World Cup Soccer Head Butting

 

Zizou knows heat butting. He hits soccer balls with his head for a living. If you've ever played soccer before (as I have), it's no biggie. For the record, I played halfback in the early part of my short career (also running track at the time), and goalie in the last year (when I started martial arts).

The goal (no pun intended) is to hit with the frontal bone.

Here's the starting position...



... and the finishing position.


Note how when you hit, you're contacting with the very thick peak of the frontal bone. As long as you don't do that every day, you aren't going to lose too many brain cells. At least no more than you would if you went out for a night on the town... And it's certainly a LOT harder than your fist, and perhaps even your palm heel.

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quote:

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Structure
The squama and the zygomatic processes are very thick, consisting of diploic tissue contained between two compact laminæ

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If you're going to do it, the goal is to hit the peak of your frontal bone on the nose of the opponent. If you miss and hit either the cheekbone or the temple, you're still ahead. (a head...) If the person pulls their head back, you could still crack their teeth or crack their jaw. The worst-case scenario would be hitting frontal bone on frontal bone. But that's no different than two white belts kicking at the same time and hitting their shins together.

Ask anyone in boxing how dangerous a head butt can be.

Here's the flip side. Decide not to use this if you want. But if you go inside with your southern Chinese art and ignore the possibility that it could happen to you, you're in big-time danger. A quick head butt in a street fight can be a show stopper.

Personally I prefer having this technique in my secret bag of tricks. Hands by the sides and I'm no danger. Right?

- Bill

Last edited by Bill Glasheen on Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:54 am; edited 2 times in total

 

Dave Young, who trains LEOs and will be at his second Uechi camp this year, teaches his officers to turn the face slightly away when clinching close to a perp. He teaches a particular way of clinching onto the BG and staying lock-step with them which reduces the risk of that happening to you.

The important thing is that we have an example of a professional who starts right out of the box teaching field officers that the head butt is common and the possibility of it happening must be dealt with.