Russ: North/South Kimura to Head Scissors Choke
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Headscissors From North-South·Revolution BJJ
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Headscissors From North-South
Speciesヘッドシザーズ(Heddo Shizāzu)
TransliterationTranslation: Head Scissors (katakana loanword)
Overview
The 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]
History & Origin
The north-south headscissors developed from the broader category of reverse headscissors techniques used in catch wrestling and submission grappling. [1],[2] The north-south position became a recognized control point in BJJ's positional hierarchy, and practitioners explored leg-based submissions from this pin. [1] While less common than the north-south kimura or choke, the headscissors provides an alternative attack when arm-based submissions are defended. [1],[2]
Effectiveness
Low-percentage due to the difficulty of transitioning from north-south control to a headscissors lock; the opponent's arms are typically free to defend [1]
Lineage
Found in catch wrestling curriculum; adapted to modern grappling by instructors who blend catch and BJJ methodologies [1]
Competition Record
Essentially unseen at major grappling competition; occasionally attempted in catch wrestling and submission-only 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
HACK 66: North South Scissor Choke to Kimura
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Headscissors From North-South·Carlos Machado
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What Instructors Say
The headscissors from north-south position emerges as a leg-based choke executed from dominant top control, particularly effective when the opponent's arm is trapped or controlled. Revolution BJJ emphasizes the transition from a failed Kimura attempt, where the attacker rocks forward to establish both knees around the opponent's neck—one knee under, one over—then extends the legs straight to align with the shoulders, pinching the knees together to compress the carotid arteries or windpipe. Proper knee placement beneath the chin is critical; many practitioners mistakenly position knees on the chin or face rather than the neck, reducing choke efficacy. Carlos Machado prioritizes setup control using an X-frame with the hips rather than hand-wrist grip, reducing self-injury risk when the opponent resists rotation. Machado stresses 'hooking and fishing' the chin by using the knee to clear the opponent's defensive hand before establishing leg position, then reinforcing the choke with the second leg over the first to prevent escape. Both instructors agree that leg alignment perpendicular to the shoulders maximizes pressure; Revolution BJJ notes this prevents the common mistake of curling heels back like an armlock. Machado additionally demonstrates how rolling slightly backward after establishing the choke intensifies the frame pressure to submission-level intensity.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Revolution BJJ — Russ: North/South Kimura to Head Scissors Choke: Detailed mechanics of knee placement and leg extension; emphasis on positioning knees beneath the chin to target carotid arteries; explanation of common mistakes (curling heels, contacting chin instead of neck); distinction between windpipe and carotid chokes; entry via failed Kimura setup.
- Carlos Machado — HACK 66: North South Scissor Choke to Kimura: Control framework using X-frame hip pressure rather than hand grip; technique for clearing opponent's defensive hand via knee pressure; chin manipulation ('hooking and fishing'); dual-leg locking mechanism to prevent escape; rolling progression to intensify frame and finish submission.
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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 from north-south applies the headscissors strangle from the north-south (head-to-head) top control position — sliding the hips forward to capture the head between the thighs while maintaining top pressure (Danaher, Pin Escapes and Turtle Turns: BJJ Fundamentals, 2019)
✓The north-south entry: from standard north-south control, walk the hips forward until the head passes between the thighs, then lock the figure-four
✓The north-south provides a strong headscissors platform: the attacker's body weight reinforces the squeeze — the opponent is pinned and strangled simultaneously
✓The headscissors from north-south works against flat opponents: when the bottom player lies flat defending the north-south choke, their static head position makes it easy to capture between the thighs
✓The transition from north-south control to headscissors is smooth: the hips advance incrementally, maintaining top pressure throughout
✓The headscissors from north-south is complementary to the north-south choke: the choke uses the arm while the headscissors uses the legs — threatening both overwhelms the defence
✓Finishing: lock figure-four, extend hips, squeeze thighs — the top position's weight advantage makes the headscissors from north-south particularly powerful
Common Mistakes
!Attempting without establishing north-south control first — the control position must be secure before advancing the hips for the headscissors
!Advancing the hips too quickly and losing control — slide forward incrementally; rapid hip advance can cause the opponent to escape underneath
!Not maintaining body weight on the opponent — the weight keeps them pinned while the legs work; lifting up to position the legs gives them freedom
!Not locking the figure-four properly — the lock is essential for structural compression; without it, the opponent pushes the legs apart
!Squeezing before the head is properly between the thighs — ensure the thighs contact both sides of the neck before squeezing; premature squeezing on the jaw or shoulders is ineffective
!Not having the north-south choke as a backup — if the headscissors doesn't work, the arm should already be near the neck for the choke transition
!Holding the headscissors without finishing — if it's not working, adjust thigh position or transition; holding a mispositioned headscissors wastes time
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish Position — achieve the controlling position needed for this submission
2Create the Threat — begin the submission setup to force a defensive reaction
3Secure the Hold — lock the submission grip with proper body mechanics
4Finish — apply increasing pressure until the opponent taps or the joint/choke takes effect
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I position my legs to actually get a choke instead of just a face crank?
Revolution BJJ instructor Russ emphasizes that the key is getting your knees underneath the opponent's chin and around the neck—extend your legs straight so your knees pop right out underneath the chin, then pinch your knees together for the choke. A common mistake is curling your heels back like an armlock or positioning on the chin instead of under it.
What's the best way to lock in the headscissors to prevent escape?
Carlos Machado recommends placing one leg over the chin and locking your other leg over it, similar to triangle pressure—this makes it much harder for the opponent to push your foot away compared to having just one leg control.
How do I secure the choke when my opponent grabs their belt to defend?
Revolution BJJ's Russ advises getting your weight forward, rocking into the opponent with a pump action, then hitting your hips forward and placing one knee under the neck and one knee over it before extending your legs straight to lock in the choke.
How does the Headscissors From North-South work?
The 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. The north-south alignment places the attacker's hips directly over the opponent's face, providing optimal leverage for the thigh squeeze.
Where does the Headscissors From North-South come from?
The north-south headscissors developed from the broader category of reverse headscissors techniques used in catch wrestling and submission grappling. The north-south position became a recognized control point in BJJ's positional hierarchy, and practitioners explored leg-based submissions from this pin.
Is the Headscissors From North-South 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 From North-South?
Danger rating 7/10. Headscissors use the thighs to squeeze the head laterally; risk of neck strain
How do I set up the Headscissors From North-South?
The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.
How do I defend against the Headscissors From North-South?
Standard counters include: Early Recognition — identify the submission attempt early and begin defence immediately / Posture and Base — maintain strong posture and base to prevent submission setups / Grip Fight — deny the attacker their preferred gripping configuration.
What are the variants of the Headscissors From North-South?
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 From North-South in competition?
Essentially unseen at major grappling competition; occasionally attempted in catch wrestling and submission-only events
What are common mistakes when doing the Headscissors From North-South?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting without establishing north-south control first — the control position must be secure before advancing the … / Advancing the hips too quickly and losing control — slide forward incrementally; rapid hip advance can cause the oppo… / Not maintaining body weight on the opponent — the weight keeps them pinned while the legs work; lifting up to positio… / Not locking the figure-four properly — the lock is essential for structural compression; without it, the opponent pus….
What are other names for the Headscissors From North-South?
The Headscissors From North-South is also known as Heddo Shizāzu, North-South Head Scissors, Top Scissors Choke.