Head Butt

heyjude · Feb 18, 2008

So my bad guy head butts my good guy. It's from pretty close--far enough to stun him momentarily, but close enough that he doesn't do serious damage.

My question is does my good guy have a bruise on his forehead he's going to have to explain?

Thanks all!

Sarpedon · Feb 18, 2008

Normally, people don't headbutt other people in the forehead. Thats a hard part of the head. When you headbutt, you bang the hard part of your head, into the soft part of their head (that is, their face). There's no point in banging your forehead against someone else's forehead; that will hurt you as much as it hurts them.

dpaterso · Feb 18, 2008

Head butts, by default, are from pretty close.

I wouldn't expect bruising, unless the headbutter completely misses his target's nose (in which case damage is likely to be to his own nose).

I've never seen anyone receive a head butt and then recover "momentarily" except in the movies. It's a concussive blow, like a boxer's heaviest punch, that knocks you dizzy. You may fall down and not be able to get up again until the room stops rocking.

FYI there's only one defense against a head butt coming at you, and that's to lower your head fast. You'll both be stunned, but the headbutter will smash his nose on your upper forehead, thus taking more damage.

-Derek (in sunny Scotland, land of the flying head butt)

HeronW · Feb 18, 2008

What part of the bad guy's head butts the good guy's head? Are they the same height? Straight on: forehead to forehead, will knock someone back, possibly down, but no concussion, same for forehead to temple hit.

Back head butt is usually into the recepient's nose--depending on the impact it can break the nose, at least cause a nose bleed.

Decide on the stance, body parts connecting, size and mass of the combatants, impact will differ.

A bruise depends on the hit--if the bad guy has a studded head band and that's impacting the good guy, there could be deep bruises and abrasions. A bare forehead to bare forehead thwack usually doesn't bruise. Could cause a headache. :}

Higgins · Feb 18, 2008

heyjude said:
So my bad guy head butts my good guy. It's from pretty close--far enough to stun him momentarily, but close enough that he doesn't do serious damage.

My question is does my good guy have a bruise on his forehead he's going to have to explain?

Thanks all!

How much of a goof is the good guy? If somebody is in headbutt range and angle (they ought to have been lower if they are going to smash your nose and not get disabled doing it) you should have wrecked their jaw. I've never known a good brawler to get a headbutt to the face. I think a bruise on the forehead from a punch would be a better option and it would not suggest that the good guy cannot fight well. A few nasty spots on the upper forehead suggest the guy can fight well.

heyjude · Feb 18, 2008

Well I have to say that I tried hard not to say anything stupid but Derek caught me. ("Head butts, by default, are from pretty close.")

So from what I gather from your collective wisdom is that my scene may not technically make any sense.

BUT JACK BAUER DOES IT PRETTY MUCH EVERY WEEK!

Sorry. I think I might watch too much TV.

If there is anyone who would be willing to look at my fight sequence (just a few paragraphs) and rip it apart for stupidness, I would greatly appreciate a PM. I am a girly-girl and everything I learned about fighting I got from Jack Bauer.

Which, as I'm learning, might not be the best thing.

Thank you so much for all your input!

Potluck · Feb 18, 2008

I've used a headbutt in a real (High School) fight and it stunned the guy so bad he had to sit down. Our hands were tangled, with arm locks, standing face to face. I was going to knee him in the hip joint but we were too close for that. He was shorter than me and I struck my forehead as hard as I could into the top of his head. His eyes went wide like he couldn't believe what had just happened, then he fell back on his but and stayed there. I didn't feel much.

Vanatru · Feb 18, 2008

I did a head butt twice. First time it stunned me as much as the other guy. Second time worked better since I had a helmet on and he didn't. I really wouldn't advise it if you didn't have too. How about an elbow punch to the face, that works really well. I've done it with better luck several times. Or at least a knee to the body.

Keyboard Hound · Feb 19, 2008

I've never had a head butt from an adult or given one. Don't want to, either. But holding my own brothers and sisters and then my own baby later taught me head butts hurt. even from a one-year-old. At different times I remember wondering if I'd had a tooth knocked loose, having severe headaches, and being downright dizzy just from the head butts of a child. I do remember getting some bloody lips, but usually forehead to forehead contact caused no bruising. Worst of it was, Mama would say, " But, he's little." when I'd want to wring his neck. Yes, one of my siblings was a practiced head butter.

Summonere · Feb 19, 2008

Head butt:

Apply top of head A to middle of face B.

A properly executed head butt occurs something like this (which ain't whatcha see in the movies): Guy A and B facing each other, guy A grabs B around the back of the neck with his hands, jerking guy B down because guy A has just bent his knees, sinking, using his body weight to pull guy B down. Guy A then springs upward as quick as he can, pile-driving the top of his head into the downcoming face of guy B.

Reason not to use A's forehead against B's face: A doesn't want blood in A's eyes.

Also: head butts were employed successfully by Bruce Lee, little guy, against bigger American opponents.

Mike Martyn · Feb 19, 2008

dpaterso said:
Head butts, by default, are from pretty close.

I wouldn't expect bruising, unless the headbutter completely misses his target's nose (in which case damage is likely to be to his own nose).

I've never seen anyone receive a head butt and then recover "momentarily" except in the movies. It's a concussive blow, like a boxer's heaviest punch, that knocks you dizzy. You may fall down and not be able to get up again until the room stops rocking.

FYI there's only one defense against a head butt coming at you, and that's to lower your head fast. You'll both be stunned, but the headbutter will smash his nose on your upper forehead, thus taking more damage.

-Derek (in sunny Scotland, land of the flying head butt)

Ah the head butt. AKA the"Glascow kiss"!

tiny · Feb 19, 2008

I've given and received headbutts, they are a great weapon when it comes to smaller verses bigger, or one fighter being positioned lower. Never never is it forehead to forehead and never is the neck used to deliver the blow. The entire upper body moves or it will not be a strong strike. As in all strikes to the face, it's bridge of the nose and below. Anyone who recovers quickly received an improper headbutt. (I used to teach fighting)

heyjude · Feb 20, 2008

Thanks to everyone! I guess what I've written wasn't a true head butt but a desperate move by the bad guy to get the good guy off him.

Hmmm... I so appreciate everyone's input. Who knew there were so many people out there that were so experienced in this area?!

KrishnaJewel · Feb 20, 2008

heyjude said:
Thanks to everyone! I guess what I've written wasn't a true head butt but a desperate move by the bad guy to get the good guy off him.

Hmmm... I so appreciate everyone's input. Who knew there were so many people out there that were so experienced in this area?!

In Scotland this is a common tactic in street/pub fights and is known as a Glasgow Kiss! (as it is very commonly used in Glasgow) And one doesnt use the flat of the forehead but rather the area at the hairline were it is much harder to do the butting, but does try to hit the other person about square in the centre of the forehead as this will stun the other person but not yourself.

KrishnaJewel · Mar 14, 2008

Mike Martyn said:
Ah the head butt. AKA the"Glascow kiss"!

Uhm Marty...Its Glasgow....and pronounced Glass-GO :tongue

And if you are ever in Scotland....Ah would like tae suggest tha' ye no pronouce it 'Glascow' tae th' Glaswegians when yer gibbering at em....er ye jest may gea yersel a Glasgow Kiss! :tongue

Head Butt

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

Sarpedon

dpaterso

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HeronW

Down Under Fan

Higgins

heyjude

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Potluck

Vanatru

practical experience, FTW

Keyboard Hound

Old kid. Tough skin!!

Summonere

Mike Martyn

tiny

riding the sun

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

KrishnaJewel

KrishnaJewel