Front Headlock Lift

TakedownsStandingIntermediate

takedowns

Grapplers Collective, Front Headlock Lift. 3-5 min rounds.

Problem

Sequencing the standing front headlock through a hands-down breakdown into a finishing go-behind and lift.

Tell the room

Break the defender down until both hands touch the mat, then go behind and lock your hands at the waist. Finish by lifting the defender's feet for 1 second or forcing the hands to the mat again.

Setup

Start in a standing front headlock. Attacker wraps the head with hands clasped, chest into the near shoulder. Defender bent at the waist, hands free, both feet down.

Score

Break down, then finish behind.

  • Attacker — force both defender hands to the mat, then get behind the shoulder line
  • Attacker — from a waist lock, lift the feet 1 second or force the hands down
  • Defender — separate to neutral standing distance with no contact

Rules

  1. Both hands down first. The go-behind only starts once both defender hands touch the mat.
  2. Hold the head until then. Releasing the headlock before the breakdown gives the round to the defender.
  3. No submissions. No guillotines or chokes from the front headlock.

Adjust

Easier

Require only one defender hand on the mat before the go-behind.

Harder

Give the attacker 30 seconds for the full chain and 15 more seconds to finish after going behind.

If it stalls

If the attacker releases early, have them look at the defender's hands before thinking about the back.

Build a class from this

TOP PLAYER (ATTACKER)

POSITION

Attacker wraps the head with hands clasped, chest into the near shoulder.

OBJECTIVE

Break the defender down until both hands touch the mat, then go behind and lock your hands at the waist.

CONSTRAINTS

Both hands down first. The go-behind only starts once both defender hands touch the mat. Hold the head until then. Releasing the headlock before the breakdown gives the round to the defender. No submissions. No guillotines or chokes from the front headlock.

WIN CONDITION

force both defender hands to the mat, then get behind the shoulder line; from a waist lock, lift the feet 1 second or force the hands down


BOTTOM PLAYER (DEFENDER)

POSITION

Defender bent at the waist, hands free, both feet down.

OBJECTIVE

Break the defender down until both hands touch the mat, then go behind and lock your hands at the waist. Finish by lifting the defender's feet for 1 second or forcing the hands to the mat again.

CONSTRAINTS

Both hands down first. The go-behind only starts once both defender hands touch the mat. Hold the head until then. Releasing the headlock before the breakdown gives the round to the defender. No submissions. No guillotines or chokes from the front headlock.

WIN CONDITION

separate to neutral standing distance with no contact