Using your head

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it’s easy to focus on the hands and feet as the primary tools for control and balance. But as you progress, you begin to discover the utility of less obvious parts of your body—especially your head. Using your head for base can feel awkward at first, but it opens up an array of options for control, stability, and even submissions that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. It’s a subtle skill, but for the grappler who can master it, the head becomes as effective as any other limb.

For example, consider a guard-passing scenario where you’ve positioned your head to take the place of one of your hands. By doing this, you create a powerful dilemma for your opponent. Since your head is now providing a stable base, your hands are free to attack or set up threats elsewhere. Imagine that your head is anchoring you into position, keeping you from being off-balanced, while your now-free hand is in position to attack the neck. This setup can make your opponent feel trapped: if they continue focusing on blocking your guard pass, they’re at risk of leaving their neck open to a guillotine or another choke. However, if they shift their attention to protect against the guillotine, they compromise their defense against the pass.

Using your head as a base in this way is about more than just freeing up your hands. It’s also a way of creating angles and applying pressure in unconventional ways that disrupt your opponent’s defense. When your head is strategically placed, it becomes a powerful leverage point, allowing you to angle your body in ways that improve both your stability and your pressure. This concept is essential for advanced transitions, as it enables you to maintain a strong base while exploring more creative paths to submissions or control.

The skill of head placement also introduces a layer of deception to your game. Because the head is generally overlooked as a point of control, many opponents may not recognize the threat until it’s too late. This subtlety forces them to address unexpected angles and pressures, creating openings you can exploit. Additionally, understanding how to use your head effectively also means knowing when to guard against opponents who might use it against you. Awareness of head positioning on both sides adds depth to your defense, helping you anticipate setups before they fully develop.

To become proficient at using your head as a base, you’ll need to develop an understanding of where to place it for maximum stability and control. This takes practice and experimentation, as each position and transition may require different head placement. Over time, you’ll begin to see how your head can create a third point of contact that steadies your body and gives you a crucial advantage in controlling an opponent.

Ultimately, integrating head placement into your game expands your options, creating a smoother and more versatile style of grappling. As you learn to control your opponent with your head, your game will gain a new layer of adaptability—whether you’re stabilizing for a guard pass, setting up a submission, or maintaining control from top positions. Embracing this skill broadens your toolkit, giving you creative and tactical advantages that go beyond the basics of hand and foot positioning.