AOKK Head Butts

The skull can be a powerful weapon. It is a larger bone, so it carries a larger mass. This is a close quarter weapon and is most effective against soft tissue areas. It has been banned in most sport competitions. Striking the soft tissue around the eye can split the eyebrow causing bleeding that impairs the opponent’s vision. This is an advantage and a blow that your adversary rarely is expecting.

Head butts are most effective if you’re above the opponent’s hip line. Dropping a head butt on an attacker, while their head is pressed against the ground, means that the full impact of the blow is directed to your target area. The adversary cannot move backwards. A head butt can be delivered from the guard, but it is not as effective. To do this you must cup the attacker’s neck and pull him/her into the strike. Break their nose and you could hip shift and get out of the disadvantageous position.

Many karateka find striking with the head distasteful. It can inflict a great deal of damage to an opponent, and it is personally painful to deliver. It may be a crude technique and illegal in competition, but it can be most effective in a life preservation situation.

Front Strike:

The front strike is performed with the crown of the head. The target area is the opponent’s eyebrows. Other target areas are the orbital bones, cheek bone (Zygomatic), or nose. If the eyebrow is split his causes bleeding. Blood can get in their eyes and impair their vision. Fracturing the cheek bone will cause intense pain with every consecutive blow to that area. Breaking the nose impairs breathing and can cause the opponent to focus on the blood as opposed to the fight. Damage the orbit bones can cause impairment of the adversary’s vision as-well-as pain. The orbital bones are extremely hard, so the blow must be powerful.

Warning: Striking with the head can cause lacerations to your scalp. Head wounds bleed a great deal. If you begin to bleed do not focus on the blood but continue your attack without hesitation.                                            

Rising Strike:

The rising strike is performed with the top of the head. The target area is the opponent’s chin. If the opponent has forced you in front of him or her, pop your head upwards and strike under the attacker’s chin. This technique delivered properly can render the opponent unconscious.                                              

Reverse Strike:

The reverse strike is performed with the back of the head. The target area is the opponent’s chin or nose. If the opponent has attacked you from behind, this is a very good loosening-up technique. It should cause the attacker to move his/her head out of the circle of combat creating distance.  Once distance is created you may begin shifting your body position while driving backwards elbows into the attacker’s ribs.                                           

Side Strike:

If you find yourself in a clinch, you’re in a very vulnerable position. In this position the opponent can drive his/her shoulder upwards and strike you under the chin. To prevent this from happening, drive the side of your head into the temple or orbital area of the attacker and quickly move your head out of this vulnerable position. This is not a true attack, but more of a response to a situation. With a little luck, the blow will inflict damage as you escape.