BJJ Graph

Front Headlock

Dec 09, 20259 min read

The front headlock is one of the most dominant control positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, occurring when you secure your opponent’s head and neck while they are bent forward, typically on their hands and knees or in a compromised standing position. This position represents a critical junction point in grappling where numerous high-percentage submissions and positional advancements become available.

The front headlock’s strategic value lies in its ability to control an opponent’s posture while simultaneously threatening multiple submission systems. From this position, you can attack with guillotine chokes, anaconda chokes, darce chokes, or transition to back control. The position naturally occurs during scrambles, failed takedown attempts, turtle position attacks, and guard passing sequences.

The mechanics of front headlock control revolve around maintaining downward pressure on your opponent’s head while controlling their far shoulder or arm. Your chest weight drives into their upper back, preventing them from standing up or improving their position. This creates a dilemma: if they stay static, you can work your submissions; if they try to escape, you can transition to back control or other dominant positions.

Historically, the front headlock has evolved from wrestling into one of modern BJJ’s most sophisticated control systems. Coaches like John Danaher have systematized the position into comprehensive attack sequences, while competitors like Gordon Ryan and Garry Tonon have demonstrated its effectiveness at the highest levels of competition. The position is equally effective in gi and no-gi contexts, though the specific grips and submission mechanics vary slightly.

The front headlock represents the intersection of positional control and submission threat. Unlike positions where you must choose between maintaining control and hunting for submissions, the front headlock allows you to do both simultaneously. Your control mechanics naturally set up your submission attacks, and your submission threats reinforce your positional control. This synergy makes it one of the highest-percentage positions in all of grappling.

Understanding the front headlock requires recognizing its role as a transitional control position rather than a static holding position. You’re constantly reading your opponent’s defensive responses and adapting your attacks accordingly. If they turtle tight, you work your chokes. If they try to stand, you can guillotine. If they roll, you take the back. This dynamic nature requires both technical precision and tactical awareness.

Key Principles

  • Front headlock is a dynamic control position, not a resting position - constantly threaten submissions or transitions

  • Chest pressure drives down into opponent’s upper back, preventing postural recovery and creating submission opportunities

  • Control the far shoulder or arm to prevent opponent from rolling away or standing up

  • Hip position determines submission availability - stay high and tight for chokes, can extend for certain finishes

  • Head control alone is insufficient - must combine with shoulder/arm control and proper weight distribution

  • Create submission dilemmas where defensive movements open alternative attacks

  • Maintain connection between your chest and opponent’s back to prevent space creation

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeDefensiveOffensive/Controlling
Risk LevelHighLow to Medium
Energy CostHighMedium
TimeShortMedium

Key Difference: Bent-over control with submission versatility

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Chin protection is paramount - keep chin tucked to chest at all times to prevent neck extension and submission

  • Never stay static in front headlock bottom - must constantly work to improve position while maintaining defensive frames

  • Hand fight to control opponent’s choking arm at the wrist or elbow, limiting their ability to tighten chokes

  • Create space by posting hands on opponent’s hips or thighs, then circle away from their pressure

  • Stand up whenever possible - getting to feet removes many submission options and equalizes position

  • If opponent commits heavily to one submission, use their commitment to escape the opposite direction

  • Roll through aggressively if opponent overcommits forward - can result in reversal or guard recovery

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Lifting head up or extending neck while attempting to escape

    • Consequence: Immediately exposes neck to guillotine, anaconda, or darce choke finish
    • ✅ Correction: Keep chin permanently tucked to chest throughout entire escape sequence, only lifting head after completely clearing opponent’s control

  • ❌ Staying static on hands and knees hoping opponent will give up position

    • Consequence: Allows opponent time to perfect their grip and weight distribution, making eventual submission inevitable
    • ✅ Correction: Constantly move and change levels - work to stand, circle, or roll through - never remain stationary

  • ❌ Using both hands to push on opponent’s hips or body without controlling choking arm

    • Consequence: Opponent has free access to lock up guillotine, anaconda, or darce without interference
    • ✅ Correction: Always keep one hand fighting opponent’s choking arm at wrist or elbow while other hand frames or posts

  • ❌ Attempting to pull head straight back out of opponent’s control

    • Consequence: Plays directly into opponent’s pulling force, tightening choke and wasting energy ineffectively
    • ✅ Correction: Escape perpendicular to opponent’s force by circling to sides or rolling forward, never pulling straight back

  • ❌ Flattening completely to mat in turtle with opponent on top

    • Consequence: Eliminates all mobility and escape options while giving opponent stable platform to finish chokes or take back
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain space between chest and mat even under heavy pressure - keep knees under hips ready to move

  • ❌ Panicking and making large explosive movements without technical foundation

    • Consequence: Burns energy rapidly while creating openings for opponent to tighten choke or advance position
    • ✅ Correction: Stay calm and systematic - secure defensive frames first, then make measured technical escapes

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Front headlock is a dynamic attacking position - constantly threaten submissions or transitions, never simply hold

  • Chest pressure into opponent’s upper back prevents them from standing or improving posture

  • Control the far shoulder or arm to prevent rolling escapes and set up arm-in submissions

  • Hip position determines submission type - high and tight for guillotine, can shift for anaconda/darce

  • Create submission dilemmas where defensive movements open alternative attacks

  • Maintain connection between your chest and opponent’s back - space allows escapes

  • Read opponent’s weight distribution and defensive reactions to determine optimal attack

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Holding static front headlock without threatening submissions or transitions

    • Consequence: Allows opponent time to establish defensive frames, improve posture, and eventually escape
    • ✅ Correction: Constantly attack with submissions or position changes - front headlock should feel oppressive to opponent with threats coming continuously

  • ❌ Controlling only the head without securing far shoulder or arm

    • Consequence: Opponent can easily roll away or circle out since their body is free to rotate
    • ✅ Correction: Always control far shoulder with your non-choking hand, creating cage around opponent’s upper body

  • ❌ Chest position too high or weight too far back from opponent

    • Consequence: Opponent can easily stand up or improve posture since no downward pressure prevents them
    • ✅ Correction: Drive chest weight directly down into opponent’s upper back, keeping hips low and forward

  • ❌ Committing fully to one submission without reading opponent’s defensive reactions

    • Consequence: Opponent escapes while you’re focused on single attack that isn’t available
    • ✅ Correction: Stay sensitive to opponent’s movements and weight shifts - adapt your attack based on their defense

  • ❌ Gripping too tight with arms instead of using body weight for control

    • Consequence: Arms fatigue quickly, grip weakens, and opponent escapes as your control deteriorates
    • ✅ Correction: Use body positioning and chest pressure for control, reserving arm strength for finishing submissions

  • ❌ Allowing space to develop between your chest and opponent’s back

    • Consequence: Space allows opponent to shrimp away, turn their body, or stand up effectively
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant pressure and connection - follow opponent’s movements to prevent space creation

  • ❌ Failing to sprawl hips back when setting up arm-in chokes

    • Consequence: Opponent can roll through or forward, escaping control and potentially reversing position
    • ✅ Correction: As you lock anaconda or darce grip, immediately sprawl hips back and to the side to prevent rolls

  • Turtle - Primary entry position - front headlock typically secured when opponent turtles defensively

  • Guillotine Control - Direct submission transition - front headlock converts to guillotine when opponent stands or you adjust grip

  • Anaconda Control - Submission control position - arm-in front headlock transitions to anaconda by threading arm and locking gable grip

  • D’arce Control - Submission control position - front headlock converts to darce by underhooking near arm and threading opposite arm

  • Back Control - High-value advancement - front headlock transitions to back when opponent tries escaping forward or to side

  • Side Control - Alternative advancement - can flatten opponent from front headlock into side control pinning position

  • Standing Rear Clinch - Standing variation - front headlock from standing position leads to standing guillotine or back take

  • Crucifix - Alternative control - if opponent rolls through front headlock escape, can catch crucifix position

  • Kimura Control - Alternative submission - if opponent defends chokes by freeing head, kimura on near arm becomes available