for john wang and other headlockers...

[GrahamB]

Graham, why the hell are you wearing glasses? lol

Because I didn't know I was about to become a demo partner for Fong! He was talking about headlocks with the other guys then just grabbed me to demo on

Also - I have to maintain my Sifu Z-like cool at all times

[GrahamB]

My natural reaction to it was to sink my weight to stop him throwing me.

I'll suggest the opposite approach instead. You should straight your legs as much as you can and lift his feet off the ground. The harder his head lock is, the easier it is for you to pick him up. His head lock will become your free contact point for your embracing. When you sink and bend your leg at your knee joint, your opponent can help you to sink down even more by making your leg bend side way instead of vertical downward. If he twists on your leg and then "sit" on it, since your knee is bent side way, it could crash your knee joint and that may cause some permanent injury. The moment that you sink down and bend your legs, it will be very difficult to recovery from it if all your opponent's weight will crash down on your knee joint. The human's knee is just not very strong side way.

Hmmm... I'd have to experiment with that - I didn't feel like I was strong (or tall ) enough to lift him from that position - what should I do next if I can lift him up?

[XiaoXiong]

My teacher has some wicked headlocks. My #1 headlock rule is turn the head facing toward your opposite arm in front of you and sink the forearm under the jaw bone. Squeeze is part of it but also twist.
J

[johnwang]

I didn't feel like I was strong (or tall ) enough to lift him from that position - what should I do next if I can lift him up?

Move your left leg back and rotate to your left and pull your opponent down with you or step in your right leg, grab his right leg with your right hand, and push him down.

[GrahamB]

But then, don't I just end up in a headlock on the floor instead of one standing up? I imagine that to be a worse position....

[Josealb]

On the way down you can slip out, if i understood correctly.

[GrahamB]

I think I need to see a video of this to get it....

[Dmitri]

...but is there anywhere around this?

Sure -- don't place anyone into a headlock.

Seriously though, there are other counters as well that may work... It is NOT an easy move to place well and control through, IME. I mean, try it on someone with Brock Lesnar's neck!

I would say, unless you can hang on trees like John, don't go for it, as a general rule. If you have that opportunity, you would usually have a good opportunity for other things.

[Ba-men]

Headlocks I don't like... All the effective counters that I know involves being involuntary taken to the floor for the escape. I prefer to keep my feet. Because of this I employ the Neck crank. I think its more universal than a standard head lock and doesn't cooperate with counters that involve going to the floor.

However, I can see getting good at a headlock and learning to deny the counter.

[Dmitri]

No doubt, IF you can put a nice one on and you know what you're doing, it's just as impossible (i.e. too late) to escape as any other lock (e.g. an armbar, etc.)

[wiesiek]

...but is there anywhere around this?

Sure -- don't place anyone into a headlock.


I would say, unless you can hang on trees like John, don't go for it, as a general rule.

i think Dimitri get the main point.

headlock is generally speakin`easy to counter
unles you are able hang on trees like John

we have here not only the headlock
but also leglock /kawazugake/ in the same time
done together = momentary neck breaking
it may work for any adversary
when you are able hang on tree like John at least 10 breaths min. /J.W. please corect my guess /

Im still not able to hang on tree any amount of time /didn`t find the willing tree yet /
particulary leglock is hard to me `cause it was/is forbiden judo move,
and i never trained this way before

[bruce]

After seeing John do some tree hanging, i really dont think theres anything you can do to get out of that.

once he breaks your skull you can slip right out

[bailewen]

I thought the classic headlock counter was a suplex?

I also understand that there are headlocks and there are HEADLOCKS but assuming relatively equal gongfu, isn't it usually fairly easy to just drop your knees down under, grab his waist and bend over backwards? (more or less).

I'd look for a video but right now China Telecom is not giving me access to Google or Youtube. *grrr* (no time to find a proxy server either as I have to go to work soon.)

[wiesiek]

yes,
ura nage in judo
but
doesn`t work if h.l. is done with leglock
actually
kawazugake /leglock/ blocking this counter
and
was developed for this purpose
i think

J.W.?
please clar up

[johnwang]

Both kawazugake (leg twist) and leg spring (force your opponent into a bow arrow stance) can prevent ura nage.