No Gi Judo Front headlock
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Headlock Throw·Shintaro Higashi
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Headlock Throw
Familyヘッドロック投げ(Heddorokku Nage)
HybridTranslation: headlock throw (katakana)
Overview
Headlock Throw is the family of wrestling throws executed from a headlock position, in which the attacker wraps one arm around the opponent's head or neck and uses hip rotation, lateral dropping, or rolling action to bring the opponent to the mat. [1],[2] Headlock throws are among the most instinctive throwing techniques in wrestling and are commonly seen at all competitive levels, from youth wrestling to Olympic competition. [2],[3] The family includes the standard headlock throw (sometimes called a head-and-arm throw) and the pancake, a flattening technique used from the headlock position. [3],[4] While powerful, headlock throws carry an inherent risk — if the attacker fails to complete the throw, they may expose their own back to the mat, resulting in points for the opponent. [4]
History & Origin
Headlock throws are among the oldest wrestling techniques, appearing in wrestling traditions across virtually every culture. [1] In competitive Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, the headlock throw became a fundamental technique taught at the earliest stages of training. [1],[2] The technique has been used extensively in professional wrestling entertainment as well, though the competitive version requires genuine hip throwing mechanics. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
Headlock throws are common in folkstyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and are occasionally seen in MMA. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Loading the opponent onto the hip and rotating them over it — the hip acts as the fulcrum
Joints Involved — Attacker's hip (fulcrum point), knees (deep bend for loading), core (rotation), opponent's centre of gravity (elevated)
Force Vector — Rotational — pulling and turning motion loads the opponent, then hip extension and rotation drives them over
Kuzushi (Off-balancing) — Forward and upward — breaking opponent's posture forward lifts their centre of gravity onto the attacker's hip
Position & Entry
From judo grip — Break the opponent's balance forward (kuzushi), turn in with hip below their centre of gravity, and rotate to throw
From clinch (overhook or underhook) — Secure inside position, turn the hips across the opponent's body, load and throw
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Headlock position adds neck strain risk; moderate throw amplitude
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IJF — Legal throwing technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— UWW — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— Unified MMA — Legal throwing technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The headlock throw wraps the opponent's head and uses hip contact to throw them sideways — common in folkstyle wrestling and self-defence (Cael Sanderson headlock throws in NCAA wrestling)
✓Secure a tight headlock by wrapping your arm around the opponent's head from the side
✓Pop your hip into the opponent's hip as a fulcrum — the headlock controls the upper body, the hip does the throwing
✓The throw is a combination of pulling the head down and popping the hip — both must happen simultaneously
✓In folkstyle wrestling, headlock throws from the tie-up are a high-percentage attack
✓Be aware of the back-exposure risk: if you fail, the opponent may take your back
✓Train the headlock throw in combination with other clinch attacks — it's most effective off a collar tie or overhook setup
Common Mistakes
!Locking only the neck without hip contact — a headlock without a hip fulcrum is just a crank
!Not popping the hip into the opponent — the hip is the throwing mechanism
!Pulling the head down without the hip throw — you bend the opponent over but don't throw them
!Over-squeezing the headlock and losing body position — focus on the throw, not the squeeze
!Turning your back to the opponent without completing the throw — this gives up back exposure
!Headlocking from too far away — you must be hip-to-hip for the throw to work
!Not having a plan B when the headlock throw fails — chain to another attack
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to executeBlock the Hip — post hand on the thrower's hip to prevent loadingStep Around — circle away from the throw direction to avoid being loadedGrip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configurationStiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry
Setup Chain
1Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) — establish the controlling grips needed for the throw
2Off-Balance (Kuzushi) — break the opponent's balance in the throwing direction
3Entry (Tsukuri) — position the body for the throw by turning, stepping, or loading
4Execution (Kake) — complete the throwing action with full commitment and follow-through
Sources & References
Primary Source
Japanese amateur wrestling terminology
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Japanese amateur wrestling terminology
2OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
3CitationJapanese amateur wrestling terminology
Standard katakana transliteration used in Japanese wrestling (レスリング)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip rotation speed, core strength, lower back stability
Favours
strong hips and core, good flexibility for turning entry
Key muscles
hip rotators, core, quadriceps, latissimus dorsi
Sub-techniques
Pancake
SubFamilyThe Pancake is a wrestling throw variation from the headlock position in which the attacker, rather than executing a full hip throw, drives the opponent directly to the mat in a flattening motion, pressing them face-down. [1,2] The name 'pancake' refers to the flat, compressed position the opponent ends up in. [2] The technique is typically executed when the attacker has a headlock but cannot generate sufficient rotation for a full throw, instead using downward pressure and body weight to flatten the opponent. [2,3] The pancake is widely used in folkstyle (collegiate) wrestling as a scoring technique from the neutral or front headlock position. [3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Standard Headlock Throw
SubFamilyStandard Headlock Throw is the classical head-and-arm throw in wrestling, in which the attacker wraps one arm around the opponent's head, secures the grip with the other hand, loads the opponent onto the hip by turning in, and executes a hip throw that sends the opponent over and onto their back. [1,2] The technique is biomechanically similar to judo's koshi guruma (hip wheel) but is executed without jacket grips, relying instead on the neck-and-arm clinch. [2,3] The standard headlock throw is a high-amplitude technique that can score maximum points in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling when the opponent is thrown with their back fully exposed. [3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
The headlock throw uses a standing headlock (kubi-nage in judo) to spin the opponent over the hip. Common in street fights and self-defense scenarios. In wrestling, the headlock throw is taught early but can be countered by experienced wrestlers who take the back. (Wrestling coaching manuals; Kano, Kodokan Judo)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I secure the headlock throw once I have my opponent's head?
Once your head is over your opponent's head, throw your shoulder over to the back of their neck to secure the position before executing the throw. Shintaro Higashi emphasizes this shoulder placement as critical to controlling the opponent.
What should I do if my opponent tries to defend by connecting their hands around mine?
If your opponent connects their hands to prevent you from locking, immediately snap down to bring their hands to the ground and maintain control of the position. Shintaro Higashi notes this is a common defensive reaction you must counter decisively.
How does the Headlock Throw work?
Headlock Throw is the family of wrestling throws executed from a headlock position, in which the attacker wraps one arm around the opponent's head or neck and uses hip rotation, lateral dropping, or rolling action to bring the opponent to the mat. Headlock throws are among the most instinctive throwing techniques in wrestling and are commonly seen at all competitive levels, from youth wrestling to Olympic competition.
Where does the Headlock Throw come from?
Headlock throws are among the oldest wrestling techniques, appearing in wrestling traditions across virtually every culture. In competitive Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, the headlock throw became a fundamental technique taught at the earliest stages of training.
Is the Headlock Throw legal in competition?
IJF: legal — Legal throwing technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; UWW: legal — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman; Unified MMA: legal — Legal throwing technique; ADCC: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Headlock Throw?
Danger rating 5/10. High — headlock position adds neck strain risk; moderate throw amplitude
How do I set up the Headlock Throw?
The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).
How do I defend against the Headlock Throw?
Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Block the Hip — post hand on the thrower's hip to prevent loading / Step Around — circle away from the throw direction to avoid being loaded / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration.
What are the variants of the Headlock Throw?
Common variants: Standard hip throw (full turn-in with hip below the opponent's centre of gravity); No-gi hip throw (adapted without gi grips, using overhook and collar tie); Drop hip throw (dropping to one knee to lower the fulcrum point); Combination hip throw (chaining from a failed foot technique or hand technique).
How effective is the Headlock Throw in competition?
Headlock throws are common in folkstyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and are occasionally seen in MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Headlock Throw?
Top errors to watch for: Locking only the neck without hip contact — a headlock without a hip fulcrum is just a crank / Not popping the hip into the opponent — the hip is the throwing mechanism / Pulling the head down without the hip throw — you bend the opponent over but don't throw them / Over-squeezing the headlock and losing body position — focus on the throw, not the squeeze.
What are other names for the Headlock Throw?
The Headlock Throw is also known as Heddorokku Nage, Head-and-arm throws, Headlock takedowns.