When we introduce Defense against Headlock from the Side in Level 1, we explain that there is not an immediate life-threatening danger as there is with chokes. The headlock is not a choke; rather, the attacker’s goal may be to:
- Not actual mean you any physical harm but grab you like a childish idiot. (Boy will he be surprised when you rocket a forearm into his groin!)
- Hold your head in place so as to punch it.
- Hold your head in place so his buddy can punch it.
- Yank you down to the ground by your head.
Assuming you either don’t know the Level 5 Defense against Headlock from the Side: Being Spun Inward or weren’t able to pull it off, it’s Attacker Goal #4 that leads to our Level 3 headlock on the ground defenses. These defenses address the basic position and the minor variations of it.
