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Twister Side Control Top | BJJ Position Guide | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 202513 min read

Twister Side Control Top

bjjstatedominant10thplanetside_control

State Properties

  • State ID: S257
  • Point Value: 3 (Dominant position)
  • Position Type: Offensive/Controlling
  • Risk Level: Medium
  • Energy Cost: Medium
  • Time Sustainability: Medium

State Description

Twister Side Control Top is a specialized side control variation developed within the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, characterized by the top practitioner controlling the opponent’s far-side leg with a hook while maintaining upper body pressure. This position serves as a primary entry point to the twister submission and related leg-based attacks. Unlike traditional side control which focuses purely on upper body immobilization, Twister Side Control combines chest pressure with leg entanglement to create a unique control system that limits both upper and lower body movement. The position allows for multiple submission threats including the twister, calf slicer, and electric chair while maintaining the stability benefits of standard side control.

The strategic value of Twister Side Control lies in its dual-threat nature, forcing opponents to defend both traditional side control escapes and leg-based submissions simultaneously. This position excels in no-gi contexts where grip-dependent controls are less reliable, though it remains effective in gi training as well. The leg hook prevents standard shrimping escapes while the chest pressure restricts upper body movement, creating a control framework that feels fundamentally different from conventional side control variations.

Visual Description

You lie perpendicularly across your opponent’s upper body with your chest pressing against their torso, similar to standard side control positioning. Your near-side arm threads under their near arm to establish an underhook or wraps around their head for crossface control. The defining characteristic is your far-side leg hooking deeply inside their far-side leg, with your shin or instep controlling their thigh or knee. Your near-side leg typically posts wide for base stability. Your far-side arm reaches across to control their far hip or wraps over their far leg to increase control depth. The opponent lies on their side or back with their far leg trapped by your hook, upper body pinned by your chest pressure, and defensive options limited by the dual-plane control. Your hips remain low and heavy, creating downward pressure through your chest while your leg hook applies rotational pressure to their lower body. This configuration creates the characteristic “locked in” feeling where neither upper nor lower body escapes function effectively, setting up the transition to truck position or direct twister attacks.

Key Principles

  • Dual-Plane Control: Combine upper body pressure with lower body leg entanglement for comprehensive immobilization
  • Deep Hook Maintenance: Keep leg hook deep and active to prevent opponent from clearing the entanglement
  • Hip Pressure: Maintain heavy hip pressure toward opponent’s ribs while managing the leg hook
  • Transitional Awareness: Stay alert to truck position opportunities when opponent attempts to clear the hook
  • Connection Integrity: Maintain chest-to-chest pressure even while managing leg positioning
  • Base Adaptation: Adjust posting leg configuration based on opponent’s escape attempts and submission setups

Offensive Transitions

From this position, you can execute:

Submissions

  • Twister Entry → Twister Control (Success Rate: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%)
    • Primary attack when opponent is locked in position with deep leg hook
  • Calf Slicer Setup → Calf Slicer Control (Success Rate: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%)
    • Attack the trapped leg when opponent resists twister entry
  • Electric Chair Setup → Electric Chair (Success Rate: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 65%)
    • Transitional submission when opponent defends leg entanglement

Position Improvements

  • Truck Entry → Truck Position (Success Rate: Beginner 50%, Intermediate 65%, Advanced 80%)
    • Natural progression when opponent turns to clear hook
  • Back Take → Back Control (Success Rate: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%)
    • When opponent exposes back defending leg attacks
  • Standard Side Control → Side Control (Success Rate: Beginner 60%, Intermediate 75%, Advanced 85%)
    • Simplify to standard control if leg entanglement becomes unsustainable

Defensive Responses

When opponent has this position against you, available counters:

Decision Tree

If opponent’s leg hook is shallow:

  • Execute Clear Hook → Side Control Bottom (Probability: 45%)
    • Reasoning: Shallow hook allows effective clearing before full control established

Else if opponent commits heavy to twister setup:

Else if opponent maintains chest pressure but loose hook:

Else (deep hook with strong pressure):

  • Defend position and wait for opponent to transition (Probability: High submission risk)
    • Reasoning: Fully established position requires patience and defensive awareness

Expert Insights

John Danaher: While the Twister Side Control is primarily associated with Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet system, it represents an interesting biomechanical principle of creating multi-directional control through leg entanglement combined with upper body pressure. The position works by dividing opponent’s defensive attention between two separate planes of attack - the traditional side control upper body escapes and the novel leg-based submission threats. When analyzing this position systematically, the key insight is that the leg hook functions not merely as submission setup but as fundamental position control that prevents the hip movement necessary for conventional side control escapes.

Gordon Ryan: In competition, Twister Side Control appears most frequently in no-gi contexts where it offers unique control advantages over traditional side control variations. The position’s effectiveness comes from creating unfamiliar defensive problems that many competitors haven’t developed specific counters for. When executing this position at high level, the critical factor is maintaining the leg hook depth while managing your base - losing either element compromises the entire control system. I’ve seen it used effectively as both submission threat and positional control to frustrate opponents who excel at standard side control escapes.

Eddie Bravo: Twister Side Control is one of the fundamental positions within the 10th Planet system, serving as the gateway to our entire leg-based submission network. This isn’t just a variation of side control - it’s a completely different control paradigm that changes how your opponent must defend. The beauty of this position lies in how it connects to the truck, electric chair, and twister in a flowing system where defending one attack opens another. When teaching this position, I emphasize that the leg hook isn’t a detail - it’s the position’s foundation that creates everything else.

Common Errors

Error: Maintaining Hook Without Chest Pressure

  • Consequence: Opponent gains space for upper body movement and can work standard escape sequences despite leg entanglement, reducing position effectiveness
  • Correction: Keep chest heavy and connected to opponent’s torso while managing leg hook, distributing weight between upper and lower body control points
  • Recognition: Opponent able to create frames and work escapes despite your leg hook being in place

Error: Posting Near Leg Too Close to Body

  • Consequence: Narrow base makes position unstable when opponent bridges or creates movement, leading to position loss or scrambles
  • Correction: Post near leg wide for stability while maintaining hip pressure with far side, creating triangular base structure
  • Recognition: Feeling off-balance when opponent moves or bridges, struggling to maintain position stability

Error: Shallow Leg Hook Placement

  • Consequence: Opponent easily clears hook using near leg or explosive movement, returning situation to standard side control dynamics
  • Correction: Drive leg hook deep past opponent’s knee toward their hip, ensuring your shin or instep creates substantial entanglement
  • Recognition: Opponent able to clear your hook with minimal effort or movement

Error: Rushing Submission Attempts

  • Consequence: Premature submission attempts before position fully consolidated allow opponent to escape or counter during the transition
  • Correction: Establish deep hook and heavy pressure first, confirming position stability before initiating submission sequences
  • Recognition: Opponent escaping during submission attempts or frequent position loss when attacking

Error: Neglecting Base When Attacking

  • Consequence: Loss of position control during submission attempts creates scrambles or position reversals
  • Correction: Maintain posting leg awareness even during submission sequences, keeping base stable throughout transitions
  • Recognition: Ending in neutral or defensive positions after failed submission attempts

Training Drills

Drill 1: Hook Depth Development

Start from standard side control and practice inserting leg hook progressively deeper while maintaining chest pressure. Partner provides 0% resistance initially, then increases to 25%, 50%, 75% as you develop the movement pattern. Focus on keeping chest connected while threading leg hook without losing base stability. Practice for 3-minute rounds, alternating sides. Success metric: ability to establish deep hook within 5 seconds even at 75% resistance.

Drill 2: Position Maintenance Under Pressure

Establish Twister Side Control and maintain it while partner attempts specific escapes (hook clearing, bridge away, roll to turtle). Practice at 50% speed initially to develop defensive adjustments, increasing to 75% then 100% intensity. Focus on weight distribution between chest pressure and leg hook control, adjusting base as needed. 5-minute rounds with role reversal. Success metric: maintaining position for full round despite varied escape attempts.

Drill 3: Submission Chain Flow

From established Twister Side Control, flow through the primary submission options (twister entry, calf slicer, electric chair) with cooperative partner. Focus on maintaining position integrity during transitions and recognizing optimal windows for each attack. Start with slow technical repetition, progressing to flowing sequences that respond to partner’s defensive reactions. 4-minute rounds alternating roles. Success metric: smooth transitions between all three submission options without losing position control.

Drill 4: Entry Transitions

Practice entering Twister Side Control from various positions: standard side control, knee on belly, truck position, and passing positions. Partner provides progressive resistance (25-75%) to develop practical entry skills. Focus on timing hook insertion with pressure application for seamless transitions. 3-minute rounds per entry position. Success metric: successful entries from all positions within 10 seconds at 75% resistance.

Drill 5: Defensive Recovery Drills

Partner establishes Twister Side Control, you practice the defensive responses (clear hook, roll to turtle, bridge away, leg straightening). Progress from cooperative to resistant drilling, learning timing and mechanics of each escape option. Focus on recognizing which escape fits each specific variation of the position. 3-minute rounds per escape type. Success metric: successfully executing all four escapes within each round.

  • Side Control - Traditional parent position from which Twister Side Control evolves
  • Truck Position - Natural progression when opponent turns to defend leg hook
  • Twister Control - Primary submission position accessed from Twister Side Control
  • Electric Chair - Related leg entanglement and submission position
  • Lockdown Guard - Uses similar leg hook mechanics from bottom position
  • Crab Ride - Related top position with leg control elements

Optimal Submission Paths

Fastest path to submission (direct attack): Twister Side Control Top → Twister Entry → Twister Control → Won by Submission Reasoning: Direct path when position is fully established with deep hook, fastest route but requires strong position control

High-percentage path (systematic): Twister Side Control Top → Truck Entry → Truck Position → Twister Control → Won by Submission Reasoning: Using truck position as intermediary provides better control and more opportunities to adjust, higher success rate

Alternative submission path (leg attack): Twister Side Control Top → Calf Slicer Setup → Calf Slicer Control → Won by Submission Reasoning: When twister defense is strong, attacking the already-trapped leg offers alternative finish

Electric chair path (dilemma creation): Twister Side Control Top → Electric Chair Setup → Electric Chair → Won by Submission Reasoning: Creates different defensive problem, effective when opponent focuses exclusively on twister defense

Timing Considerations

Best Times to Enter:

  • From standard side control when opponent attempts to turn away or turtle
  • During passing sequences when opponent’s far leg becomes accessible
  • After establishing knee on belly when opponent defends by turning toward you

Best Times to Attack:

  • When leg hook is deep past opponent’s knee with heavy chest pressure
  • After opponent fatigues from defensive efforts and stops clearing hook attempts
  • When opponent focuses on upper body escape attempts while neglecting leg entanglement

Vulnerable Moments:

  • During initial hook insertion before chest pressure fully established
  • When transitioning to submissions before position fully consolidated
  • If posting leg moves too close to body reducing base stability

Fatigue Factors:

  • Maintaining dual-plane control (upper and lower body) requires sustained energy output
  • Position becomes harder to maintain as grip strength and pressure decrease with fatigue
  • Opponent’s explosive escape attempts become more dangerous as your fatigue increases

Competition Considerations

Point Scoring: Scores 3 points as side control variation under IBJJF rules. Maintains point value during transitions to truck or submission attempts as long as control is maintained.

Time Management: Effective position for controlling match pace and burning clock while maintaining submission threats. Can be held for extended periods once fully established, making it valuable in points-based competition.

Rule Set Adaptations: Particularly effective in no-gi competition where traditional side control escapes rely heavily on gi grips. In gi competition, remain aware of opponent using gi grips to facilitate hook clearing. ADCC rules favor this position for its submission threat combined with control.

Competition Strategy: Use as control position to frustrate opponents who excel at standard side control escapes, forcing them to defend unfamiliar attacks. Particularly effective against competitors lacking specific 10th Planet system experience.

Historical Context

Twister Side Control emerged from Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system in the early 2000s as part of his innovative approach to no-gi grappling. The position evolved from Bravo’s exploration of leg-based control systems and represented a departure from traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu side control variations. It gained prominence through the success of 10th Planet competitors who used it as a gateway to their signature submissions, particularly the twister and electric chair. The position demonstrates how modern BJJ continues to evolve beyond traditional techniques, incorporating new control paradigms that create unique strategic problems.

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