The Front Headlock to Darce transition represents one of the most powerful finishing sequences from the front headlock position. This technique capitalizes on the opponent’s defensive posture in turtle or scramble situations, where they attempt to protect their neck while maintaining a low base. The transition exploits the natural tendency of opponents to circle away from the choking arm, creating the perfect angle for the Darce configuration.
The effectiveness of this transition lies in its seamless flow from control to submission. Unlike many submission entries that require dramatic position changes, the Front Headlock to Darce maintains constant pressure while incrementally improving control points. The practitioner uses the front headlock grip as a foundation, then methodically secures the underhook and locks the figure-four configuration without releasing primary controls. This continuity makes the technique particularly difficult to defend once properly initiated.
This transition is fundamental to modern no-gi grappling and represents a cornerstone of systematic front headlock attack systems. It combines well with other front headlock finishes, creating a web of attacks that force opponents into submission dilemmas. Mastery of this technique provides both a high-percentage finishing option and a powerful position from which to chain multiple submission attempts.
Starting Position: Front Headlock Ending Position: D’arce Control Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
Key Principles
- Maintain constant downward pressure on opponent’s head throughout the transition
- Use opponent’s defensive circling motion to facilitate the underhook insertion
- Secure the figure-four arm configuration before attempting to circle to finish position
- Keep chest pressure tight against opponent’s shoulder to prevent escape
- Control the near hip with your free hand to prevent opponent from rolling through
- Circle toward the choking side while maintaining perpendicular body alignment
- Squeeze knees together for additional pressure once in finishing position
Prerequisites
- Established front headlock control with arm wrapped around opponent’s neck
- Opponent’s head controlled and pulled tight to your chest or hip
- Opponent in turtle, scramble, or compromised standing position
- Your choking-side arm positioned deep around opponent’s neck
- Opponent’s near arm vulnerable for underhook insertion
- Sufficient space to circle toward the choking side
- Strong grip connection between hands (gable, palm-to-palm, or S-grip)
Execution Steps
- Secure front headlock control: Establish a tight front headlock position with your arm wrapped deep around the opponent’s neck. Your bicep should be against one side of their neck while your forearm compresses the other side. Pull their head tight to your chest or hip while driving downward pressure with your body weight. Maintain a low stance with your hips back and chest over their shoulders. (Timing: Initial control phase - maintain until opponent begins defensive movement)
- Insert underhook on choking side: As the opponent circles or attempts to escape, thread your free arm under their far armpit on the same side as your choking arm. The underhook should be deep, with your shoulder driving into their armpit. Keep your elbow tight and forearm pressed against their ribs. This creates the foundation for the Darce configuration by controlling both the head and the far side of their body simultaneously. (Timing: Insert during opponent’s defensive movement - capitalize on their circling)
- Lock figure-four arm configuration: Bring your choking arm across to meet your underhooking arm. The hand of your choking arm should grip the bicep of your underhooking arm, creating a figure-four lock. Alternatively, grip your own wrist for a deeper configuration. The opponent’s neck should be trapped in the triangle formed by your arms with their shoulder completing the choke structure. Ensure the lock is tight before proceeding. (Timing: Lock immediately after underhook is secured - before opponent can defend)
- Control opponent’s near hip: With your non-choking hand now free (after establishing the arm lock), immediately grip the opponent’s near hip or pants. This control prevents them from rolling through or executing a granby roll escape. Drive your weight into their shoulder while maintaining the hip control. Your chest should be heavy on their trapped shoulder. (Timing: Establish hip control simultaneously with figure-four lock)
- Circle to perpendicular position: Begin circling your body toward the choking side while keeping the figure-four locked and hip controlled. Your goal is to position your body perpendicular to your opponent’s torso. Step your inside leg (closer to opponent’s head) across and in front of their body. Your outside leg should post wide for base. Continue circling until your chest is across their upper back and shoulders. (Timing: Smooth continuous motion - do not pause mid-circle)
- Drop to mat and secure submission position: Once perpendicular to the opponent, drop your hip to the mat on the choking side while pulling the opponent onto their side or toward you. Lock your legs around their torso or squeeze your knees together if they defend the body triangle. The opponent should be on their side with your chest driving into their trapped shoulder. Your choking forearm should be across their neck while the underhook prevents their body from turning. (Timing: Drop weight suddenly to prevent opponent from establishing defensive base)
- Finish the Darce choke: With the Darce fully locked, expand your chest while pulling your elbows together to tighten the noose. Your choking-side shoulder should drive into the back of their neck while your opposite shoulder pulls their trapped arm across their own neck. Arch your back slightly and squeeze your knees if you have a body lock. The choke should be cutting off blood flow on both sides of the neck. Apply pressure gradually until opponent taps. (Timing: Gradual squeeze - 3-5 seconds application, never sudden)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent grabs your leg and drives forward to prevent the circle (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Switch to anaconda choke by adjusting arm position, or transition to guillotine if they drive their head up. Maintain downward head pressure and sprawl your hips back to counter their forward drive.
- Opponent performs granby roll before you establish hip control (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Follow their roll and maintain the front headlock, resetting to either continue the Darce attempt or transition to back control as they roll through. Keep your choking arm connection tight throughout the roll.
- Opponent gets their trapped arm free before you complete the circle (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Abandon the Darce and transition to guillotine or anaconda choke, or return to front headlock control to reset. Do not force a compromised Darce position as it becomes ineffective without proper arm trapping.
- Opponent postures up and stands to escape the control (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow them up while maintaining the front headlock, then either complete the Darce from standing or use their upward movement to take them down into the finishing position. Jump guard if necessary to secure the submission.
- Opponent tucks their chin and defends the neck (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: The Darce attacks the blood vessels on the sides of the neck rather than the windpipe, so chin defense is less effective. Continue circling and tightening the figure-four while driving your shoulder into the back of their head to complete the choke despite chin defense.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the most critical control point to establish before attempting to circle to the Darce finishing position? A: The near hip control is the most critical point to establish before circling. Without controlling the opponent’s near hip, they can execute a granby roll or other defensive roll to escape before you establish the finishing position. The hip control should be established immediately after locking the figure-four arm configuration.
Q2: Why is the Front Headlock to Darce transition considered more difficult to defend than other front headlock submissions? A: The Front Headlock to Darce maintains constant control throughout the transition without requiring position changes that create escape opportunities. Unlike guillotines or anacondas that require larger movements, the Darce incrementally improves control points while keeping pressure on the opponent. The seamless flow from control to submission gives opponents fewer moments to recognize and counter the attack.
Q3: Which direction should you circle when transitioning from front headlock to Darce finishing position? A: You should always circle toward the choking side - the same side as your arm that is around the opponent’s neck. This brings your body perpendicular to theirs and tightens the choke structure naturally. Circling away from the choking side creates an incorrect angle where the choke cannot be effectively finished.
Q4: What is the proper response if your opponent successfully grabs your leg and drives forward as you attempt to circle? A: If the opponent successfully prevents your circle by grabbing your leg and driving forward, you should switch to an anaconda choke by adjusting your arm position, or transition to a guillotine if they drive their head up. You can also sprawl your hips back while maintaining downward head pressure to counter their forward drive. The key is to maintain control and flow to alternative attacks rather than forcing a compromised Darce.
Q5: Why is chest pressure on the opponent’s shoulder important during the Darce transition? A: Chest pressure on the opponent’s trapped shoulder serves multiple purposes: it prevents them from creating frames and escaping, it keeps their body flat or turned into the choke rather than facing away, and it helps collapse their defensive structure. Heavy chest pressure also makes the final choke more effective by adding additional compression to the neck and restricting their ability to breathe or move defensively.
Q6: What are the three main hand grip options for locking the figure-four in the Darce, and when would you use each? A: The three main grip options are: 1) Bicep grip (hand grabs opposite bicep) - standard and most common, provides good balance of tightness and security, 2) Wrist grip (hand grabs own wrist) - provides deeper, tighter lock, useful against larger opponents or when maximum pressure is needed, and 3) Gable grip (palm-to-palm) - quickest to apply, useful when speed is critical or in scrambles, though slightly less tight than other options. Choice depends on situation, opponent size, and personal preference.
Safety Considerations
When practicing the Front Headlock to Darce transition, controlled application is paramount as blood chokes can cause unconsciousness rapidly if the training partner does not tap. Always apply choking pressure gradually over 3-5 seconds minimum to allow your partner adequate time to recognize the choke and tap. Monitor your partner’s breathing and color during drilling - any signs of distress should result in immediate release. Be especially mindful during the circling phase as this is when maximum pressure is often applied unintentionally. Ensure adequate mat space for the circling movement to avoid rolling your opponent into walls or other obstacles. During competition-level drilling with full resistance, establish clear tap protocols including verbal taps for situations where hand movement is restricted. Never apply sudden or explosive pressure to the neck. Build proficiency through slow, controlled drilling before attempting full-speed application. Both practitioners should understand proper release protocol before training this technique.
Position Integration
The Front Headlock to Darce transition is a cornerstone technique within the systematic front headlock position, representing one of the highest-percentage submissions available from this dominant control position. This transition integrates seamlessly with other front headlock attacks including the guillotine, anaconda, and back take, creating a submission system where each defense opens another attack. Within the broader BJJ positional hierarchy, the front headlock serves as a critical junction point between standing and ground positions, and the Darce provides a powerful finishing option that can be executed from multiple entries including turtle attacks, scrambles, failed takedown attempts, and guard passing situations. The technique’s versatility makes it equally effective in gi and no-gi contexts, though it finds particularly high application in no-gi and MMA where the front headlock position is more commonly encountered. Understanding this transition also develops broader concepts of maintaining control during position changes, using opponent’s defensive movements to facilitate attacks, and systematically improving position until submission is secured. Practitioners who master this transition often find their entire front headlock game improves as the Darce threat forces opponents into predictable defensive patterns that open other submissions and position advances. The technique also integrates with modern leg lock systems, as the front headlock position often occurs during leg entanglement scrambles, providing a upper-body submission option when leg attacks are defended.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The Front Headlock to Darce transition exemplifies the principle of cascading controls - each new control point you establish makes the previous controls tighter and creates the foundation for the next advancement. When you insert the underhook while maintaining the front headlock, you’re not just adding a second control point; you’re fundamentally changing the geometry of the position in your favor. The opponent’s neck is now trapped in a triangle formed by your arms with their own shoulder serving as the fourth side of the choke structure. This is biomechanically brilliant because their strongest defensive tool - their trapped arm and shoulder - actually becomes the mechanism of their submission. The circling movement to perpendicular position is not arbitrary; it creates the optimal angle where your skeletal structure does the work rather than your muscles. Your chest expansion and the connection between your elbows creates pressure, while your shoulder drives into the back of their neck. When executed with proper positional awareness, this technique requires minimal strength because you’re using mechanical advantage and structural pressure rather than muscular force. The systematic approach requires establishing each control point in sequence - front headlock, underhook, figure-four, hip control, circle, finish - with each step making the next step both easier and more effective.
- Gordon Ryan: In high-level competition, the Front Headlock to Darce is one of my highest-percentage submissions because it’s incredibly difficult to defend once you establish the initial controls. The key to making this work against elite opponents is not giving them time to recognize what’s happening - you have to move from front headlock to locked Darce in one smooth motion without any pauses that let them start their defenses. I’ve finished world champions with this because even if they know it’s coming, the mechanics make it almost impossible to stop if you execute properly. The critical detail that most people miss is the hip control - without that, good guys will granby roll and escape every time. I grab that near hip the instant my figure-four locks, and I mean the same instant. Also, the circle has to be aggressive and committed. You can’t be tentative or slow. Once you decide to go for the Darce, you circle hard and fast while keeping everything tight. Against bigger, stronger opponents, I’ll often use the wrist grip instead of the bicep grip because it lets me get deeper and tighter on the neck. Another competition detail: if you feel them starting to defend successfully, immediately switch to anaconda or take the back - don’t waste energy fighting for a compromised Darce. The beautiful thing about this system is that their defense to the Darce usually opens up another finish.
- Eddie Bravo: The Darce from front headlock is absolutely sick and it’s become a staple in the 10th Planet system because it fits perfectly with our no-gi game. What I love about this technique is how it flows naturally from scrambles - a huge part of no-gi and MMA is those chaotic scramble situations, and the front headlock to Darce gives you a high-percentage finish from that chaos. We drill this constantly from what we call the Jail Break position and from various turtle attacks. One thing I teach that’s a little different from traditional approaches is being willing to jump guard to finish this if they start to stand up. Don’t let them escape just because they stood up - if you’ve got that Darce locked, jump into guard and finish from there. It actually can be tighter from guard because you can really squeeze your knees and use your entire body. Also, we work a lot of variations where you lock the Darce and immediately drop to your hip without the traditional circle - it’s faster and works great when they’re trying to scramble hard. The Darce is also perfect for MMA because it works from so many positions where cage work happens - against the fence, during takedown attempts, during ground and pound exchanges. We’ve gotten tons of finishes with this in competition and in the cage. Train it, drill it relentlessly, and it’ll become one of your best weapons.