An attacker using a Head Lock in an altercation is quite common particular after a few pushes and strikes. So how do you perform a head lock and how do you defend against it ?
The Head Lock
Although this article is “How to defend against a Head Lock” it also is very useful to know how to perform the technique. You could find yourself using it as a self defence technique against an attacker. It is also good to know how it is done so you know what your attacker is experiencing when he tries to choke you.
Previously we looked at Rear Choke Defence which is performed from a different angle putting pressure on your neck in a similar way so be thoughtful about loosing consciousness if pressure is put on the neck for longer than 5 to 10 seconds.
May not be legal ?
The headlock can be applied to the rear or front. In many Martial Arts competitions this may be a legal move but many law enforcement and security organizations do not use headlocks because it can go very wrong. If too much pressure is applied to the neck for too long the person could suffer fatal injuries. The neck could also suffer permanent damage to the vertebrae. You wouldn’t want to permanently disable someone and you could lose your job and have a large libel bill. However, in extreme circumstances when all else has failed to control a suspect it could be justifiable to use the technique.
The best way to defend against a headlock attack is not to get caught in the first place. If you are in the street, then you should avoid this situation before it happens by being aware of your surroundings and de-escalating any potential conflicts.
This video by the London Wing Chun Academy provides an excellent tutorial on how to avoid and perform a headlock with lots of different scenarios and “What if’s”
A great alternative to consider to using grappling and striking to the head is pressure points. Often overlooked in some Martial Art styles but used very effectively in others. As a police officer I often used some of these to good effect. The first video is by Grandmaster Angelo of the Filipino Kyusho System
This next video points out the location of pressure points that can be used in defence of a headlock. It’s good information to know but unfortunately the applications are not shown here.
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