⚠️ SAFETY: Twister Finish targets the Cervical and thoracic spine, shoulder girdle. Risk: Cervical spine strain or herniation. Release immediately upon tap.
The Twister is an advanced spinal compression submission that targets the opponent’s spine and shoulder through opposed rotational forces. Popularized by Eddie Bravo and the 10th Planet system, the Twister represents one of the most sophisticated control-to-submission sequences in no-gi grappling. The submission works by creating a figure-four configuration with your legs to isolate the opponent’s lower body while your arms control the upper body, creating a corkscrew effect on the spine. The finish involves pulling the opponent’s head and shoulder in one direction while their hips are locked in the opposite direction, creating immense pressure on the thoracic spine. This technique requires exceptional positional control from the Truck position and precise understanding of spinal mechanics. The Twister is primarily a no-gi submission due to its reliance on body control rather than gi grips, though variations exist for gi training. Safety is paramount - this submission can cause serious spinal injury if applied carelessly. The technique’s effectiveness lies in its multi-layered control system: leg entanglement prevents hip escape, body positioning eliminates space, and arm control secures the finish. Understanding the progression from back control through the Truck to the Twister finish is essential for safe and effective application.
Category: Compression Type: Spinal Lock Target Area: Cervical and thoracic spine, shoulder girdle Starting Position: Truck Success Rates: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 35%, Advanced 55%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cervical spine strain or herniation | CRITICAL | 6-12 months or permanent |
| Thoracic spine compression injury | CRITICAL | 3-12 months |
| Shoulder dislocation or labrum tear | High | 3-6 months |
| Intercostal muscle strain | Medium | 2-4 weeks |
| Neck muscle strain | Medium | 1-3 weeks |
Application Speed: EXTREMELY SLOW - minimum 5-7 seconds progressive pressure, NEVER jerk or spike
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (primary - partner may not have arm access)
- Physical hand tap on your body
- Physical foot tap (if leg accessible)
- Any verbal distress signal
- Unusual sound or movement indicating panic
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release head and shoulder grip completely
- Simultaneously unwrap leg figure-four controlling hips
- Allow opponent to return to neutral position slowly
- Check partner’s condition before continuing training
- If any numbness or tingling reported, end training immediately
Training Restrictions:
- NEVER apply this submission at full speed in training
- NEVER use on beginners or those unfamiliar with the position
- Always ensure partner understands tap signals before attempting
- Prohibited in most gi competitions and many no-gi rulesets
- Only practice under qualified instruction with experienced partners
- Stop immediately if partner shows signs of panic or restricted breathing
Key Principles
- Opposed rotational forces - lower body locked in opposite direction from upper body creates spinal compression
- Progressive pressure application - build submission slowly over 5-7 seconds minimum, never spike
- Body positioning eliminates escape routes - Truck position must be established and maintained throughout
- Figure-four leg control anchors the hips - prevents opponent from following rotation and relieving pressure
- Head and shoulder control creates the twist - proper arm placement is critical for effective and safe finish
- Flexibility and spinal mobility awareness - understand your partner’s limits and never exceed them
- Communication and trust - this submission requires absolute trust between training partners
Prerequisites
- Secure Truck position with opponent on their side, your body perpendicular
- Establish figure-four leg lock controlling opponent’s hips with your leg triangle secured
- Achieve back exposure with opponent’s far shoulder accessible to your arms
- Create initial twist by controlling opponent’s near leg and far shoulder simultaneously
- Ensure your body positioning prevents opponent from rolling toward or away from pressure
- Verify partner is experienced enough to recognize submission danger and tap appropriately
- Confirm clear communication established about tap signals before attempting finish
Execution Steps
- Secure the Truck position foundation: From back control or crab ride, establish the Truck by getting perpendicular to opponent’s body with your legs creating a figure-four lock around their hips. Your bottom leg threads under their near leg while your top leg crosses over their body, locking at the ankle or shin. Ensure opponent is on their side facing away from the direction you’ll create the twist. Your body should be chest-to-back with their spine, creating immense control. (Timing: Take 3-5 seconds to establish position securely) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Isolate the far shoulder and arm: Reach over the opponent’s body with your top arm and secure their far arm at the wrist or forearm. Pull this arm across their body toward you, exposing the shoulder blade and creating the initial rotation. The key is to bring their arm high across their chest, almost like they’re reaching for their opposite shoulder. This arm control prevents them from defending the neck and begins the rotational pressure on the shoulder girdle. (Timing: 2-3 seconds with controlled movement) [Pressure: Light]
- Establish head and neck control: Your bottom arm snakes under the opponent’s head, either cupping the chin or wrapping around the neck and head together. This creates a handle for the upper body rotation. Your hand should connect with your own chest or shoulder to create a tight loop. Be extremely careful not to compress the trachea - the pressure should be on the head and shoulder, not the throat. This control point is what creates the opposed rotation against the locked hips. (Timing: 3-4 seconds ensuring proper position) [Pressure: Light]
- Create initial twist with body mechanics: Begin the twisting motion by pulling the head and far shoulder toward you while simultaneously using your hip pressure against their locked lower body. Your legs maintain the figure-four lock, acting as an anchor point. The opponent’s hips cannot rotate due to your leg control, but their upper body is being rotated in the opposite direction. Start with minimal pressure to feel their flexibility limits. Your chest should drive into their back, creating a fulcrum point for the twist. (Timing: 5-7 seconds of progressive pressure) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Refine the corkscrew angle: Adjust your body position to optimize the twisting angle. Often this means driving your chest more toward their head while maintaining the leg lock. Your top arm may need to reach deeper to get their far shoulder at a steeper angle. The goal is to create maximum opposed rotation between their locked hips and rotating shoulders. Small adjustments in your hip placement can dramatically increase pressure. Watch for their flexibility limits carefully - some people have much less spinal rotation than others. (Timing: 3-5 seconds of careful adjustment) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Apply finishing pressure with extreme control: With all control points established, apply the final pressure SLOWLY over 5-7 seconds minimum. Pull the head and shoulder in a smooth, continuous motion while your legs maintain the hip lock. The pressure comes from your entire body rotating against the anchored hips, not from jerking the head. You should feel the opponent’s spine compress and their body go rigid. At the first sign of tap or distress, release immediately by first releasing the head and shoulder control, then unwrapping the legs. NEVER continue pressure after the tap or apply this at competition speed in training. (Timing: 5-7 seconds minimum for finishing pressure) [Pressure: Firm]
Opponent Defenses
- Opponent attempts to turn into you to relieve the twist (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Use your chest pressure and leg control to prevent the turn. Drive your hips into their locked legs while your chest blocks their upper body rotation. If they succeed in turning slightly, readjust your arm position to maintain shoulder control.
- Opponent grabs their own leg to prevent the figure-four lock (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: This defense is most effective before you complete the Truck. If they grab their leg, you must address this before attempting the Twister. Use hand fighting to break the grip, or transition to alternative back attacks like the rear naked choke.
- Opponent attempts to straighten their body and create distance (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Tighten your leg lock and drive your chest into their back to collapse the space. If they create significant distance, you may need to reset the Truck position before attempting the finish.
- Opponent tucks their chin to prevent head control (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: You can still finish the Twister by controlling the shoulder and head together, even with a tucked chin. Cup under the chin or wrap the entire head and shoulder as one unit. The submission works on spinal rotation, not necessarily neck control.
- Opponent attempts to roll forward through the position (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Your perpendicular body position and leg control should prevent forward rolls. If they attempt this, drive your weight into their back and tighten the figure-four to anchor them in place.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary mechanical principle that makes the Twister effective as a submission? A: The Twister works through opposed rotational forces applied to the spine. The figure-four leg lock anchors the opponent’s hips in one direction while the arm controls rotate the upper body (head and shoulders) in the opposite direction. This creates a corkscrew compression effect on the spine, specifically targeting the thoracic vertebrae. The submission’s effectiveness comes from the fact that the locked hips cannot follow the rotation of the upper body, creating immense pressure on the spinal column and surrounding musculature.
Q2: Why must the Twister be applied progressively over 5-7 seconds minimum in training, and what are the risks of faster application? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The Twister must be applied slowly because it targets the spine, which can be catastrophically injured by sudden rotational forces. Fast application can cause immediate cervical or thoracic spine damage including herniated discs, vertebral fractures, or permanent neurological damage. Slow, progressive pressure allows the training partner to recognize the danger, assess their flexibility limits, and tap before injury occurs. The spine does not have the same protective mechanisms as joints like the elbow or shoulder, making gradual pressure application absolutely critical for safety.
Q3: What body position must be established before attempting the Twister finish, and what happens if you skip this step? A: The Truck position must be fully established before attempting the Twister finish. This means your legs are in a secure figure-four configuration controlling the opponent’s hips, you are perpendicular to their body, and they are on their side with back exposure. If you attempt the submission without securing the Truck, the opponent can simply rotate their hips to follow the direction of the twist, completely relieving all pressure and allowing an easy escape. The anchored hips created by the Truck position are essential - without them, there are no opposed rotational forces and therefore no submission.
Q4: What should you do immediately after your training partner taps to the Twister, and why is the order of release important? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Upon receiving a tap, you must immediately release the head and shoulder control first, then unwrap the figure-four leg lock. This order is critical because the spinal pressure comes from the opposed rotation - releasing the upper body control eliminates the dangerous rotational force while the leg control simply stabilizes the position. After releasing, allow the opponent to return to neutral position slowly and check their condition. If they report any numbness, tingling, or unusual sensations in their spine or extremities, end training immediately and seek medical evaluation. The spine’s proximity to the spinal cord makes any injury potentially serious.
Q5: How does the Twister differ from other back attack submissions in terms of control requirements and finishing mechanics? A: Unlike the rear naked choke or armbar from back control which work from parallel body positioning with hooks, the Twister requires perpendicular positioning with a figure-four leg lock. Traditional back attacks use choking or joint manipulation on single targets (neck or arm), while the Twister uses opposed rotational forces on the entire spinal column. The Twister also requires much more sophisticated body positioning and cannot be effectively applied from standard back control - you must transition to the Truck position. This makes the Twister a position-dependent submission that requires systematic progression rather than an opportunistic attack.
Q6: What factors determine whether a training partner is experienced enough to safely receive the Twister submission? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: A training partner should have significant grappling experience (typically purple belt or higher), thorough understanding of the Truck position and Twister mechanics, clear communication established about tap signals, history of training complex submissions safely, awareness of their own spinal flexibility limits, and absolute trust in your control and application speed. They should be able to recognize early pressure and tap preventatively rather than testing their limits. Beginners or less experienced grapplers may not understand the danger until serious injury has occurred, making them inappropriate partners for this submission. Prior discussion and demonstration of the technique is essential before first application with any new partner.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The Twister represents an interesting case study in submission mechanics - it’s one of the few submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that targets the spine rather than a limb or the neck independently. The mechanical efficiency comes from the creation of opposed rotational forces, where the lower body is anchored through leg entanglement while the upper body is rotated in the opposite direction. This creates what we might call a ‘torque differential’ across the spinal column, specifically targeting the thoracic vertebrae. From a systematic perspective, the Twister cannot be viewed as an isolated technique but rather as the culmination of a positional hierarchy beginning with back control, progressing through the truck position, and ending with the submission itself. The safety considerations are paramount - the spine’s proximity to the spinal cord means that injury here carries catastrophic potential. Therefore, in training, we must treat this submission with extreme respect, applying pressure over a minimum of five to seven seconds and never, under any circumstances, jerking or spiking the finish. The technique’s effectiveness in competition is limited not by mechanical inefficiency but by the difficulty of securing the prerequisite positions against elite opposition and by various rule restrictions. For instructional purposes, I emphasize the Twister as an advanced teaching tool that develops understanding of spinal mechanics and rotational control, rather than as a high-percentage finishing option for competition.
- Gordon Ryan: The Twister is one of those submissions that looks way more spectacular than it actually is in competition. I’ve hit it a few times in training, but in high-level no-gi competition, you’re almost never going to catch someone in a position this complicated. The amount of control you need to lock up the truck and then finish the Twister is massive - if you have that much control, you can probably just take the back and get the choke, which is higher percentage and works under any ruleset. That said, the positions you learn getting to the Twister - the truck, the crab ride, the leg entanglement game - those are absolutely legit and useful. I use truck position entries all the time to threaten the back or to attack legs. The key difference between training and competition is that in training, you can play around with these complex positions and really develop the control. In competition, you need to be efficient and go for the highest percentage finish. If I get to someone’s back, I’m going for the rear naked choke ninety-nine times out of a hundred because it works under ADCC rules, IBJJF rules, submission-only, whatever. The Twister is illegal in most gi competitions and even in a lot of no-gi formats. But here’s the thing - training the Twister makes you better at back control, better at understanding body mechanics, and way more comfortable in scrambles. So I tell people: learn it, drill it slowly and safely with experienced partners, understand the mechanics, but don’t build your competition game around it. Use the positional understanding it gives you to improve your back attacks and your overall control game.
- Eddie Bravo: The Twister is the submission that put 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu on the map, and I’m incredibly proud of it, but I’m also incredibly respectful of it. This is not a submission you fuck around with - it attacks the spine, and that’s serious business. When I first started developing the Twister back in the day, it came from my background in wrestling and my obsession with leg rides and back control. I was watching wrestling matches and seeing these positions where guys had incredible control, and I thought, ‘How can we weaponize this for submission grappling?’ The Twister was the answer. But here’s the thing nobody talks about enough - this submission is as much about the journey as the destination. The whole system leading to the Twister - the lockdown, the Old School sweep, the truck position - that’s where the real innovation lives. Yeah, you can finish the Twister, and it’s devastating when you do, but the positions you learn getting there make your entire back attack game next level. In the 10th Planet system, we teach the Twister methodically and we emphasize safety constantly. You do not practice this on white belts, you do not go fast, and you tap your partner, not the other way around. When I show this technique, I’m always conscious that I’m demonstrating something that can really hurt somebody if they’re careless. The beauty of the Twister is that it requires you to be creative, to think outside the box, to use your whole body in this coordinated way that’s almost like a puzzle. It’s not brute strength - it’s technique, timing, and understanding of body mechanics. For me, the Twister represents what 10th Planet is all about: innovation, systematic thinking, and respect for the art and your training partners.