Aheadbutt orbutt[1] is a targetedstrike with the head, typically involving the use of robust parts of the headbutter'scranium as the area of impact. The most effective headbutts strike the most sensitive areas of an opponent, such as thenose, using the stronger bones in theforehead (frontal bone) or the back of the skull (occipital orparietal bone). The word is both a noun and a verb.
Headbutts can be used from close range such as from theclinch, or on theground. They are typically applied to the head of the opponent, since the head is often a readily available target and has several sensitive areas, but can be delivered to any part of the body. It is considered a quick, very effective but risky maneuver, as a misplaced strike can also cause injury to the person delivering the headbutt.
An effective headbutt can be performed with a forward, rising, sideways or backwards motion; each being effective from differentpositions. Parts of the cranium with thickbone and high local curvature make for good weapon areas, and these include the forehead near the hairline, the outboard curved part of theparietal bone, and theocciput. Ideal targets are usually the fragile areas of the head, including the bridge of the nose, thecheekbones, the hinge area of thejaw, thetemple, and the top edge of theeye socket.
Hitting the opponent'steeth ormouth is likely to cause mutual damage. The chin of the enemy is also a generally bad position to headbutt unless striking from below up into the bottom of the chin, similar to anuppercut. In the United Kingdom, a headbutt is sometimes referred to as aGlasgow kiss, a tongue-in-cheek reference to the city ofGlasgow's violent reputation.[2]
The characterYosser Hughes inBoys from the Blackstuff was noted for headbutting people and inanimate objects.[3] In one scene, his young daughter headbutts a social worker.[4] Headbutts often feature inprofessional wrestling andfighting video games.
InThe Mummy Returns, Evelyn O'Connell headbutts some opponents, which she learned from her husband Rick O'Connell.
Rams are well known for butting with their heads and horns. From this, the termsbattering ram andhydraulic ram are derived. Goats are also well-known for butting.[5] Many males in various animal species employ butting during courtship to show off their strength to potential mates.
Cats engage in a gentle behavior that resembles headbutting, where they"bunt" a person or another animal with their foreheadscent glands to mark their territory withpheromones.[6]
Headbutts are generally forbidden in most contact sports and, if performed, result in penalties and even disqualifications. However, it is a strike allowed inBurmese boxing,capoeira,muay boran,combat sambo, somefull-contact karate rulesets/variants - namelyKūdō - and in the self-defence art ofkrav maga. In traditional boxing,official game style regulations are used if the headbutt is accidental. If a match does not reach halfway, it is no contest. If it reaches past the official match point, then scores will be calculated.
It is also the primary focus of theEritreanmartial art Testa.[7] Headbutts were a commonly used technique invale tudo andmixed martial arts before the introduction of theunified rules of MMA. Similarly, although the art itself forbids any kind of strikes, some masters ofjudo taught the use of headbutts under the name ofatama ate waza, as demonstrated byKyuzo Mifune andMikinosuke Kawaishi.[8][9]
Intentional headbutting is irregular inassociation football and even attempting one will warrant dismissal by ared card.[10] Famously, during the2006 FIFA World Cup Final betweenItaly andFrance, French team captainZinedine Zidane headbutted Italian playerMarco Materazzi, after an angry exchange. Zidane received a red card, and Italy won the match on penalties. It was his last professional game, and ended his career on a "discordant" note.[11] This moment was later immortalized by asculpture titled "Headbutt" by French artist Adel Abdessemed.[12]
In February 2011,Gennaro Gattuso was suspended for four matches after confronting and headbuttingTottenham Hotspur assistant coachJoe Jordan at the conclusion of a UEFA Champions League match.[13][14]
In 2016,Roy O'Donovan was handed an eight match ban, one of the longest bans inA-League Men history, after he headbutted Phoenix defenderManny Muscat.[15][16]
In August 2022,Liverpool playerDarwin Núñez received ared card for headbuttingCrystal Palace playerJoachim Andersen after several rough tackles between each other during the match.[17]
Headbutting is not allowed in ice hockey. In theNational Hockey League even an unsuccessful attempt at headbutting warrants a double minor. An actual headbutt is a major penalty and a game misconduct, and amatch penalty is mandatory if the referee rules that there was reckless endangerment.[18]
On March 3, 2014,Milena Knežević headbuttedAnita Görbicz during the last seconds of the game betweenŽRK Budućnost andGyőri ETO KC in theEHF Women's Champions League group stage. Knežević was banned for the next two matches.[19]
On April 9, 2017, Japanese wrestlerKatsuyori Shibata headbuttedKazuchika Okada during their match atSakura Genesis 2017. The headbutt was so hard that it caused Shibata to start bleeding from the forehead. After the match, Shibata collapsed backstage, from where he was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with asubdural hematoma.
Scottish wrestlerDrew McIntyre uses a headbutt as part of his moveset that is called the Glasgow Kiss.
