Front headlock top is one of the most dominant offensive control positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, offering a unique combination of strong positional control and multiple high-percentage submission options. When executed properly, this position allows you to control an opponent who is bent forward, typically on their hands and knees, while simultaneously threatening guillotine, anaconda, darce chokes, and back takes.
The strategic value of front headlock top lies in its versatility and the dilemmas it creates for your opponent. Unlike many positions where you must choose between maintaining control and hunting submissions, the front headlock allows both simultaneously. Your control mechanics naturally set up your submission attacks, and your submission threats reinforce your positional dominance. This synergy makes it one of the highest-percentage attacking positions in modern grappling.
Front headlock top typically arises during scrambles, when your opponent turtles defensively, during failed takedown attempts, or as a deliberate entry from guard passing sequences. The position has become increasingly systematized in modern BJJ, with comprehensive front headlock systems developed by instructors like John Danaher becoming standard curriculum at high-level academies. Understanding these systems transforms the front headlock from an opportunistic position into a deliberate strategic destination.
The biomechanics of front headlock control revolve around creating downward pressure with your chest while controlling your opponent’s head and far shoulder. Your weight drives into their upper back, collapsing their posture and preventing them from standing up or improving position. Your arms work in tandem - one controls the head (setting up chokes), while the other controls the far shoulder or arm (preventing escapes). This dual control system creates a cage around your opponent’s upper body.
Modern competitors have demonstrated the effectiveness of front headlock top at the highest levels of competition. Practitioners like Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon, and Danaher Death Squad members have built entire competitive strategies around achieving and maintaining front headlock control, using it as both a submission platform and a gateway to back attacks. The position works equally well in gi and no-gi contexts, though the specific grips and tactics vary.
Mastering front headlock top requires understanding both the technical details of individual submissions and the overarching strategic framework that connects them. You must develop the ability to read your opponent’s defensive responses and adapt your attacks accordingly, creating submission chains where each defensive movement opens a new attack. This systematic approach, combined with positional patience and technical precision, makes the front headlock one of the most powerful weapons in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Position Definition
- You control opponent’s head and neck with at least one arm wrapped around their head, while your chest drives downward pressure into their upper back and shoulders, forcing them into bent-forward compromised posture with limited mobility and defensive options
- Your opponent’s torso is bent forward at the waist, typically with their hands and knees on mat or attempting to stand with compromised posture, while you maintain superior position above and around their head with ability to sprawl hips back or step around to different angles for submissions or back take
- You control opponent’s far shoulder or arm with your free hand (the hand not controlling head), preventing them from rolling away or standing up, while maintaining ability to transition between guillotine, anaconda, darce grips, or release to take back depending on their defensive reactions
Prerequisites
- You have secured control of opponent’s head with at least one arm wrapped around their head/neck
- Opponent’s posture is compromised into bent-forward position (hands and knees, turtle, or standing bent over)
- You have established chest pressure driving down into opponent’s upper back, preventing easy postural recovery
Key Offensive 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
Available Attacks
Guillotine Setup → Guillotine Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Anaconda Setup → Anaconda Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Darce Setup → D’arce Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Front Headlock to Back → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to Side Control → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Transition to Crucifix → Crucifix
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Front Headlock Series Transition → Kimura Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Arm Triangle from Front Headlock → Arm Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent keeps head low and stays tight in turtle with arms protected:
- Execute Anaconda Setup → Anaconda Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Darce Setup → D’arce Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Force Flatten to Side Control → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent attempts to stand up or lift their head while you have front headlock:
- Execute Guillotine Setup → Guillotine Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Snap Down and Resettle → Front Headlock Top (Probability: 60%)
If opponent circles or turns their body to escape laterally:
- Execute Front Headlock to Back → Back Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Step Over to Mount → Mount (Probability: 55%)
If opponent attempts forward roll or granby roll escape:
- Execute Follow to Crucifix → Crucifix (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Maintain Control and Resettle → Front Headlock Top (Probability: 60%)
If opponent successfully defends neck by tucking chin but remains in position:
- Execute Switch to Kimura → Kimura Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Transition to Side Control → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Direct Guillotine Finish
Front Headlock Top → Guillotine Control → Won by Submission
Anaconda System
Front Headlock Top → Anaconda Control → Won by Submission
Darce System
Front Headlock Top → D'arce Control → Won by Submission
Back Attack Path
Front Headlock Top → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Alternative Pin Control
Front Headlock Top → Side Control → Kimura or Arm Triangle
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 55% | 50% | 35% |
| Intermediate | 70% | 65% | 50% |
| Advanced | 85% | 80% | 65% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds (position to submission or transition)
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The front headlock represents one of the most sophisticated control systems in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu because it perfectly demonstrates the principle of integrated control and attack. Unlike positions where you must choose between maintaining control and hunting submissions, the front headlock’s control mechanics are inseparable from its attack mechanics. Your chest pressure that prevents escape simultaneously loads your guillotine. Your far shoulder control that prevents rolling simultaneously sets up your anaconda and darce. This integration creates what I call ‘offensive control’ - control that naturally leads to finishing positions. The key to mastering front headlock is understanding it as a decision tree rather than a collection of techniques. When your opponent stays tight, you attack with arm-in submissions. When they try to stand, you attack with guillotines. When they circle away, you take the back. Each defensive choice they make opens a specific offensive pathway for you. Your role is to recognize which pathway has opened and execute the appropriate attack with technical precision. This systematic approach transforms front headlock from an opportunistic scramble position into a deliberate strategic destination. Advanced practitioners should also understand the temporal dynamics of front headlock control. There is a window of maximum control immediately after you establish the position, before your opponent has fully adjusted their defensive structure. This window typically lasts only a few seconds, and your highest-percentage attacks occur within it. As time passes and your opponent establishes their defensive frames, your attack options shift from direct submissions toward positional transitions. Recognizing these temporal shifts and adapting your tactics accordingly separates elite front headlock attackers from intermediate practitioners who rely solely on technique knowledge without strategic timing.
Gordon Ryan
Front headlock is probably my favorite position in all of grappling because it gives you so many options and the opponent has so few good answers. In competition, I deliberately set up situations to get front headlock because I know once I’m there, I’m either finishing a choke or taking the back within 30 seconds. The key difference between how I use front headlock versus how most people use it is aggression and commitment. A lot of grapplers get front headlock and then just hold it, waiting for the opponent to make a mistake. That’s backwards. You need to immediately attack hard with your first submission option, which forces them to defend, and that defensive movement opens your second attack. For me, it’s usually anaconda first if they’re tight, guillotine first if they lift their head, and back take first if they start circling. But I’m not tentatively testing these options - I’m committing 100% to each attack until their defense clearly shows me I need to switch. This aggressive commitment makes them panic and creates mistakes. The other factor that makes my front headlock effective is I never settle for just holding the position. If my first two submission attempts don’t finish, I immediately transition to back or mount rather than staying in front headlock and getting stale. Front headlock should feel like a violent storm to the opponent, not a position they can survive through patience. That psychological pressure combined with technical precision is what makes it so high percentage at the highest levels of competition.
Eddie Bravo
Front headlock has become huge in 10th Planet system, especially for no-gi competition where turtle happens constantly. What we’ve found is that most people way overthink front headlock and try to hit perfect textbook techniques when really it’s about reading the situation and being aggressive. Our approach is super simplified: if they keep their head down, we’re going anaconda or darce. If they try to stand, we’re going guillotine. If they start circling, we’re taking the back. That’s it. Three simple rules that cover 95% of situations. The specific technical details matter of course, but the decision-making framework is dead simple. Where 10th Planet approach differs is we’re super comfortable following front headlock into wild scrambles. A lot of traditional grapplers lose front headlock when things get chaotic because they’re trying to maintain perfect control. We embrace the chaos. If opponent tries to roll through, we’re following them to crucifix. If they turtle hard, we’re going to truck. If they explode up, we’re jumping guard with guillotine. We’re not trying to keep everything calm and controlled - we’re trying to create maximum chaos while maintaining our attack structure. The other thing that makes our front headlock effective is we attack it from everywhere. Most people only think about front headlock from turtle, but we’re hitting it from standing, from guard passing, even from bottom positions if opponent makes mistakes. It’s become a central hub in our system where tons of different pathways converge. Once our guys get that front headlock grip, they know they’ve got multiple high-percentage options no matter how the opponent reacts.