The Easiest Way to do the Twister
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Twister·Stephan Kesting·Added by Admin
How to do the Twister Submission the easiest way. By Stephan Kesting from http://www.grapplearts.com
Twister
Genusツイスター(Tsuisutaa)
TransliterationTranslation: Twister
Overview
The twister is a cervical rotation crank that applies extreme lateral rotation and flexion to the spine by trapping the opponent's legs (via a lockdown or leg entanglement) while cranking the head in the opposite direction with a chin-strap grip. [1],[2] The attacker controls the lower body with leg hooks and the upper body with the head grip, then torques the spine by pulling the head one way while the legs anchor the hips in the other direction. [1],[3] The twister creates simultaneous rotational and lateral stress on the entire spinal column, making it one of the most dangerous cranks in grappling. [1],[4]
History & Origin
The twister was popularized by Eddie Bravo, who derived it from the wrestling 'guillotine' (a wrestling pin, not the choke) and integrated it into his 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system. [1],[2] The Korean Zombie (Chan Sung Jung) famously finished the first twister in UFC history in 2011. [1],[3] While spinal rotation attacks existed in wrestling, Bravo's systematization made the twister a recognized named submission in BJJ and MMA. [1],[4]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Compression of the neck structures — restricts blood flow or airway depending on technique application
Joints Involved — Cervical spine, surrounding musculature, and vascular structures of the neck
Force Vector — Directed compression against the neck from the choking limb or body position
Finishing Mechanic — Sustained pressure causes either vascular occlusion (unconsciousness) or tracheal restriction (breathing difficulty)
Position & Entry
From controlling position — Establish the dominant position, clear defensive grips, thread the choking limb into position
From guard (bottom) — Break the opponent's posture, isolate the neck and configure the choke from underneath
From transition — During a scramble or position change, secure the neck control and lock the choke before the opponent re-establishes defence
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
10
Extreme10/10
The twister simultaneously rotates the cervical and thoracic spine; extreme risk of spinal injury
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Expert
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— IBJJF — Neck cranks and spinal locks prohibited at all be...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Neck cranks prohibited
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFLegal
— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — choke submissions are among the mos...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The twister (or wrestler's guillotine) is a spine-lock submission that rotates the opponent's upper body while controlling the lower body — creating extreme rotational stress on the thoracic and cervical spine (Bravo, Mastering the Rubber Guard, 2006)
✓The twister position: from back control or the 'truck' position, hook one of the opponent's legs with your legs (lockdown or calf slicer hook), then reach over and grab the head — the legs control the lower body while the arm rotates the upper body
✓The rotational mechanism: the lower body is pinned by the leg hook while the upper body is twisted by the arm pulling the head — the spine is caught in between, forced to rotate beyond its comfortable range
✓The twister targets the thoracic and cervical spine simultaneously: the rotation affects multiple vertebral levels — creating pain and submission from whole-spine torsion
✓Eddie Bravo popularised the twister in BJJ: he systematised the entry from the 'truck' position (a half-back control with leg entanglement) and demonstrated it in competition
✓The twister is one of the few spine lock submissions that is legal in most rule sets: ADCC, submission wrestling, and even IBJJF (though entries vary)
✓The twister entry from back control: lose one hook intentionally to entangle the opponent's leg, establish the 'truck' position, then reach over for the head and twist
Common Mistakes
!Applying the twist without controlling the lower body — the legs must anchor the opponent's hips; without the leg hook, the entire body rotates and no spinal stress occurs
!Twisting explosively — the spinal rotation is dangerous; apply the twist progressively to allow the opponent to tap
!Not establishing the truck position before attempting the twist — the truck (leg entanglement + half back control) is the platform; attempting the twist without it fails
!Pulling only the head — the head pull creates the rotation, but the anchored legs are equally important; both must be engaged
!Attempting the twister without understanding the spinal mechanics — the technique is dangerous; study the anatomy and practise with experienced partners
!Confusing the twister with a simple neck crank — the twister rotates the entire spine through leg-hip control; it's a spinal lock, not just a neck technique
!Holding the twister at maximum rotation — release immediately on tap; the spinal rotation affects multiple vertebral levels and can cause serious injury
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish Position — achieve the controlling position needed for this submission
2Create the Threat — begin the submission setup to force a defensive reaction
3Secure the Hold — lock the submission grip with proper body mechanics
4Finish — apply increasing pressure until the opponent taps or the joint/choke takes effect
Sources & References
Primary Source
Japanese BJJ — universal loanword; underlying concept: 脊椎捻り (Sekitsui Hineri) in Fusen-ryu
1BookJapanese BJJ — universal loanword; underlying concept: 脊椎捻り (Sekitsui Hineri) in Fusen-ryu
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese BJJ — universal loanword; underlying concept: 脊椎捻り (Sekitsui Hineri) in Fusen-ryu
2Oral TraditionFusen-ryu Jujutsu
Classical ground-fighting jujutsu school
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJapanese BJJ — universal loanword; underlying concept: 脊椎捻り (Sekitsui Hineri) in Fusen-ryu
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese BJJ — universal loanword; underlying concept: 脊椎捻り (Sekitsui Hineri) in Fusen-ryu
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip or squeeze strength, positional control
Favours
strong upper body for sustained compression
Key muscles
forearms, biceps, pectorals, core stabilisers
Sub-techniques
Twister From Back Ride
SpeciesThe twister from back ride is applied when the attacker has a back ride position with one hook controlling the opponent's far leg (the 'truck' entry) and threads an arm under the opponent's chin from behind, then uses the trapped leg and upper body grip to rotate the spine in opposite directions. [1,2] The attacker's legs control the lower body while the arms rotate the upper body in the opposite direction, creating severe rotational stress on the entire spinal column. [1] The back ride provides the base from which the twister's counter-rotational forces are generated. [1,2]
1 varieties·1 techniquesExplore
Twister From Truck
SpeciesThe twister from truck is applied from the 'truck' position, where the attacker controls the opponent's far leg by threading their own legs through in a lockdown-style configuration while positioned behind the opponent. [1,2] From the truck, the attacker threads one arm under the opponent's chin and grabs the wrist of the other arm, then rotates the upper body away from the trapped lower body to produce a severe rotational spinal crank. [1] The truck provides the leg control that anchors the lower body while the arms rotate the spine. [1,2]
2 varieties·2 techniquesExplore
Notes
The Twister appears in 595 passages across 16 books — the single most referenced submission in the 10th Planet system. Originally the wrestler's guillotine pin, adapted by Eddie Bravo as a spinal lock. Bravo's Mastering the Twister is entirely dedicated to the technique and its associated positions. (Bravo, Mastering the Twister; 16 books in corpus)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up the Twister if my opponent starts escaping from rear mount?
According to Stephan Kesting, if your opponent begins to escape or removes a hook, transition from full rear mount to half back mount rather than lose the position entirely, then work to set up the leg triangle from there.
Is the Twister dangerous, and what precautions should I take?
Stephan Kesting emphasizes that the Twister can cause paralysis, so be especially careful when training with higher-level partners who might not tap early enough.
How does the Twister work?
The twister is a cervical rotation crank that applies extreme lateral rotation and flexion to the spine by trapping the opponent's legs (via a lockdown or leg entanglement) while cranking the head in the opposite direction with a chin-strap grip. The attacker controls the lower body with leg hooks and the upper body with the head grip, then torques the spine by pulling the head one way while the legs anchor the hips in the other direction.
Where does the Twister come from?
The twister was popularized by Eddie Bravo, who derived it from the wrestling 'guillotine' (a wrestling pin, not the choke) and integrated it into his 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system. The Korean Zombie (Chan Sung Jung) famously finished the first twister in UFC history in 2011.
Is the Twister legal in competition?
IBJJF: banned — Neck cranks and spinal locks prohibited at all belt levels; IJF: banned — Neck cranks prohibited; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Twister?
Danger rating 10/10. The twister simultaneously rotates the cervical and thoracic spine; extreme risk of spinal injury
How do I set up the Twister?
The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.
How do I defend against the Twister?
Standard counters include: Early Recognition — identify the submission attempt early and begin defence immediately / Posture and Base — maintain strong posture and base to prevent submission setups / Grip Fight — deny the attacker their preferred gripping configuration.
What are the variants of the Twister?
Common variants: Standard grip variation (primary hand configuration for maximum choking pressure); Gi variation (uses the lapel or collar as an anchor for additional fric…); No-gi variation (adapted grip and positioning for submission grappling wit…); Transition finish (applied during a positional change to catch the opponent …).
How effective is the Twister in competition?
The Korean Zombie (Chan Sung Jung) finished Leonard Garcia with a twister at UFC Fight Night 24 (2011), the first twister finish in UFC history. Eddie Bravo submitted Royler Gracie's student Gustavo Machado with a twister, demonstrating the technique's viability.
What are common mistakes when doing the Twister?
Top errors to watch for: Applying the twist without controlling the lower body — the legs must anchor the opponent's hips; without the leg hoo… / Twisting explosively — the spinal rotation is dangerous; apply the twist progressively to allow the opponent to tap / Not establishing the truck position before attempting the twist — the truck (leg entanglement + half back control) is… / Pulling only the head — the head pull creates the rotation, but the anchored legs are equally important; both must be….
What are other names for the Twister?
The Twister is also known as Tsuisutaa, Wrestler's Guillotine, Spinal Crank, Eddie Bravo Twister.