Headscissors Strangle

SubFamily

ヘッドシザーズ(Heddo Shizāzu)

Transliteration

Translation: Head Scissors (katakana loanword)

Overview

The headscissors strangle uses both legs clamped around the opponent's head (without trapping an arm) to create bilateral compression on both sides of the neck. ^[1],[2] Unlike the triangle choke, which requires an arm trapped inside, the headscissors relies solely on the squeezing power of both legs against the temples and neck. Pure headscissors are less effective as blood chokes than triangles but can generate powerful compression and serve as control positions that set up transitions. ^[3]

Also known as

Ashi-jimeJP^[1]Leg Strangle^[2]Leg-Assisted Choke^[3]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA Sambo

History & Origin

Headscissors techniques have ancient roots in wrestling traditions worldwide — the scissor hold appears in both Greco-Roman and catch wrestling. ^[1] In modern grappling, the headscissors is more commonly used as a transitional control than a finishing submission. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

The headscissors strangle mechanic relies on adductor strength and precise leg positioning around the neck — when both carotids are compressed, unconsciousness follows rapidly ^[1]

Lineage

One of the most ancient submission mechanics in martial arts history, predating formal grappling systems. Found in virtually every culture's wrestling tradition ^[1]

Competition Record

While the technique is universally known, it has become increasingly rare at elite competition as defensive awareness and head positioning have improved ^[1]

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Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Bilateral compression of the carotid arteries — restricts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness within seconds

Joints Involved — Cervical spine (lateral flexion), glenohumeral joint of the trapped arm (if arm-in), nuchal region

Force Vector — Lateral squeeze creates inward pressure on both sides of the neck simultaneously

Choking Mechanism — Vascular strangle — occludes carotid arteries and jugular veins, distinct from airway (tracheal) chokes

Position & Entry

From closed guard — Control one arm across the centreline, throw legs up to lock the triangle (one arm in, one arm out), angle hips and squeeze

From mount (mounted triangle) — Isolate one arm, slide the knee up and over the shoulder, lock the triangle from top position

From open guard (arm drag) — Drag one arm across, shoot the legs up to lock the figure-four leg configuration around head and arm

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Very High7/10

Headscissors use the thighs to squeeze the head laterally; risk of neck strain

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Intermediate

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

Legal

— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— shime-waza

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— ADCC — Legal

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal — choke submissions are among the mos...

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓The headscissors strangle subfamily groups all head-only leg strangles that use the thighs to compress the carotid arteries — the defining characteristic is the exclusion of any arm from the choking loop (Gracie & Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, 2001)

✓The subfamily distinguishes headscissors (head only) from triangles (head plus arm): this is a fundamental taxonomic distinction in leg-based chokes

✓The headscissors strangle includes the standard headscissors and all positional variants: from guard, north-south, side control, turtle, and standing

✓The headscissors strangle is the purest form of leg choke: only the legs participate in the strangulation — no arms, shoulders, or fabric are involved

✓The subfamily is historically significant: headscissors appear in the earliest recorded wrestling techniques and persist in every modern grappling art

✓The headscissors strangle is biomechanically powerful: the legs generate far more compressive force than the arms — when both thighs contact the carotid arteries, unconsciousness is rapid

✓The figure-four leg lock (ankle behind knee) is the universal securing mechanism across all species in this subfamily

Common Mistakes

!Including an arm in the headscissors — this transforms it into a triangle; the headscissors specifically excludes arms

!Not understanding the distinction between headscissors and triangle — they are different submissions with different mechanics

!Relying only on the guard headscissors — the subfamily includes entries from north-south, side control, turtle, and standing; develop multiple entries

!Using only muscular squeezing — the figure-four lock and hip extension provide structural compression that supplements muscular effort

!Targeting the jaw instead of the neck — the thighs must compress at carotid level; jaw compression is a crank, not a choke

!Not drilling the figure-four lock from multiple positions — the leg orientation changes from position to position; practise the lock from every angle

!Dismissing the headscissors as a low-level technique — it is a fundamental and powerful submission that works at all levels when applied correctly

Related Techniques

Escape — defensive technique to relieve choking pressure and recover position

Counter Techniques

Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle

Setup Chain

1Achieve Controlling Position — secure the position from which the choke is applied

2Isolate the Neck — clear defending hands and establish access to the throat

3Set the Grip — lock the choking configuration (arm, lapel, or leg placement)

4Apply Pressure — squeeze to compress the carotid arteries for the finish

Sources & References

Primary Source

Japanese grappling/BJJ standard terminology; JBJJF competition usage

1CompetitionJBJJF (Japan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation)

Official Japanese BJJ federation — competition rules and terminology

2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

3CitationJapanese grappling/BJJ standard terminology; JBJJF competition usage

Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese grappling/BJJ standard terminology; JBJJF competition usage

Community

Athletics

Requires

hip flexibility, long legs relative to torso

Favours

longer limbs for easier figure-four lock around head and arm

Key muscles

hip adductors, hamstrings, quadriceps

Sub-techniques

Headscissors

Genus

The headscissors strangle uses both legs wrapped around the opponent's head — typically in a figure-four leg configuration — to compress the carotid arteries and/or restrict breathing. [1,2] The attacker positions the opponent's head between the thighs, locks one ankle behind the opposite knee, and squeezes the legs together while extending the hips. [1] The headscissors can be applied from guard, mount, side control, or north-south positions, and the powerful leg muscles generate significantly more compression than arm-based strangles. [1,3]

4 species·10 techniquesExplore

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Headscissors Strangle work?

The headscissors strangle uses both legs clamped around the opponent's head (without trapping an arm) to create bilateral compression on both sides of the neck. Unlike the triangle choke, which requires an arm trapped inside, the headscissors relies solely on the squeezing power of both legs against the temples and neck.

Where does the Headscissors Strangle come from?

Headscissors techniques have ancient roots in wrestling traditions worldwide — the scissor hold appears in both Greco-Roman and catch wrestling. In modern grappling, the headscissors is more commonly used as a transitional control than a finishing submission.

Is the Headscissors Strangle legal in competition?

IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Headscissors Strangle?

Danger rating 7/10. Headscissors use the thighs to squeeze the head laterally; risk of neck strain

How do I set up the Headscissors Strangle?

The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.

How do I defend against the Headscissors Strangle?

Standard counters include: Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking / Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks / Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure / Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle.

What are the variants of the Headscissors Strangle?

Common variants: Standard triangle (classic figure-four leg lock around the head and one arm …); Reverse triangle (legs locked from behind or inverted angle for different a…); Mounted triangle (applied from mount position with gravity assisting the sq…); No-arm triangle (both arms excluded, legs-only compression on the neck).

How effective is the Headscissors Strangle in competition?

While the technique is universally known, it has become increasingly rare at elite competition as defensive awareness and head positioning have improved

What are common mistakes when doing the Headscissors Strangle?

Top errors to watch for: Including an arm in the headscissors — this transforms it into a triangle; the headscissors specifically excludes arms / Not understanding the distinction between headscissors and triangle — they are different submissions with different m… / Relying only on the guard headscissors — the subfamily includes entries from north-south, side control, turtle, and s… / Using only muscular squeezing — the figure-four lock and hip extension provide structural compression that supplement….

What are other names for the Headscissors Strangle?

The Headscissors Strangle is also known as Heddo Shizāzu, Ashi-jime, Leg Strangle, Leg-Assisted Choke.

heddo shiz zu submission choke and strangle lock leg choke headscissors strangle ashi jime leg strangle leg assisted choke