2. Dashboard
  3. Programs   /   Curriculum   /   Program   /   Course   /   Lesson   /   

Lesson 14: Headlock Counters

Lead Instructors:  Rener Gracie ,  Ryron Gracie
 Access:  Public   Status:  Active   Lesson:  $10.00
Purchase the complete Gracie Bullyproof Program and save over 25%.
The goal in a fight is to achieve the mount. Once you accomplish this, the bully will panic and desperately attempt to escape. One of the most common escape strategies used by unskilled individuals is to establish a headlock and try throw you off. The Headlock Counters from the mount will keep you from getting rolled off of a bully, and prepare you to take advantage of the submission opportunities that will inevitably arise.
Additional Purchase Options
Purchase this single lesson without purchasing the complete course: Jr. Combatives - Gracie Bullyproof®.
Add Course to Cart
This Lesson is part of Jr. Combatives - Gracie Bullyproof® (34 Lessons). Purchase the entire course at once and save over 25%.
View Subscriptions
Subscribe today and get full course access for over 40% off after a 5-day free trial!
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x

Lesson Specs

Lesson Goals

  1. Understand the Course Topic
  2. Refine your ability to execute the techniques presented in the Course
  3. Become familiar with the drills that can be used to develop your skills
  4. Achieve significant proficiency in the material

Instructions

  1. Watch the Lesson.
  2. Take notes on essential details.
  3. Bookmark key points in the videos for future reference.
  4. Ask questions in the Forum if you need help.
  5. Review the lesson multiple times to build confidence.

Lesson Slices

  1. Basic Positioning
  2. Armlock Finish
  3. Bully Battle

Lead Instructors

Rener Gracie
Gracie University Chief Instructor

Ryron and Rener Gracie are the eldest grandsons of Grand Master Helio Gracie, the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Their father is Rorion Gracie, one of the world’s foremost experts in self-defense. In 1993, Rorion created the Ultimate Fighting Championship to showcase the supremacy of the family’s self-defense system in a realistic “no holds barred” confrontation against all comers. Rorion’s younger brother, Royce, won 3 of the first 4 UFC tournaments proving that the leverage-based techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu provided the most reliable way to defeat a larger, more athletic opponent. Ryron and Rener were born into this family tradition of testing the art against all challengers.

Rorion introduced his sons to the art as soon as they could walk. As children, they watched him teach private classes in their garage in Southern California. But, it wasn’t until they observed their father and uncles – Royce, Rickson, and Royler – easily winning challenge matches that they began to comprehend fully the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Even more important, Ryron and Rener recognized the profound impact the family’s art had on all who studied it. The life changing transformations of Gracie University students motivated the brothers to teach the art. While constantly perfecting their physical techniques, they worked equally hard to master the powerfully effective instruction methods developed by their forbearers. In 2003, Grand Master Helio Gracie awarded Ryron and Rener black belts in recognition of their mastery of his unique techniques and teaching methodologies.

More...

Ryron Gracie
Gracie University Chief Instructor

Ryron and Rener Gracie are the eldest grandsons of Grand Master Helio Gracie, the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Their father is Rorion Gracie, one of the world’s foremost experts in self-defense. In 1993, Rorion created the Ultimate Fighting Championship to showcase the supremacy of the family’s self-defense system in a realistic “no holds barred” confrontation against all comers. Rorion’s younger brother, Royce, won 3 of the first 4 UFC tournaments proving that the leverage-based techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu provided the most reliable way to defeat a larger, more athletic opponent. Ryron and Rener were born into this family tradition of testing the art against all challengers.

Rorion introduced his sons to the art as soon as they could walk. As children, they watched him teach private classes in their garage in Southern California. But, it wasn’t until they observed their father and uncles – Royce, Rickson, and Royler – easily winning challenge matches that they began to comprehend fully the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Even more important, Ryron and Rener recognized the profound impact the family’s art had on all who studied it. The life changing transformations of Gracie University students motivated the brothers to teach the art. While constantly perfecting their physical techniques, they worked equally hard to master the powerfully effective instruction methods developed by their forbearers. In 2003, Grand Master Helio Gracie awarded Ryron and Rener black belts in recognition of their mastery of his unique techniques and teaching methodologies.

More...

Other Lessons in This Course

Free (Registration Required)

Jr. Combatives: Intro Class

Watch this with your child to get the most out of the Jr. Combatives course.

Lesson 1: Trap and Roll Escape

The goal is to achieve the top position once the fight goes to the ground; the problem is that things don’t always go according to plan. Against a strong bully, you are likely to end up on the bottom of the mount position which is the single worst place to be in a fight. From this position the bully can strike or ...

Lesson 2: Americana Armlock

The goal in the fight is to achieve the mount, exhaust the bully, and then win the fight. Punching the bully from the mount is not recommended since it will exhaust your energy, risk your balance, and could injure them more seriously than desired. We prefer to use leverage-based submissions instead so that we can ...

Lesson 3: Positional Control (Mount)

The mount is the most dominant position in a fight because it gives you full control over the bully. You must understand, however, that as soon as you achieve the mount, the bully will do everything in his power to escape and if you don’t have solid control strategies you will get thrown off. In the Gracie Game cou...

Lesson 4: Take the Back (Mount)

The mount is unquestionably the best place to be in a fight. Once you achieve the mount you must focus all your efforts on maintaining the position. Nine times out of ten, the bully will instantly roll to their knees out of fear of punches. In the Gracie Game course, you learned how to Take the Back (Crazy Horse)....

Lesson 5: Leg Hook Takedown

Your goal in any fight should be to avoid dangerous punches while standing, and then get the fight to the ground where you can control the bully more effectively. The safest place to be in a fight, while standing, is in a clinch. From the clinch, the bullies striking power is almost entirely eliminated. You will ...

Lesson 6: Clinch (Aggressive Opponent)

Most martial arts rely heavily on the use of strikes to defeat the opponent. And although strikes may work against a smaller opponent, against a larger bully, they are very risky. The best strategy is to establish a clinch and take the fight to the ground where you can preserve energy, neutralize punches, and defe...

Lesson 7: Punch Block Series (Stages 1-4)

The ideal position in a fight is the mount. If you get thrown off from the mount, you can use your legs to wrap the bully in a position called the guard. The guard is the “secret weapon” for any Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, since it enables you to win the fight from the bottom, but this can only be done if you c...

Lesson 8: Straight Armlock

The goal in the fight is to achieve the mount because from there you can exhaust the bully with ease. Sometimes, however, the bully turns sideways and jeopardizes your control. When this happens, they create the perfect opportunity for the Straight Armlock. This submission can be used from a variety of positions,...

Lesson 9: Elevator Sweep

If you can’t maintain the mount, use the guard to control the bully. While trapped in your guard, a heavier bully is very likely to drive all their weight forward so they can crush you with their body weight. But, because they are inside your legs, their weight is distributed in many different places, which makes ...

Lesson 10: Elbow Escape

Any time you find yourself trapped underneath the bully in the mount position your goal should be to use the Trap and Roll Escape, since it will place you on top of the fight. If this escape is not possible, because the bully is too big or their base is too wide, the Elbow Escape will guarantee your survival.

Lesson 11: Positional Control (Side Mount)

Your positional objective in every fight should be to achieve the mount. Prior to achieving the mount, you may need to resort to another very dominant position called the side mount. You already learned how to prevent the bully from bridging and throwing you off in the “Crocodile Control” game. Now it’s time for y...

Lesson 12: Body Fold Takedown

Instead of exchanging punches with the bully, we recommend that you establish the clinch and take them to the ground where you can control them without causing any unnecessary harm. Once you establish the clinch, there is a good chance that they will get desperate and try to hit you in the face. In doing so, they ...

Lesson 13: Clinch (Conservative Opponent)

The goal in a fight is to avoid getting knocked out, establish the clinch, and get the fight to the ground. The easiest time to do this is when the bully commits to attacking you aggressively. For this reason, it is best to keep the distance and wait for their attack if at all possible. In the event that the bull...

Lesson 14: Headlock Counters

The goal in a fight is to achieve the mount. Once you accomplish this, the bully will panic and desperately attempt to escape. One of the most common escape strategies used by unskilled individuals is to establish a headlock and try throw you off. The Headlock Counters from the mount will keep you from getting rol...

Lesson 15: Double Leg Takedown

The advantage of establishing an upper body clinch is that once you take the bully down you end up in the mount position. If you think it might be difficult to establish the clinch, the Double Leg Takedown is a great alternative. In the Gracie Game course, you learned how to apply the basic Double Leg Takedown agai...

Lesson 16: Headlock Escape 1

Besides punches, headlocks are the single most common form of attack used by bullies. Although they aren’t as effective as a true submission hold, getting caught in a headlock by a stronger bully can be a very painful and demoralizing experience. The Frame Escape is the first of two headlock escape strategies that...

Lesson 17: Straight Armlock

The most common type of attack you will encounter from a bully who is trapped inside your guard is a punch to the face. Once they realize that they can’t effectively punch you they will try to get access to your neck or face by any means necessary. Whenever someone attacks your neck or face from within your guard,...

Lesson 18: Double Ankle Sweep

Your most important task from the bottom of the guard is to avoid all knockout punches. Depending on what the bully does from within your guard, there are many techniques you can use to reverse the position or win the fight. One situation in which the bully is vulnerable for a sweep is when they stand up directly ...

Lesson 19: Pull Guard

In an ideal situation, you would be able to close the distance, establish the clinch, conduct a takedown, achieve the mount, and win the fight. Sometimes however, the bully is very resistant when you try to establish control of them. If you get into a clinch and you are unable to the bully down because they are to...

Lesson 20: Headlock Escape 2

Headlocks are one of the most common attacks in street fights. If you can anticipate the headlock before it happens, chances are you will be able to use Headlock Escape 1, the Frame Escape, to neutralize the threat. If you are caught by surprise and don’t have enough time to use the first option, you can resort to...

Lesson 21: Shrimp Escape

Against a much larger bully, there is a good chance that you will find yourself on the bottom of the fight. And if this happens, the safest thing to do is to get them in your guard, because from there you can neutralize punches and win the fight. If the bully is able to get past your guard, you can use the Shrimp ...

Lesson 22: Kimura Armlock

The Kimura shoulder lock was named after the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu champion, Masahiko Kimura after he used the technique against Helio Gracie in 1951. Although this technique can be applied from the top and bottom of the fight, we have chosen to teach it to you from the bottom, since that is where you are most likely ...

Lesson 23: Standing Headlock Defense

Once you establish the clinch on the bully, there is a good chance that they will get desperate and catch you in a headlock. Without the proper escape strategy, it can be a very painful and demoralizing experience, but with the proper technique you can turn the tables and use their headlock to your advantage.

Lesson 24: Punch Block Series (Stage 5)

From Stage 4 it is important that you drop the bully back to Stage 1 as quickly as possible so that you are safest from punches and have the best control over their body. If, while in Stage 4, the bully is not leaning forward heavily enough to be dropped to Stage 1, it is best to push them away to Stage 5. In this...

Lesson 25: Hook Sweep

If the bully leans all their weight forward from Stage 4 drop them to Stage 1. If they stand in Stage 4 without leaning any weight, kick them to Stage 5. If they are leaning forward from Stage 4 but have one leg forward for base, use the Hook Sweep to reverse the position.

Lesson 26: Rear Takedown

Generally speaking, you would not want to engage physically with the bully unless he/she attacks you first. But, if one day you find yourself in a situation where you see a bully physically attacking a smaller child, and you want to help the victim, you can use the Rear Takedown to take control of the bully.

Lesson 27: Haymaker Punch Defense

In many cases, the precise movement and aim of the bully’s strikes are hard to predict. Sometimes, however, they are so eager to attack you that their punches are totally predictable. The “Haymaker” punch is used when a determined attacker comes at you from a distance with the objective of putting all of their bod...

Lesson 28: Take the Back (Guard)

Use the guard to exhaust the bully and win the fight. If the bully is able to get their arm inside your arms from the guard, the best thing to do is swim back inside and establish Stage 1 control. If you can’t swim your arms through and they are able to drive their forearm across your neck, you can redirect their ...

Lesson 29: Guillotine Defense

When you establish the clinch, the bully is likely to get desperate and attempt to grab anything that will make them feel more secure. The Guillotine choke is one of the most common techniques used by unskilled individuals because it is simple and it gives them a feeling of control during the chaos. Although prope...

Lesson 30: Elbow Escape

If the bully is able to achieve the side mount, chances are they will be so eager to punch you that they will create space for you to execute the Shrimp Escape, which you learned in Lesson 21. If they are able to prevent the Shrimp Escape, the best thing to do is conserve energy and wait until they transition from t...

Lesson 31: Standing Armlock

Although we normally recommend you take the fight to the ground, sometimes the bully will give you an opportunity to defeat them while standing. Many confrontations begin with a bully pushing your chest with one or both hands, and when this happens, they unknowingly create the perfect opportunity for you to apply t...

Lesson 32: Twisting Arm Control

The beauty of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is that it enables you to defeat virtually anyone while controlling the amount of damage you inflict. The Twisting Arm Control is prime example of this because you can use it for pure control and negotiation, or you can use it to set up a Straight Armlock.

Lesson 33: Double Underhook Guard Pass

If you end up inside the bully’s guard after a takedown or a Trap and Roll Escape, you will need to pass their guard. This can be done by stepping over the legs, as you’ve already learned, or you can go under the legs with the Double Underhook Guard Pass. First, you will learn how to use this technique if the oppon...