I Don’t Understand the Headbutt

116817The headbutt: A class move in action movies and soccer games. But does it make any sense?

I saw an article today about soccer superstar Messi headbutting an opponent, which made me think of the broader topic of headbutting. I just don’t get it.

Now, I don’t condone violence of any kind. But if you’ve decided to express yourself through physicality, why your forehead? If you haven’t noticed, it’s immediately above your face, the second-to-last part of your body you’d want to endanger.

For soccer players, perhaps it’s their instinct to use their heads instead of their hands. But if that’s the case, why not just kick the opponent? They’re armed with legs the size of tree trunks–if they’re trying to make a point, a swift kick should do the job far better than a headbutt.

Plus, it just looks weird. Have you seen the Zidane headbutt? It looks like something a goat would do.

As for action movies, it’s supposed to be a cool, hard-edge move. Nobody saw that headbutt coming! But unless you’ve angled the headbutt perfectly, it’s going to hurt you as much as it’s going to hurt them. In that case, why not just push the person? It’ll have close to the same effect without leaving you damaged.

I’ve never gotten in a fight, so perhaps that’s why I don’t understand the appeal of the headbutt. Maybe it’s a heat-of-the-moment kind of thing. But I just can’t imagine it ever making sense. Can you?

6 thoughts on “I Don’t Understand the Headbutt”

  1. When you have a big forehead like I do, it doesn’t really hurt. And since I always skip leg day, gotta use the other gifts God gave me!

    Reply
  2. Did he do that again? I thinking he is really part goat with all that headbutting. Another thing I don’t get are fake dives. There’s a video somewhere on this player who took a dive with no one around him that made him look like a fish out of water flopping around on a pitch to get the other team in trouble. What the heck? You are suppose to a professional! What are you doing? Get the ball!

    Reply
    • Zidane didn’t do it again, but Messi did it recently.

      Indeed, dives are a big problem in men’s soccer. They’re much less prevalent in women’s soccer, fortunately (unless you play for Brazil, where it is required by law).

      Reply
  3. Headbutts have a very particular use close-in in martial arts, like if you’re escaping a bear hug and your forehead would hit their mouth. Ouch!

    I don’t get it on the soccer field. Geez, in a game where 2-1 is a high score there’s not much to get upset about.

    Reply

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