Wrestling Entry Twister

Variety

ツイスター(Tsuisutā)

Transliteration

Translation: Twister (katakana loanword)

Overview

The wrestling-entry twister accesses the twister submission through a traditional wrestling back ride transition rather than the truck position commonly associated with 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. ^[1] The attacker establishes a back ride — chest on the opponent's back with the legs hooking the hips — then threads one arm behind the opponent's head while the other arm captures the far knee, creating the spinal rotation and lateral flexion characteristic of the twister. ^[1],[2] The wrestling entry is more familiar to wrestlers transitioning to submission grappling, as the back ride is a fundamental wrestling control position. ^[2] This entry pathway demonstrates how traditional wrestling positions can be repurposed for submission attacks when competing under submission-permitting rulesets. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Guillotine Ride Twister^[1]Wrestling Crossbody Twister^[2]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA Sambo

History & Origin

The wrestling-entry pathway to the twister was documented as an alternative to the truck entry by practitioners who came from wrestling backgrounds. ^[1] This entry recognised the natural overlap between wrestling back rides and the twister position, facilitating cross-training between wrestling and submission grappling. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

The wrestling entry provides a high-percentage path to the twister through traditional back ride and leg riding control; effective for wrestlers transitioning to submission grappling ^[1]

Lineage

Eddie Bravo adapted the twister from the wrestler's guillotine (a traditional wrestling pinning combination) and developed the wrestling entry as part of his 10th Planet system ^[1]

Competition Record

Seen in 10th Planet invitational events and occasionally in MMA; the wrestling entry is considered the most reliable path to twister position ^[1]

Images

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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 back control with seatbelt — Establish hooks or body triangle, slide choking arm under the chin, connect hands and squeeze

From turtle top (back take) — Break down the turtle, insert hooks, secure seatbelt grip, slide to back control and apply the choke

From standing back clinch — Secure rear body lock, drag opponent to the mat while inserting hooks, transition to choking position

Variants

Standard grip variation — primary hand configuration for maximum choking pressure

Gi variation — uses the lapel or collar as an anchor for additional friction and control

No-gi variation — adapted grip and positioning for submission grappling without the gi

Transition finish — applied during a positional change to catch the opponent off-guard

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Extreme9/10

Rotation cranks twist the cervical spine; among the highest-risk submission categories

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Expert

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

Legal

— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— shime-waza

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— 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 RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓The wrestling-entry twister reaches the twister position from a traditional wrestling ride rather than the BJJ truck position — the back ride transitions to twister when the opponent's leg is hooked and the head is controlled (Bravo, Mastering the Rubber Guard, 2006)

✓From wrestling back ride: hook one of the opponent's legs with your leg (lockdown or calf hook), then reach across and grab the head — the leg controls the lower body while the arm initiates the spinal rotation

✓The wrestling entry is the original twister path: before Eddie Bravo systematised the truck entry, wrestlers accessed the twister through traditional ride positions

✓The wrestling ride provides the initial control: the attacker is behind the opponent with the chest on the back — from here, hooking the leg and reaching for the head transitions to the twister

✓The wrestling entry is more direct: it doesn't require the truck position as an intermediate — the back ride transitions directly to the twister

✓Finishing: maintain the leg hook while pulling the head in the opposite direction — the lower body is anchored while the upper body is rotated, creating extreme spinal torsion

✓The wrestling-entry twister is accessible to wrestlers transitioning to submission grappling: the back ride is familiar, and the twister adds a submission to their existing positional control

Common Mistakes

!Not hooking the leg before reaching for the head — the leg hook anchors the lower body; without it, the opponent can roll with the rotation

!Using a shallow leg hook — the hook must be deep enough to prevent the opponent from extracting the leg; shallow hooks allow escape

!Reaching for the head without the chest on the back — maintain back-ride pressure throughout; lifting up to reach allows the opponent to turn

!Applying explosive rotation — the spinal rotation is extremely dangerous; progressive application is critical

!Not understanding the wrestling ride foundation — the twister builds on the back ride; without a stable ride, the entry fails

!Confusing the wrestling entry with the truck entry — they reach the same submission from different positions; the wrestling entry bypasses the truck

!Holding maximum rotation without releasing on tap — the twister creates extreme spinal stress; immediate release on tap is essential

Related Techniques

Truck Position — the primary entry point for the twister Body Triangle — alternative back control that can transition to twister setup Banana Split — another crotch-ripper/spinal attack from truck Calf Slicer — leg attack available from the same truck position

Counter Techniques

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

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

note.com BJJ articles; Eddie Bravo 'Grappling Technique' Japanese edition (trans. 中井祐樹); JBJJF rules

1CompetitionJBJJF (Japan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation)

Official Japanese BJJ federation — competition rules and terminology

2BookEddie Bravo — Grappling Technique: Rubber Guard (Japanese Edition)

Translated by 中井祐樹 (Nakai Yūki, 2007)

3Websitenote.com Japanese BJJ Articles

Japanese BJJ community writing platform

4OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

5Citationnote.com BJJ articles; Eddie Bravo 'Grappling Technique' Japanese edition (trans. 中井祐樹); JBJJF rules

Japanese terminology sourced from note.com BJJ articles; Eddie Bravo 'Grappling Technique' Japanese edition (trans. 中井祐樹); JBJJF rules

Community

Athletics

Requires

grip or squeeze strength, positional control

Favours

strong upper body for sustained compression

Key muscles

forearms, biceps, pectorals, core stabilisers

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Wrestling Entry Twister work?

Where does the Wrestling Entry Twister come from?

The wrestling-entry pathway to the twister was documented as an alternative to the truck entry by practitioners who came from wrestling backgrounds. This entry recognised the natural overlap between wrestling back rides and the twister position, facilitating cross-training between wrestling and submission grappling.

Is the Wrestling Entry Twister legal in competition?

IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; 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 Wrestling Entry Twister?

Danger rating 9/10. Rotation cranks twist the cervical spine; among the highest-risk submission categories

How do I set up the Wrestling Entry Twister?

The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.

How do I defend against the Wrestling Entry 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 Wrestling Entry 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 Wrestling Entry Twister in competition?

Seen in 10th Planet invitational events and occasionally in MMA; the wrestling entry is considered the most reliable path to twister position

What are common mistakes when doing the Wrestling Entry Twister?

Top errors to watch for: Not hooking the leg before reaching for the head — the leg hook anchors the lower body; without it, the opponent can … / Using a shallow leg hook — the hook must be deep enough to prevent the opponent from extracting the leg; shallow hook… / Reaching for the head without the chest on the back — maintain back-ride pressure throughout; lifting up to reach all… / Applying explosive rotation — the spinal rotation is extremely dangerous; progressive application is critical.

What are other names for the Wrestling Entry Twister?

The Wrestling Entry Twister is also known as Tsuisutā, Guillotine Ride Twister, Wrestling Crossbody Twister.

tsuisut submission choke and strangle lock neck crank choke cervical rotation crank twister twister from back ride wrestling entry twister guillotine ride twister wrestling crossbody twister