The Kiss of the Dragon is an advanced rolling back take technique that allows the top player to bypass the turtle position’s defensive structure and directly establish back control. Named for its distinctive forward rolling motion that resembles a dragon’s head curling down, this technique exploits the moment when an opponent turtles defensively. The practitioner uses a forward somersault while maintaining grip control on the opponent’s hips or belt, rolling underneath and behind the turtle position to emerge directly on the back. This dynamic movement is particularly effective against opponents who are skilled at defending traditional back take attempts, as it circumvents the typical defensive frames and hand fighting that occur during standard back attacks. The technique requires excellent spatial awareness, timing, and the ability to maintain connection throughout the inversion. When executed properly, the Kiss of the Dragon provides an almost undefendable path to the back, as the defender’s protective layers are bypassed entirely through the rolling motion.
Starting Position: Turtle Ending Position: Back Control Success Rates: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 40%, Advanced 60%
Key Principles
- Maintain constant connection to opponent’s hips throughout the roll
- Forward roll must be tight and controlled to emerge in proper position
- Timing the entry when opponent commits weight forward into turtle
- Keep head tucked and spine rounded during inversion for safety and control
- Establish seatbelt grip immediately upon completing the roll
- Use momentum from the roll to penetrate hooks before opponent can defend
- Control opponent’s hips to prevent them from following your rotation
Prerequisites
- Opponent in turtle position with weight distributed forward
- Strong grip on opponent’s belt, back of pants, or hip control established
- Top position with ability to get head lower than opponent’s hips
- Clear space to execute forward roll without obstruction
- Opponent’s defensive posture focused on preventing traditional back takes
- Control of at least one side of opponent’s body to anchor the roll
Execution Steps
- Establish hip control from top turtle: From top turtle position, secure a firm grip on opponent’s belt or the back of their pants at the hip level. This grip serves as your anchor point throughout the entire technique. Position yourself slightly to one side of the turtle position rather than directly behind, as this creates the angle needed for entry. (Timing: When opponent settles into defensive turtle structure)
- Drop head below opponent’s hips: Lower your head and shoulders beneath the level of your opponent’s hips while maintaining your grip. This positioning is critical as it creates the proper axis for your forward roll. Your forehead should be pointing toward the mat, and your spine should begin to round in preparation for the somersault motion. (Timing: As opponent’s weight shifts forward or they brace against traditional back attacks)
- Initiate forward roll under opponent: Execute a tight forward somersault while pulling on the hip grip to maintain connection. Tuck your chin to your chest and roll over your shoulder, directing your momentum to pass underneath the opponent’s center of gravity. The roll should be compact and controlled, with your body staying connected to the opponent’s hips throughout the rotation. (Timing: Explosive initiation once head is properly positioned)
- Maintain hip connection through inversion: As you roll inverted underneath your opponent, actively pull on your hip grip to keep your body connected to theirs. This prevents separation and ensures you emerge in the correct position relative to their back. Your legs may briefly go over your head during this phase as you complete the somersault motion underneath them. (Timing: Continuous throughout the rolling motion)
- Emerge behind opponent’s back: Complete the forward roll to emerge directly behind your opponent’s back, ending in a position where you are sitting up and they are still in turtle facing away from you. Your grip on their hips should still be intact. Your chest should be approaching their back as you come out of the roll. (Timing: As rotational momentum completes and you return to upright orientation)
- Establish seatbelt control: Immediately transition your grips to establish the seatbelt position by threading one arm over the opponent’s shoulder and the other under their armpit, clasping your hands together. This control must be established quickly before the opponent can turn to face you or defend the back position. (Timing: Immediately upon completing roll)
- Insert hooks and secure back control: With seatbelt control established, use your legs to insert both hooks inside your opponent’s thighs, establishing full back control. The momentum from your roll and the surprise of your position makes hook insertion significantly easier than traditional back takes. Pull your opponent’s weight back onto you to flatten them and consolidate your dominant position. (Timing: Before opponent can turn into you or establish defensive frames)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent follows your roll by turning with you (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Break your roll mid-rotation and transition to a leg entanglement or guard recovery rather than completing the full somersault. Alternatively, accelerate your roll and grip adjustment to complete the technique before they can fully track your movement.
- Opponent sprawls weight back to prevent you from getting under (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Abandon the technique and transition to traditional back take methods like the crab ride or cross body ride. The Kiss of the Dragon requires forward weight commitment from the opponent, so adjust your strategy when they shift their weight backward.
- Opponent sits to guard as you roll (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Continue your roll and establish a leg entanglement position such as ashi garami or X-guard, using your momentum to sweep or enter into a leg attack system. Your rolling motion naturally positions you for lower body attacks if back control becomes unavailable.
- Opponent breaks your hip grip during the roll (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: If grip breaks early in the roll, abort and return to top turtle control. If it breaks late in the roll, complete your rotation and immediately work to re-establish grips or transition to a scramble position rather than trying to force back control without connection.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary purpose of the hip grip during the Kiss of the Dragon? A: The hip grip serves as the anchor point that maintains connection to the opponent throughout the forward roll. It prevents separation during the inversion phase and ensures you emerge in the correct position relative to their back. Without this constant connection, you would roll into empty space rather than arriving at back control. The grip must be maintained with active pulling tension throughout the entire technique.
Q2: Why is the Kiss of the Dragon more effective than traditional back takes against defensive opponents? A: The Kiss of the Dragon bypasses the typical defensive layers that opponents use to prevent back takes, such as hand fighting, sitting to guard, or rolling through. By using an inverted rolling motion underneath the turtle position, the technique circumvents frames and defensive structures entirely, arriving at the back before the opponent can mount a defense. Traditional back takes must overcome these defensive barriers sequentially, while the Kiss of the Dragon renders them irrelevant through its unique approach vector.
Q3: What adjustment should you make if your opponent begins to follow your roll by turning with you? A: If the opponent successfully tracks your rotation by turning their body to follow you, you should abort the complete somersault and transition to alternative positions such as leg entanglements or guard recovery. Attempting to force the back take when they are turning with you typically results in a scramble where you lose positional advantage. Alternatively, if you recognize their turn early enough, you can accelerate your roll and rapidly adjust your grips to complete the technique before they can fully track your movement.
Q4: How does body positioning at a 45-degree angle improve Kiss of the Dragon execution compared to positioning directly behind the turtle? A: Starting at a 45-degree angle to one side creates the proper trajectory for your rolling arc to travel around the opponent’s body rather than straight past them. When positioned directly behind, the forward roll tends to take you past the opponent or results in incomplete rotation because the geometric path doesn’t account for their body as an obstacle. The angled approach allows your roll to follow the curve of their torso, maintaining connection throughout and emerging in optimal position for back control.
Q5: Why must the seatbelt grip be established immediately upon completing the roll? A: The brief moment after completing the roll represents a window of vulnerability where the opponent can turn into you, establish defensive frames, or sit to guard before you secure position. The element of surprise and the momentum from your roll give you a 1-2 second advantage during which the opponent is disoriented by your sudden appearance on their back. If you delay seatbelt establishment to adjust your position or base, this advantage evaporates and the opponent can mount an effective defense. Immediate upper body control capitalizes on their compromised state.
Q6: What physical attributes and movement skills are most important for successfully executing the Kiss of the Dragon? A: The technique requires excellent spatial awareness to maintain proper orientation during inversion, core strength to control the rolling motion while maintaining grip connection, and shoulder mobility to execute the somersault while attached to an opponent. Balance and proprioception are critical for emerging in the correct position relative to the opponent after rotating through space. Grip strength ensures connection is maintained throughout dynamic movement. While the technique appears to require extreme flexibility, it actually demands more from coordination and body control than raw flexibility.
Q7: How does opponent weight distribution in turtle position affect the timing and success rate of Kiss of the Dragon? A: The technique is most successful when the opponent’s weight is committed forward into defensive turtle structure, as this creates the space needed to get your head and shoulders underneath their hips for the roll entry. When an opponent posts their weight backward or sits on their heels, this space collapses and prevents proper execution. Advanced practitioners create forward weight commitment by threatening traditional back takes, forcing the opponent to defend in a manner that opens the Kiss of the Dragon entry. Reading and manipulating weight distribution is therefore essential for consistent success with this technique.
Safety Considerations
The Kiss of the Dragon involves spinal inversion and rolling while attached to an opponent, creating specific safety concerns. Practitioners must have competent forward rolling ability before attempting this technique with a partner to prevent neck and spine injuries. Always tuck the chin tightly to the chest and maintain a rounded spine throughout the roll—rolling with a flat back can cause serious injury. Start training at slow speed with lightweight partners and progress gradually to full resistance. Be aware of mat space and obstacles before initiating the roll. If you feel your grip breaking during the rotation, release completely rather than attempting to hold on, as this can cause you to land awkwardly. Partners should not drive forward into someone executing this technique, as it can cause the rolling practitioner to spike onto their head or neck. Individuals with existing neck, spine, or shoulder injuries should consult medical professionals before training this technique.
Position Integration
The Kiss of the Dragon is a specialized back take technique that fits within the turtle top position control system. It serves as an advanced alternative to traditional back attacks like the crab ride, seatbelt back take, or clock choke when those options are defended. The technique is particularly valuable in no-gi grappling where turtle escapes are more common due to the absence of gi grips that control posture. In the broader positional hierarchy, successful execution elevates you from the turtle top position (typically worth 2-3 points) to back control (4 points in IBJJF rules), representing one of the highest-value position transitions available. The Kiss of the Dragon complements other turtle attacks by providing a completely different attack vector—while most turtle attacks work from the side or above, this technique attacks from underneath, creating a three-dimensional threat system that is difficult to defend comprehensively. Within modern leg lock systems, the Kiss of the Dragon to Truck variation has become increasingly important, providing a bridge between traditional positional grappling and modern leg entanglement approaches.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The Kiss of the Dragon represents a sophisticated solution to the fundamental problem of the turtle position’s defensive structure. Traditional back take methods from turtle require you to overcome sequential defensive barriers—first breaking down the defensive posture, then inserting hooks while managing hand fighting, and finally establishing control. Each stage presents opportunities for the defender to escape or counter. The genius of the Kiss of the Dragon lies in its circumvention of this entire sequence through geometric repositioning. By rolling underneath and around the turtle position, you literally bypass every defensive layer simultaneously. The technique exploits a blind spot in most turtle defense systems, which are designed to address threats coming from above and the sides but not from below. Biomechanically, the forward roll while maintaining hip connection creates a pendulum effect where your body weight and momentum work together to arrive at the back position with significant control already established. The key technical detail that separates successful execution from failure is the maintenance of constant tension on your hip grip—this grip must actively draw you into the opponent throughout the rotation, not simply hold onto them passively. When students struggle with this technique, it is almost always because they roll through space independently of their opponent rather than using the grip to control their rolling trajectory around the opponent’s body.
- Gordon Ryan: In high-level competition, the Kiss of the Dragon is one of the few turtle attacks that remains highly effective even against world-class defensive players. Most traditional back takes from turtle have been so thoroughly systematized and defended that they primarily work through cumulative pressure over time rather than as single decisive techniques. The Kiss of the Dragon is different because it’s simply very difficult to defend once initiated—by the time your opponent recognizes what’s happening, you’re already inverted and coming around their back. I use this technique frequently in competition, particularly in no-gi where turtle positions occur commonly during scrambles. The timing that matters most is recognizing when your opponent has committed their defensive structure forward—this usually happens when they’re focused on preventing you from getting a front headlock or when they’re defending traditional back take grips. That moment of forward commitment is your window. One competition-specific detail: don’t get greedy trying to establish perfect back control immediately. If you can secure seatbelt control and one hook, take it and work from there. Waiting for the perfect double-hook back mount gives your opponent time to turn into you or sit to guard. In my experience, the single biggest predictor of success is how quickly you transition from hip grip to seatbelt—this should be one fluid motion with no pause. I also like the variation to truck position in submission-only competition because it keeps my opponent guessing about whether I’m attacking the back or the legs, and that uncertainty itself becomes a weapon.
- Eddie Bravo: The Kiss of the Dragon is straight-up one of the most visually impressive techniques in jiu-jitsu, and what people don’t realize is that it fits perfectly into the 10th Planet turtle attack system. We’ve always emphasized attacking turtle with creativity and multiple vectors of attack—the standard back takes, the truck entries, the twister setups—and the Kiss of the Dragon adds another dimension that most people don’t see coming. What makes it special for our system is that it works incredibly well when you’re already threatening the truck. If you’re known for going to truck from turtle, your opponent’s defensive focus is on protecting their lower body and preventing you from controlling their legs. That’s exactly when you hit them with the Kiss of the Dragon coming from the opposite direction. The psychological element is huge here—people defend what they expect, and nobody expects you to roll underneath them. In terms of technique refinement, I’ve found that the no-gi version actually works better than gi because you can use wrestling-style body lock grips that are harder to break than gi grips. Cup your hands together behind their hips or even around their waist if you can get it, and that connection is incredibly strong through the roll. For students learning this, I always emphasize making your body into a tight ball during the roll—the tighter and more compact you are, the faster you rotate and the less time your opponent has to react. This isn’t a move you want to do slowly and methodically; it works best when executed explosively with full commitment. If you hesitate halfway through or try to adjust mid-roll, you’ll end up in no-man’s land getting smashed.