach. Your arms may be clasped, or you can hook one hand around each of his legs.

Pull his legs in toward you and left slightly; at the same time, use your legs to drive your weight into his stomach.

If you wish to continue the attack on the ground, immediately move upward onto his body and continue to attack; you may also try to disengage and stand up while he is still on the ground.

Tips: This simple takedown is more easily defended by the opponent. He can sprawl or simply push down on your head to stop your forward progress. However, it’s a good, generally effective takedown against a non-expert opponent.

Takedown #2: Double-Leg Takedown

This takedown is still simple but requires a little more technique. In this example, we are moving slightly to the attacker’s right side.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance, facing the attacker.

Drop low and shoot in quickly, wrapping your arms around your opponent’s legs; you must get your hips in close with your feet underneath you. Keep your hands up as you approach to guard against a knee to the face. Your head may be to the outside of his right hip (see note below).

With your hips underneath you, use your legs to lift the attacker slightly off the ground (he doesn’t have to go high; just get his feet off the floor). Use your arms to sweep his legs to your left; at the same time, use your head to push or steer his upper body to your right.

As the attacker goes to the floor, you should find yourself in a side mount position.

Tips: It is very important to get your hips close to the attacker and under your shoulders with your chest up. This makes it difficult for the attacker to defend by pushing your head down or counterattack with a guillotine choke.