Headbutt technique

[MC]

I came across two different ways of giving headbutt -

a) the first is the common (at least to me) technique where you
slash your forehead forward and down to your opponent's nose.
This headbutt gets its power from your neck muscles and partially
also from your upper body bending over.

b) JKD people seem to prefer completely different technique -
you bend your legs at knees, bend over, and then straighten
your legs to thrust the top of your head to opponent's face
or chest.

Since I don't have many experience in using this second way,
could somebody please explain strong points and drawbacks
of the second approach (after all there must be a reason why
JKD uses it)?
What point of your head you precisely use to give it? I tried
it on a harder surface and it hurt like ****.

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Someone answer this, I want to know

[Twisted up]

Using the second method is safer. That's why people do it that way.

Plus, you're able to get more power into it by using your legs and hips, instead of using the neck muscles.

The isn't much of a drawback to this method. The top of the head is the striking point and it's infinitely less painful.

The drawback to the first method is a biggie! If you slam your forehead into his face that's one thing, but if he is doing the same thing to you-at the same time-you could be the one blacking out!!

The first method is very dangerous and could put YOU out instead of the opponent. Never do it like that! It's just too risky.

The second method you mentioned is much more powerful and coupled with neck control (to pull the target forward), it can be used to drive straight into the face. It's a brutal move to say the least.

You can also move the head sideways and straight up (if you've changed your level and are below your opponent's chin/jaw) to drive right into him. Also very brutal.

Hope that helps.


John

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

It works well with the plum position. If you have the dominant position, and your opponent struggles to get his neck up. You let loose and while his head snaps back up, you can drive the top of your head against his chin or nose.

[Oldskulbus]

Have you ever been headbutted?

It hurts really really bad. It doesn't matter what way they do it. It does some serious damage. Now if you are doing the head butting it is more important to not damage yourself. The top of your head is relativly soft so don't hit with it, also your center forehead is tougher but I have seen people get knocked out by being hit there.
So what should you hit with? Imagine your nose facing 90 degrees. and the sides of your head at 0. You should hit off center with your forehead at about 45 degrees.
There is no reason to head butt like your example B It uses the top of your head (bad), it leaves you open to attack easy (bad(, and unless you are really tall you won't hit anything except the opponents chest which is pretty useless.
Hope this helps you.

[Angel_of_Pain]

I have broked a guy nose once whit my head and will never do it again and the reason is not the pain but the guy blood was all my shirt and that really pissed me off.

[controllerzero]

I agree w/ oldskulbus. The forehead is much stronger. also, for headbutt method II your neck will be exposed. I suggest training by headbutting a heavy bag w/ both methods to see which feels safer. knock yourself out.

[aseepish]

Re: Have you ever been headbutted?

Originally posted by Oldskulbus
So what should you hit with? Imagine your nose facing 90 degrees. and the sides of your head at 0. You should hit off center with your forehead at about 45 degrees.

A silat guy whose name escapes me (on another forum??) described this as hitting "where your horns would be if you had them."

My JKD instuctor referred to method 1 as the J.C. Vandamme headbutt - to be avoided at all costs.

T

[bobby_steeles]

Re: Re: Have you ever been headbutted?

Originally posted by aseepish


My JKD instuctor referred to method 1 as the J.C. Vandamme headbutt - to be avoided at all costs.

T

lol! is that done frome the full splits posotion?

[MC]

Re: Re: Have you ever been headbutted?

Originally posted by aseepish


My JKD instuctor referred to method 1 as the J.C. Vandamme headbutt - to be avoided at all costs.

T

Did he also tell you why it should be avoided?

I'm not trying to advocate the first method, but as you
see from the above posts, some people swear by it....

[GinSueDog]

The first method should be avoided because it is a reflex action to close your eyes before you strike with your head which makes it really easy to hit with the wrong part of your head. This can result in you stunning yourself, knocking your own ass out, or just splitting your head open. Also you are not getting as much power as you would if you were using the second method. Now the second method should be done as Yella Tiger suggested from the plum or clinch. Picture it like this, you have two guys clinching, the one in the control position would drop his head, pull his elbows down and in towards his mid section and with his knees blent lift himself up on his toes. That is how I was taught to do a head butt. Without the clinch, you may miss altogether and you are not getting all the power you can into the strike. As it is a head butt will not knock someone out, but it may stun and freak them out as the skin around the face and head is thin, so it breaks easy.-ED

[Oldskulbus]

I disagree with you GinSueDog. Method 2 is bad news becasue the top of your head is way to soft and if you are talking about closeing your eyes on method 1 but in your example you would be hitting with the top of your head so you wouldn't be able to see where you are going any ways. The first way is somewhat closer to what I do but isn't really right. I don't think you need that much power from your neck or your legs or what ever to have a good head butt. as long as you hit him in the face with the sides of your forehead it is going to hurt him and you aren't going to be hurt.
Here is how I would headbutt someone:
He punches right I block on the inside, he punches left I block on the inside. Now both our hands are tied up so I step in and hit him in the nose with the side of my forhead (where the horns would be like aseepish said) if the guy is short I tilt my head down if the guy is tall I will tilt my head up. But the damage is caused mostly by my inward step (which is my body weight not my leg muscles) and a little bit by my neck muscles. But I am deffinitly not using my neck as a whip to swing my head around and hit someone.

[GinSueDog]

Actually, I would say you are striking with the upper part of your fore head and not the top of your skull. Also you would have control of your opponents neck and head because they are in the clinch with you. So no need for eyes to aim. Those that say using method one is the way to go I simply think have no idea what the hell they are talking about. Try it the first way and most likely you are going to hurt yourself, in fact try it on a heavy banana bag.-ED

[Twisted up]

People, let me please ask you, what the **** are you hitting with your head to make it hurt?

Do you not realize that the target is the nose area? You can hit that area safely with your fist and you can CERTAINLY hit that area safely with the top of your head!!

I don't know what HALF of you are thinking. Using the forehead is insane. It's telegraphic as you obviously rear-back to slam the forehead into the face!!! If this isn't so, please clarify.

It's a VERY close range technique people. You're going to change your level just slightly after getting a tie-up and use your legs to butt into his face. Nothing to it. It certainly isn't telegraphic and DOESN'T hurt!

My TWO mutha ****ing cents!

John

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Me and Twisted, we think a lot alike.

Level headed fighters I guess you can say