Standard Headscissors Strangle

Variety

ヘッドシザーズ(Heddo Shizāzu)

Transliteration

Translation: Head Scissors (katakana loanword)

Overview

The standard headscissors strangle from guard is the fundamental leg-based head squeeze where the attacker traps the opponent's head between the thighs from a bottom guard position and squeezes. ^[1] The attacker captures the opponent's head as it dips forward during a guard pass attempt, closes the legs around the skull and neck, and contracts the adductor muscles to compress both sides of the neck simultaneously. ^[1],[2] The standard variant uses a straight leg squeeze without a figure-four lock, relying purely on adductor strength and thigh circumference to generate compression. ^[2] While simpler than the figure-four version, the standard headscissors can still produce unconsciousness through carotid compression when sufficient force is applied. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Classic Head Scissors Strangle^[1]Standard Kubi-basami from Guard^[2]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA Sambo

History & Origin

Head scissors are among the oldest grappling techniques, depicted in ancient Greek and Egyptian wrestling art. ^[1] The guard application was incorporated into BJJ's ground fighting curriculum as both a positional control and a legitimate strangulation attempt. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

Effective when the legs can lock around the neck with proper angle; the squeeze compresses the carotid arteries bilaterally. Requires strong adductors and precise positioning ^[1]

Lineage

One of the oldest submission techniques in grappling history, depicted in ancient Greek pankration art. Present in catch wrestling, judo (do-jime family), sambo, and BJJ ^[1]

Competition Record

Rare standalone finish at elite BJJ and ADCC events but occasionally seen in MMA, catch wrestling, and sambo competition ^[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 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

Variants

Standard grip variation — primary hand configuration for maximum choking pressure

Gi variation — uses the lapel or collar as an anchor for additional friction and control

No-gi variation — adapted grip and positioning for submission grappling without the gi

Transition finish — applied during a positional change to catch the opponent off-guard

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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 standard headscissors strangle traps the opponent's head between the thighs in the fundamental orientation — the attacker faces the opponent's head, squeezing both inner thighs against the carotid arteries (Gracie & Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, 2001)

✓The standard orientation: the attacker faces the same direction as the opponent's head, with one thigh pressing each side of the neck — the most natural and commonly drilled headscissors position

✓The figure-four lock secures the position: one leg hooks behind the knee of the other, creating an interlocking structure that prevents the opponent from prying the legs apart

✓The squeeze uses the adductor muscles: the inner thighs (among the strongest muscles in the body) compress bilaterally — this creates rapid unconsciousness when both carotids are occluded

✓From guard: the standard headscissors is applied when the opponent's head is low and between the legs — common during guard passes, head-down postures, or scrambles

✓The standard headscissors is one of the oldest submissions: it appears in ancient Greek wrestling, catch wrestling, and judo (juji-jime family) — a truly universal technique

✓Finishing: lock the figure-four, extend the hips, and squeeze the knees together — the combination of structural lock, hip extension, and adductor engagement creates maximum compression

Common Mistakes

!Squeezing with the knees rather than the thighs — the compression should come from the inner thigh surfaces (adductors), not the knees; knee squeezing is painful for the attacker

!Not locking the figure-four — the ankle-behind-knee lock is essential; without it, the squeeze is weaker and the opponent can pry the legs apart

!Placing the legs too low on the neck — the thighs should compress at carotid level (mid-neck); too low catches the shoulders, too high catches the jaw

!Not extending the hips — hip extension drives the thighs together with structural force; without it, the squeeze relies on muscular effort alone

!Allowing space between thigh and neck — the thighs must make full contact with both sides of the neck; gaps allow blood flow to continue

!Crossing the ankles instead of figure-four — crossed ankles provide a weaker lock and can be ankle-locked by the opponent

!Holding without squeezing — the position alone doesn't choke; active adductor engagement and hip extension are required for the finish

Related Techniques

Escape — defensive technique to relieve choking pressure and recover position Tap (Submission Signal) — the safety mechanism indicating the technique is effective

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

grip or squeeze strength, positional control

Favours

strong upper body for sustained compression

Key muscles

forearms, biceps, pectorals, core stabilisers

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Standard Headscissors Strangle work?

Where does the Standard Headscissors Strangle come from?

Head scissors are among the oldest grappling techniques, depicted in ancient Greek and Egyptian wrestling art. The guard application was incorporated into BJJ's ground fighting curriculum as both a positional control and a legitimate strangulation attempt.

Is the Standard 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 Standard 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 Standard Headscissors Strangle?

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

How do I defend against the Standard 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 Standard Headscissors Strangle?

Common variants: Standard grip variation (primary hand configuration for maximum choking pressure); Gi variation (uses the lapel or collar as an anchor for additional fric…); No-gi variation (adapted grip and positioning for submission grappling wit…); Transition finish (applied during a positional change to catch the opponent …).

How effective is the Standard Headscissors Strangle in competition?

Rare standalone finish at elite BJJ and ADCC events but occasionally seen in MMA, catch wrestling, and sambo competition

What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Headscissors Strangle?

Top errors to watch for: Squeezing with the knees rather than the thighs — the compression should come from the inner thigh surfaces (adductor… / Not locking the figure-four — the ankle-behind-knee lock is essential; without it, the squeeze is weaker and the oppo… / Placing the legs too low on the neck — the thighs should compress at carotid level (mid-neck); too low catches the sh… / Not extending the hips — hip extension drives the thighs together with structural force; without it, the squeeze reli….

What are other names for the Standard Headscissors Strangle?

The Standard Headscissors Strangle is also known as Heddo Shizāzu, Classic Head Scissors Strangle, Standard Kubi-basami from Guard.

heddo shiz zu submission choke and strangle lock leg choke headscissors strangle headscissors headscissors from guard standard headscissors strangle classic head scissors strangle standard kubi basami from guard