Headbutt
A headbutt is a strike with the head, typically involving the use of robust parts of the
cranium as area of impact. Effective headbutting revolves around striking a sensitive area with a less
sensitive area, such as striking the
nose of an opponent with the
forehead. A misplaced headbutt can cause more damage to the headbutter than the victim.
Encyclopedia
A
headbutt is a strike with the head, typically involving the use of robust parts of the
cranium as area of impact. Effective headbutting revolves around striking a sensitive area with a less
sensitive area, such as striking the
nose of an opponent with the
forehead. A misplaced headbutt can cause more damage to the headbutter than the victim.
Mechanics of the headbutt
Headbutts can be used from close range such as from the
clinch, or on the
ground. They are typically applied to the head of the opponent since the head is often a readily available target, and has several sensitive areas. An effective headbutt can be performed with a forward, rising, sideways or backwards motion; each being effective from different
positions. Parts of the cranium with thick
bone and high local curvature make for good weapon areas, and these include the
forehead near the hairline, the outboard curved part of the
parietal bone, and the occiput. Ideal targets include the bridge of the nose, the cheekbones, the hinge area of the
jaw, the
temple, and the top edge of the eye socket. Hitting the opponent's
teeth or
mouth is likely to cause mutual damage.
Headbutts in combat sports and martial arts
Headbutting is considered an illegal technique in nearly all
combat sports, with a few exceptions such as
Burmese boxing,
Professional wrestling, and
mixed martial arts competitions such as
Finnfight. The reasons vary from general
inappropriateness to the sport, or technical reasons. Headbutts are prone to cause lacerations, often deeper ones than from punches, and may lead to both fighters sustaining concussions. Even though generally banned in sport application, several
martial arts and self-defense systems do however include headbutting in the curriculum. In some rare systems, such as
Eritrean Testa, headbutting is of major focus or is the sole focus.
Headbutts in other sports
Headbutts are generally forbidden in most sports.
On March 16, 1996,
Dennis Rodman of the
Chicago Bulls headbutted referee Ted Bernhardt during a
basketball game in New Jersey.
Headbutting has recently received some attention due to its use by some players during
FIFA World Cup matches. Headbutting is considered illegal in
association football and is punishable by a red card. In the
1998 FIFA World Cup,
Ariel Ortega headbutted Dutch keeper
Edwin van der Sar in the Argentina vs. Netherlands quarterfinal match and was sent off. In the
2006 FIFA World Cup another Dutch player,
Mark van Bommel was headbutted, this time by
Luis Figo in the Portugal vs. Netherlands Round of 16 match, but Figo received only a yellow card for his offense. In the final match against Italy, Frenchman
Zinedine Zidane headbutted
Marco Materazzi in the chest, for which he received a red card and a subsequent three match ban.
In the Stratford horse races on July 23, 2006,
Paul O'Neill headbutted his John O'Shea-trained City Affair during the pre-race parade ring after losing control of the uncooperative horse. O'Neill later apologized but received a one day ban from the Horseracing Regulatory Authority.
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