How many folks here practice or have been shown anything in the way of head movement? In one of my heavy bag video sequences, I was (rightly) called out on lack of head movement. I have started to work some more into my training, but my original style (AKK) did not really emphasize it. By 'head movement', I am referring to slipping, ducking, bob'n'weave, etc.

I feel that head movement is very critical in avoiding shots, as you can't block everything. Being able to 'roll' with strikes that actually hit you is maybe even more important, IMHO.

Do any of you practice deceptive head movement (faking)? Tilting the head one direction while really setting up a strike from the other?

Let's hear your views.

Yes.

As a boxing based striker, I have to use it.

As a grappler, it opens up opportunities for throws and takedowns.

Yes.

-Taison out

me too. This is something that should be worked with your footwork drills.

Yeah, I practice slipping, bobbing and weaving etc. However, I wouldn't call that head movement, I call it upper body movement. I try to keep my chin tucked and move from the waist.

Most definitely but not as often as we should. Hard to break up the curriculum to include TKD, BJJ, clinches/knees/elbows, punching and then mixing it all together; not to mention self defense. Unless you go everyday then it is hit and miss when you will do that training again.

Head movement works well for most training with the same techniques used in self defense to avoid and blocking punches. Just the slightest movement of your head can make the difference of being KO'd. Understanding it isn't just your head moving but also your upper body.

I said 'yes', but it doesn't look anything like a boxer. In Aikijujutsu our body is always held in a deceptive manner, and sometimes that includes the head. The head is often held one way in order to fake to the other.

not anymore, so I put 'No'. Too many other things to consciously work on.

feigns, bobs and weaves - sure, when you are facing off with someone. I'm not working on that range right now, so I care less what my head is doing and care more how to control his.

what about the guys who constantly move there head. in a rhythmic motion

I find it quite surprising that no-ones mentioned the roll of the head in power generation. Most who are familiar with throwing and take downs will know the old saying about where the head goes the body will follow. In neck cranks you've probably noticed that once you've taken the neck you destroy their structure and ability to move their body mass. When we strike we transfer body mass and this requires access to our center of gravity and balance. The position of the head plays a fundamental roll in balance and our structure. I put money more of you are using your head a lot more than you realize!

Gav, I'm not too proud to admit that I'm not sure what you are talking about.

Do you mean using the head as the intiator in a torquing sequence (head, shoulders, waist, etc) for strikes? I usually think of strikes as coming from the bottom up ie; legs, waist, shoulders, arms, etc.

I do spinning back fists (and kicks) by rotating the head first, then the upper body, and using the "unwinding" to add torque to those.

For most other strikes, I think of the shoulders as moving the head along. But perhaps that is just semantics. I would be curious to hear more detail about what you mean.