In the movies, a headbutt looks so simple. I bet you’ve seen one or two and thought, “I could do that.” It’s useful and effective, especially when correctly aimed. I mean, you really don’t want to miss, or do it half-ass. You need to go all in, using your hips, not just some chicken pecking motion.
In my experience, ladies (who aren’t marital artists or cage fighters) are more hesitant to use their heads as a weapon, but seriously, why wouldn’t you use a nice hard surface to target a relatively soft area like the nose or temple? And, let’s not forget how much it hurts to get hit beneath the chin. When your lower teeth hit the upper teeth, it’s not a pain you’ll soon forget.
Watch the video. It’s a bit long, but I like the way he sets this up (with one change — As a female fighter, I prefer having my hands up. His points are valid, but in a scenario where a woman is being approached by an aggressive male, no one would expect you to keep your hands at your sides. This instructor is baiting the guy, and it makes him look like he’s not the aggressor, which is important from a self-defense position. You generally want observers to perceive the other person as the aggressor.)
I also like this instructor’s finishing moves, but be sure you know and understand self-defense laws in your area, especially in this day of mis-applied stand your ground application, verdicts, and sentences.
One more thing, you might need a little safety gear to really practice these techniques, but if you don’t have what you need, improvise. A football helmet can work in a pinch. Don’t hit the damn thing too hard, though.
Go practice.
Note: As with every technique I post, 1) you need to practice with a willing adult participant, 2) I don’t endorse any of the sites or teachers, and 3) you need to be aware of and know the self-defense laws in your state. The purpose of these posts is to provide you with information about techniques I would use in certain situations. If you really want to become an expert in self-defense, then you need to find a dojang or dojo. If you have questions about how to identify a good dojang or dojo, post your questions in the comments.