FALLON gets SUBMITTED by two girls 👯♀️| with beginner tips and narration
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Headscissors·Fallon Fratone
Hii Guys! Today I am rolling with two new white belts. They are both showing very different strengths which is so excit…
Headscissors
Genusヘッドシザーズ(Heddo Shizāzu)
TransliterationTranslation: Head Scissors (katakana loanword)
Overview
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]
History & Origin
Headscissors appear in the earliest grappling traditions, including Greek wrestling, pankration, and Japanese jujutsu. [1],[2] In judo, do-jime (body scissors) and related leg compressions were recognized techniques, though the head-specific application was less systematized. [2],[3] Modern BJJ and catch wrestling refined the headscissors as a finishing submission from multiple positions. [1]
Effectiveness
The headscissors is one of the oldest and most instinctive submission techniques — bilateral carotid compression via leg squeeze. Effective when locked but difficult to secure against trained opponents who understand head positioning [1]
Lineage
Ancient technique depicted in Greek and Egyptian wrestling art. Present across nearly all grappling traditions worldwide: catch wrestling, judo, sambo, traditional jujutsu, pankration, and BJJ [1]
Competition Record
Rare at elite modern competition but historically significant. More commonly finished in MMA, sambo, and catch wrestling than in pure BJJ/ADCC events [1]
Images
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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 guard (bottom position) — Use legs to control the opponent's head and arm, lock the leg configuration and apply compression
From mount (top) — Transition from mount by isolating an arm and threading legs around the head and arm
From side control (spinning) — Spin to face the opponent's legs, throw legs over the head to lock the choke
Videos
Scissor Choke Tutorial by Nikki Sullivan
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Headscissors·nicsulli
I hit this choke back at EBI 12 and it can be pretty sneaky when your opponent's focused on defending the kimura. Check …
29-11 Essential Armbar Variations: Step-by-Step Judo Instruction
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Headscissors·Female Judo
Conviértete en miembro de este canal para disfrutar de ventajas: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgprmBVd9z0Or1Z2lcy0sd…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The headscissors (also called scissor choke) is a leg-based strangle performed primarily from top position, typically following guard passing or when the opponent's neck is exposed. According to nicsulli, the technique is commonly set up from a Kimora grip after passing guard, where the practitioner slides the knee behind the opponent's shoulder and places it underneath the head as a pillow. The top leg is then brought over the opponent's chin, with the knee's tendon positioned under the chin. The legs are locked (top foot under the bottom foot) and the hips are extended and turned downward to apply pressure. Nicsulli emphasizes maintaining the Kimora grip throughout the motion to prevent the opponent from escaping or reversing position, and notes that if the opponent's chin is hidden, the knee tendon can ratchet underneath to expose it. The instructor also describes defensive responses: if the opponent explosively bridges and escapes to top position, the practitioner can transition by sliding under the head and locking the leg choke without losing positional advantage. Fallon Fratone's instructional content on rear naked chokes with beginners provides contextual detail on the importance of back control and proper choking mechanics, though her primary focus is on the rear naked choke rather than headscissors specifically. Female Judo's transcript does not contain substantive instruction on headscissors technique. All instructors agree that leg control and hip positioning are fundamental to successful execution.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- nicsulli — Scissor Choke Tutorial by Nikki Sullivan: Primary technical instruction on headscissors setup from Kimora grip, knee placement under head, leg locking mechanics, hip extension, defensive transitions against explosive bridging, and importance of maintaining grip control throughout.
- Fallon Fratone — FALLON gets SUBMITTED by two girls 👯♀️| with beginner tips and narration: Instructional context on proper back control and rear naked choke application with beginners; demonstrates choking mechanics and squeeze technique, though focus is on rear naked choke rather than headscissors.
- Female Judo — 29-11 Essential Armbar Variations: Step-by-Step Judo Instruction: Transcript does not contain substantive headscissors instruction; primarily covers armbar variations.
Learn This Technique
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Headscissors use the thighs to squeeze the head laterally; risk of neck strain
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— 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 RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The headscissors genus encompasses all submissions that trap the opponent's head between the thighs and compress the carotid arteries through adductor engagement — the most direct leg-based strangle in grappling (Gracie & Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, 2001)
✓The headscissors is distinct from the triangle choke: the headscissors captures only the head (no arm), while the triangle includes one arm for shoulder-based compression
✓Species in this genus include entries from guard, north-south, side control, and turtle — the headscissors principle applies from every major grappling position
✓The headscissors is one of the oldest submission techniques in martial arts: it appears in Greek wrestling (depicted on ancient pottery), catch wrestling, judo, and sambo
✓The choking mechanism is purely bilateral thigh compression: both inner thighs press the carotid arteries simultaneously — no arm or shoulder assistance is needed
✓The adductor muscles (inner thighs) are among the strongest in the body: when they compress the neck, the force far exceeds what the arms can generate
✓The figure-four lock (ankle behind knee) is the standard securing mechanism: it creates an interlocking structure that prevents the opponent from prying the legs apart
Common Mistakes
!Confusing the headscissors with the triangle — the headscissors is head-only; including an arm changes the technique to a triangle
!Squeezing with the knees — use the inner thigh surfaces (adductors) for compression; knee squeezing is less effective and can injure the attacker
!Not locking the figure-four — the ankle-behind-knee lock is essential for structural compression
!Placing the thighs too high or too low on the neck — mid-neck at carotid level is the target; jaw or shoulder placement is ineffective
!Not extending the hips — hip extension drives the thighs together structurally; without it, the squeeze is muscular only
!Allowing gaps between thigh and neck — both thighs must make full contact; any gap allows blood flow
!Holding without active compression — the position doesn't choke by itself; continuous adductor engagement and hip extension are required
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinkingTwo-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locksTurn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressurePosture 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
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
shoulder and chest pressure, hip sprawl endurance
Favours
heavier upper body, broad shoulders
Key muscles
deltoids, pectorals, core, hip extensors
Sub-techniques
Headscissors From Guard
SpeciesThe headscissors from guard is applied by the bottom player who traps the opponent's head between their thighs while in the guard position, then squeezes the legs together to compress the carotid arteries and restrict blood flow to the brain. [1,2] The guard position provides the hip angle and leg positioning needed to isolate the head, and the attacker may use arm control to prevent the opponent from posturing. [1] The technique requires significant adductor strength and proper alignment of the thighs against the neck for effective bilateral compression. [1,2]
3 varieties·3 techniquesExplore
Headscissors From North-South
SpeciesThe headscissors from north-south is applied when the attacker is in the north-south position and traps the opponent's head between their thighs by closing the legs around the neck from above. [1,2] The north-south alignment places the attacker's hips directly over the opponent's face, providing optimal leverage for the thigh squeeze. [1] The attacker may turn to the side or adjust the hip angle to place the femoral area more precisely against the carotid arteries for bilateral vascular compression. [1,2]
1 varieties·1 techniquesExplore
Headscissors From Side Control
SpeciesThe headscissors from side control is applied by the top player who isolates the opponent's head and threads the legs around the neck while transitioning from a side control pin. [1,2] The attacker typically swings the far leg over the opponent's face and locks the ankles or thighs together, creating the scissoring compression around the neck. [1] This entry requires the attacker to momentarily sacrifice chest-to-chest pressure to achieve the leg-over-head position, making timing and control critical during the transition. [1,2]
1 varieties·1 techniquesExplore
Headscissors From Turtle
SpeciesThe headscissors from turtle is applied against an opponent in the turtle position by threading the legs around the opponent's head from the front or side, then squeezing the thighs together to compress the neck. [1,2] The attacker typically approaches from the front or scrambles to a position where they can swing a leg over the opponent's head, then locks the scissors and rolls or sits back to complete the strangle. [1] The turtle position leaves the head exposed, making it vulnerable to leg-based attacks when the opponent is focused on protecting their back. [1,2]
1 varieties·1 techniquesExplore
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up a scissor choke from side control?
Keep your grip tight on the opponent's arm while maintaining chest pressure. Slide the knee that's behind their shoulder underneath their head, then bring your top leg over and position the tendon behind your knee under their chin. Lock your legs and extend while turning your hips down to finish the choke.
What should I do if my opponent hides their chin during a scissor choke attempt?
If the opponent is hiding their chin, you can use the tendon in your knee to ratchet underneath their chin to dig it up, or scratch their face and then extend. According to Nikki Sullivan, maintaining your Kimura grip is critical—as long as you keep it tight, you won't lose position even if you need to transition away from the choke.
Why is maintaining the Kimura grip important when attempting a scissor choke?
Keeping the Kimura grip tight—pushing the opponent's hand and wrist into their own body—prevents them from getting their elbow out and getting on top. As Nikki Sullivan explains, this grip allows you to go for the choke without giving up your position, and you can always transition back to top control if needed.
How does the Headscissors work?
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. 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.
Where does the Headscissors come from?
Headscissors appear in the earliest grappling traditions, including Greek wrestling, pankration, and Japanese jujutsu. In judo, do-jime (body scissors) and related leg compressions were recognized techniques, though the head-specific application was less systematized.
Is the Headscissors 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?
Danger rating 7/10. Headscissors use the thighs to squeeze the head laterally; risk of neck strain
How do I set up the Headscissors?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Headscissors?
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?
Common variants: Standard north-south choke (shoulder drives into the neck from north-south position); Paper-cutter variation (uses the forearm blade across the throat from the north-s…); Transition finish (applied during the walk-around from side control to north…).
How effective is the Headscissors in competition?
Rare at elite modern competition but historically significant.
What are common mistakes when doing the Headscissors?
Top errors to watch for: Confusing the headscissors with the triangle — the headscissors is head-only; including an arm changes the technique … / Squeezing with the knees — use the inner thigh surfaces (adductors) for compression; knee squeezing is less effective… / Not locking the figure-four — the ankle-behind-knee lock is essential for structural compression / Placing the thighs too high or too low on the neck — mid-neck at carotid level is the target; jaw or shoulder placeme….
What are other names for the Headscissors?
The Headscissors is also known as Heddo Shizāzu, Head Scissors Strangle, Kubi-basami, Scissor Choke.