BJJ Graph

Twister Control

Jun 15, 20255 min read

Twister Control

bjjstatesubmission10thplanetspinal_lock

State Properties

  • State ID: S040
  • Point Value: 3 (Dominant submission control)
  • Position Type: Specialized submission control position
  • Risk Level: Low
  • Energy Cost: Medium
  • Time Sustainability: Short to Medium

State Description

Twister Control is a highly specialized submission position developed and popularized by Eddie Bravo within his 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system. This position involves a complex configuration where the controlling practitioner creates a wrestling-style guillotine/neck crank by controlling the opponent’s upper body while simultaneously isolating one of their legs. When properly applied, the submission creates a powerful rotational pressure against the opponent’s spine. The position is characterized by controlling the opponent’s shoulders perpendicular to the ground while the practitioner lies on their side, with one arm threaded under the opponent’s neck and the other arm/hand securing the trapped leg. The Twister combines elements of both a neck crank and spinal lock, making it one of the most technically complex and devastating submissions in BJJ.

Key Principles

  • Establish perpendicular control of opponent’s shoulders
  • Create proper head/neck connection with threading arm
  • Isolate and control opponent’s leg to prevent defensive rotation
  • Maintain proper body positioning to maximize leverage
  • Apply synchronized pressure for effective submission mechanics
  • Prevent opponent from creating defensive frames
  • Control opponent’s potential escape routes through proper grip configuration

Prerequisites

  • Understanding of twister mechanics and application
  • Recognition of entry opportunities
  • Spinal control mechanics
  • Knowledge of proper force application

State Invariants

  • Practitioner lying on side, perpendicular to opponent
  • One arm threaded under opponent’s neck
  • Opponent’s leg trapped and controlled
  • Opponent’s shoulders controlled perpendicular to ground
  • Opponent’s spine in compromised rotational position

Defensive Responses (When Opponent Has This State)

Offensive Transitions (Available From This State)

Counter Transitions

Expert Insights

  • Danaher System: While not a core submission in the Danaher system due to its illegality in certain competition rulesets, acknowledges the twister’s mechanical effectiveness when properly applied. Emphasizes the importance of understanding the precise biomechanics that make the submission effective, focusing particularly on the relationship between controlling the shoulders and creating the necessary spinal rotation.
  • Gordon Ryan: Recognizes the Twister as a specialized submission that can be highly effective in certain scenarios but utilizes it selectively within his overall game. When employing the position, emphasizes the importance of complete control before applying the submission pressure to prevent scrambling opportunities.
  • Eddie Bravo: As the primary developer and proponent of the Twister in BJJ (adapted from wrestling’s guillotine), has created a comprehensive system of entries, controls, and application details. Considers the Twister one of the signature submissions of the 10th Planet system, emphasizing its role as both a devastating submission and a control position that can lead to other attacks.

Common Errors

  • Insufficient shoulder control → Loss of submission mechanics
  • Poor neck connection → Reduced leverage
  • Inadequate leg control → Defensive mobility
  • Premature application of pressure → Escape opportunities
  • Improper angle of pressure → Ineffective submission mechanics

Training Drills

  • Twister control position maintenance against progressive resistance
  • Entry practice from Truck position and other setups
  • Incremental pressure application with controlled feedback
  • Transition flows between Twister and related positions
  • Proper biomechanical alignment exercises

Decision Tree

If opponent resists neck pressure:

Else if opponent attempts to free leg:

Else if opponent drives hips up:

Else if opponent tucks chin defensively:

Position Metrics

  • Success Rate: 85% submission when fully established (competition data)
  • Average Time in Position: 5-15 seconds
  • Submission Probability: 80%
  • Counter Vulnerability: 15%
  • Position Loss Probability: 10%

Optimal Paths

Standard finish path: Twister Control → Twister Finish → Won by Submission

Transition path 1: Twister Control → Transition to Calf Slicer → Calf Slicer → Won by Submission

Transition path 2: Twister Control → Twister to Back → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission

Historical Context

The Twister was originally adapted from wrestling (where it’s known as a guillotine) by Eddie Bravo and integrated into his 10th Planet system in the early 2000s. While initially viewed as an exotic or niche submission, it gained widespread recognition when Chan Sung Jung (“The Korean Zombie”) successfully applied it in the UFC in 2011. Its inclusion in some competition rulesets but exclusion from others (due to spinal pressure concerns) has created an interesting competitive context where the technique is sometimes used as a control position leading to other submissions rather than as a finish itself.

Computer Science Analogy

The Twister Control represents a “deadlock condition” in the BJJ state machine, where multiple physical constraints (shoulder control, neck control, leg isolation) are applied simultaneously to create a terminal state with limited escape possibilities. This implements a form of “resource exhaustion attack” where the defender’s movement resources are systematically eliminated through coordinated positional control. The position exemplifies a highly optimized constraint satisfaction problem where the proper alignment of multiple control variables creates a solution state (submission) that is difficult to disrupt once properly established.

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