Front Headlock: Pin or Score the Back vs Stand Up or Sit to Guard
Mat mode
3:00
Tell the roomKeep them from standing (if they get up, bring them back down), then score from the position.
Show full gameHide full gameRules · how to win · video
Notes (this phone)
FRONT HEADLOCK PLAYER
POSITION
Off your knees, or at least off one knee, in a front headlock: chin strap and an elbow grip, or linked hands. Play the grip you favor and the one you don't.
OBJECTIVE
Keep them from standing (if they get up, bring them back down), then score from the position.
CONSTRAINTS
Scoring follows ADCC logic. Spinning to the back alone doesn't win; keep going until their hips are on the mat with your back take. Cradling them over doesn't win until both shoulders are pinned for 3 seconds. Default rounds are positional, with no chokes. Variant from the source: add front-headlock chokes (high-wrist or high-elbow guillotine, d'arce, anaconda, Japanese or Peruvian necktie) as a win. On any choke or neck pressure your partner taps and you release immediately. Reset after either player wins.
WIN CONDITION
Take the back with their hips on the mat, or pin both shoulders to the mat for 3 seconds.
TURTLED PLAYER
POSITION
On your knees under your partner, caught in the front headlock.
OBJECTIVE
Get out of the position or upgrade it.
CONSTRAINTS
Any upgrade in position wins: standing up out of it, a sucker drag that leaves the position, breaking the grips and taking the back, or sitting to half guard. Tap early on neck pressure; your partner releases on the tap. Reset after either player wins.
WIN CONDITION
Stand up and get out, sucker-drag out, break the grips and take the back, or sit to half guard.
Reference video
Open video · Stephan Kesting (Grapplearts)
Rob Biernacki with Stephan Kesting (Grapplearts), BJJ Games to Specifically Improve Your Front Headlock and Guillotine Choke (free video on the Stephan Kesting YouTube channel, 3 Apr 2025).
Problem
Off your knees, or at least off one knee, in a front headlock: chin strap and an elbow grip, or linked hands.
Tell the room
Keep them from standing (if they get up, bring them back down), then score from the position. Get out of the position or upgrade it.
Setup
Off your knees, or at least off one knee, in a front headlock: chin strap and an elbow grip, or linked hands. Play the grip you favor and the one you don't. On your knees under your partner, caught in the front headlock.
Score
Take the back with their hips on the mat, or pin both shoulders to the mat for 3 seconds. Stand up and get out, sucker-drag out, break the grips and take the back, or sit to half guard.
Rules
- Scoring follows ADCC logic.
- Spinning to the back alone doesn't win; keep going until their hips are on the mat with your back take.
- Cradling them over doesn't win until both shoulders are pinned for 3 seconds.
- Default rounds are positional, with no chokes.
- Variant from the source: add front-headlock chokes (high-wrist or high-elbow guillotine, d'arce, anaconda, Japanese or Peruvian necktie) as a win.
- On any choke or neck pressure your partner taps and you release immediately.
- Reset after either player wins.
- Any upgrade in position wins: standing up out of it, a sucker drag that leaves the position, breaking the grips and taking the back, or sitting to half guard.
- Tap early on neck pressure; your partner releases on the tap.
front headlock