3 Front Headlock Habits Every Beginner Wrestler Should Build
The front headlock is where a lot of beginner points go to die. You get the snap, you get the head, and then you rush the finish and give it all back.
Build these three habits now and the front headlock becomes one of the safest places on the mat for you.
Habit 1: Get him to his elbows before you finish
If he's still on his hands, he still has options. He can post, stand back up, or shoot right back into your legs.
So don't finish yet. Step to an angle and pull until his elbows hit the mat. Once he's down on his elbows, his base is gone and he's spending all his energy just holding his head up. Now go to work.
Habit 2: Run your feet, don't jump
When you circle for the go-behind, take short, fast steps and keep your chest heavy on his head the whole way around.
Jumping feels faster, but the second your feet leave the mat, your weight comes off his head. That's his window to come up, duck under or grab a leg. Your feet do the moving. Your chest stays parked on his head.
Habit 3: Use an underhook to pull him out of a quad pod
Sometimes he won't drop. He builds a quad pod, up on hands and feet, butt high, and you can't snap him any lower.
Stop pushing on his head. Dig an underhook on his arm and pull it forward and toward you. Take away one of his four posts and the whole base collapses. Then you're back to Habit 1.
The common thread
Break his base, keep your weight on him, then score. Get those habits right in practice and the finish takes care of itself.
