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Headbutt Self Defense
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
July 14, 2025, Israel
This short blog comes from our Online Krav Maga program, on the topic of dealing with someone standing very close to me, "In my face" and threatening me, talking trash etc. In the video our attacker strikes me in the head with a headbutt, a very violent attack. This can and has happened many times and even experienced street fighters have been knocked out or badly hurt under such circumstances. We must learn how to deal with this, and that is what our online distance program is all about, giving regular people the tools to deal with unexpected violent attacks. The perfect defense for imperfect people. So even if you don't have the ability to train in a regular martial arts class, this can help you. Of course, it is best to combine with this with training in an authorized IKI Krav Maga school.
My approach, which is on the video (sorry, no video with this blog, that is for the IKI members) is not to try and block the headbutt but to block the person. I explain my approach as this is my best option as I do NOT know what kind of attack will take place. I.e. this is not a defense vs a Headbutt per se, as I don't have any inside information that a Headbutt Attack is about to take place. This is an unknown.
As such, I must have a Universal Defense against any attack. My internal human motion detector is on High Alert as he body language tells me Trouble is coming. As soon as I sense movement, I charge forward, in this case it worked well to block a Headbutt coming my way.
Let us analyze this scenario. First, let's put this into context, this is not a dojo, this is not an agreed upon prearranged fight. This is you, a regular guy, or girl, casually walking to your car after watching a baseball game, or going out for dinner. Your mind is on getting home and going to sleep, but then suddenly, there is this big guy in your face. You see, now it is his workday, he is working the night shift, and he wants to get paid; you are the one who needs to pay him. He is "In your Face", you did not plan this, you did not want this, he is standing between you and the exit, or your car. This is your reality now. His hands are low, he stares in your face, he growls, he smells bad, there might be a knife, or a gun, or, you don't know!
As I explained and demonstrated earlier, a preemptive strike is not always an option, walking away is not always an option, blocking his attack? There is no time, there is no space. You don't have the physical space to move properly. If you go high, he might come low with a series of stabs to you lower body, or a gun in your gut. These are all very real possibilities. If you push him, it might work, or as we saw in many cases he might just come back swinging. I would say the best option is for me to be ready; Hands in a position that I can block low or high, or, as I am doing here, Check the Body rather than block a strike. There is no time to see the attack coming, to see the nature of the attack, the angle, the trajectory, or if there is something hidden in his hands. I know that 'martial arts' preaches that if you train long and hard enough, you will become a "master" and be able to be very fast etc., but I put that in the category of "Things I used to believe", if I, after 40 years of training, and teaching, martial arts, studying many styles, still cannot do that, well, what can I say? That to make it work you have to be better than I am? More devoted? So that means that only a tiny percentage of the population will have the ability to defend themselves?! Perhaps a few Thai masters living in some remote village, or an aged Chinese master living in the Shaolin Temple?
No, that is not what true martial arts are about, it is for everyone, including the busy ones, including the less talented ones. So that is my approach, and here I know that I am not fast enough to pull off any other defense. and pushing is not always a good option, or a possible option. And what if he is not alone? But this simple Body Check I believe will save you a major headache, and after that? Well, I cannot answer that question, no one can, there are too many factors. Anyone who claims to have such answers is lying.
Possible scenarios
but let us look at a couple of possible scenarios - The guy in your face, is not alone, his henchmen are just a step behind, are you going to fight all three of them? are you that good? Are you a real-life version of Chuck Noris or Steven Seagal?
Where is your car? are there other options? can you pretend to have forgotten something in the restaurant and make a dignified retreat?
Are you alone or with family? If you decide to fight and engage in what may very well become a wrestling match with this thug, who is watching your wife and kids? (or whatever the circumstances are, the non-combatants of your family). Are you willing to risk an abduction of a child so that you can fight the guy?
Are you the security guy at the entrance to the pub? If so there are cameras on you, can you initiate the fight by pushing the guy or with a preemptive strike?
There are too many variables, too many unknowns. All I can give you are tools, training and options, and help you develop a mature approach to survival, based on wisdom not on ego.
Life is full of headbutts, Krav Maga helps you to deal with the physical headbutts, but hopefully, with the correct guidance, it can also help you deal with the spiritual headbutts, which shall surely come your way.
Stay Safe, as Mr. Cohen would say.
Moshe Katz, 7th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt hall of fame, USA and Europe.
Understand the Israeli Fighting Mentality - Israel a Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz
What is the cultural background of Krav Maga? What makes it unique? What makes the Israeli military so effective? Why are Israeli security systems used all over the world?
What are the Biblical origins of Krav Maga and who was the first Krav Maga instructor?
What weapons and military strategies did our Biblical ancestors use?
How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?
All that and more in this unique book.
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