--- title: Snap-down reversal description: After escaping to two-on-one position, rise up and snap partner down into your own front headlock. section: body tags: [bjj, move, snap-down, front-headlock, reversal, two-on-one] genre: reference stability: developing lastUpdated: 2026-04-26 url: https://fardiniqbal.com/docs/body/mat/moves/snap-down-reversal --- **Source:** Volume 02, §7 ---   ([full transcript](/docs/body/mat/sources/only-way-out/volume-02#7-the-snap-down--reversing-into-your-own-front-headlock)) *** ## Purpose [#purpose] Poetic justice --- reverse from bottom of front headlock directly into your OWN front headlock. ## Entry condition [#entry-condition] Two-on-one escape completed. Partner's hands unlocked. You're on elbows, partner on elbows. ## Mechanics [#mechanics] **Same two-on-one method as before:** 1. In front of partner, **chin in**. You can't just take your thumb and put it in here most of the time --- partner is trying to push your elbow across. 2. **Two-on-one method:** start by taking your **left hand through, pull partner's wrist down**. Then take your **right hand, put it inside.** That's how you end up with the two-on-one. 3. Hang out, keep your elbows back. As Chris goes to make a transition, that's what we're looking for --- the moment hands are unlocked. 4. **Pass-off**, head to the outside. **Now the snap:** 5. He's on his elbows, I'm on my elbows. Nothing stops us from **rising up and bringing our head above our partner's head**. 6. **Release the outside arm** (left hand here). Bring it to our partner's head. 7. **Hit a cross snap.** A cross snap takes him with my left hand into **my right armpit** here. Take my right shoulder and put it on top of his. 8. Once we get to this position, we can **lock up our own front headlock** and begin to move our partner's arm across the centerline. **From here, you can make your choices:** * **Roll through**, tilting partner down onto their back, setting up various strangles. * **Use it as an opportunity to go around behind your partner.** **To go behind:** bring your head across to the opposite side, place your knee inside as a block, then move around behind your partner --- looking to expose their back, place your feet inside, and start to look to strangle. ## Key details [#key-details] * **Don't pull the head into the armpit.** When you do a snap-down, you're not trying to pull your partner's head into your armpit. It will never go. Instead: bring your partner's head down **below the line of your shoulder**, then put your shoulder over the top. * Once front headlock is locked up, move partner's arm across the centerline. * The dilemma is now symmetric --- you have the same stay-in-front vs. go-behind choice that your partner had when they were on top. * To go behind: head across to opposite side, knee block inside, move around behind partner to expose their back. ## Common failures [#common-failures] * Trying to pull partner's head into the armpit. The head will never go. Get the head below your shoulder line first, then put the shoulder over the top. * Not rising up high enough before the snap. Your head must be above partner's head --- otherwise you lack the leverage for the cross snap. * Forgetting to move partner's arm across centerline after locking up the front headlock. This is what secures the position. ## Connections [#connections] * **From:** [seated-guard](/docs/body/mat/positions/seated-guard) --- **To:** [front-headlock-top](/docs/body/mat/positions/front-headlock-top) * **Principles:** [inside position](/docs/body/mat/principles/inside-position) * **Skills:** [grip fighting](/docs/body/mat/skills/grip-fighting) * **Related:** This is one of three major off-ramps from the two-on-one escape, alongside the [arm drag series](/docs/body/mat/moves/arm-drag-back-take) and sitting back to guard.