Twister

What is the Twister? (Definition & Historical Origin)

The Twister is a grappling submission designed to twist the spine by applying opposing forces to the upper and lower body. It uniquely blends elements of a neck crank and spinal lock, primarily targeting the cervical spine. Originally known as the "wrestler's guillotine" in amateur wrestling, the technique was adapted into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Eddie Bravo, who first encountered it during his youth wrestling career. While training under Jean-Jacques Machado, Bravo refined and evolved the move into a distinct submission, renaming it the "Twister" to avoid confusion with the existing Guillotine Choke. Bravo popularized the Twister through his innovative 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, establishing it as a signature submission within no-gi grappling.

Biomechanics of the Twister Submission

The Twister submission generates severe spinal rotation by simultaneously controlling and applying opposing forces to the opponent's upper and lower body. The attacker secures the opponent's hips and lower body using tight leg entanglements—typically from the figure-four "Truck" position or lockdown—to immobilize the hips and prevent defensive rotation. Concurrently, the attacker isolates the opponent's far arm and shoulder, pulling the arm behind their own body to further restrict movement. To finish, the attacker grips high on the opponent's head near the crown and pulls laterally toward the shoulder, maximizing torque on the cervical spine. Proper execution requires the attacker to position their body perpendicular to the opponent, ensuring optimal leverage and torque distribution throughout the spine.

Common Setups and Entries to the Twister

Entry from the Truck Position

The most common setup for the Twister is from the "Truck" position—a specialized back control featuring one hook and leg entanglement. Grapplers frequently transition to the Truck when opponents attempt to escape traditional back control, creating openings for the Twister.

Twister Side Control Entry

Another popular entry is from "Twister side control," a reverse kesa-gatame position popularized by Eddie Bravo. From here, the attacker inserts a "Twister hook" and executes a rolling back take directly into the Truck, seamlessly setting up the submission.

Twister Rolls from Half Guard or Turtle

Grapplers may also initiate "Twister rolls" from top Half Guard or turtle positions, smoothly transitioning into the Truck and subsequently securing the Twister submission.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying the Twister

Executing the Twister effectively demands precision and attention to detail. Common pitfalls include:

• Failing to isolate the opponent's far arm: Allowing the opponent's arm freedom enables defensive rotation and escape.
• Loose leg entanglement: Insufficient leg control permits opponents to free their hips, neutralizing the submission.
• Incorrect body alignment: Poor positioning reduces spinal torque, allowing opponents to realign and defend.
• Rolling in the wrong direction: Rolling toward the opponent's feet rather than diagonally toward their torso risks losing positional control.
• Improper head grip placement: Gripping too low on the head or jaw significantly reduces leverage and effectiveness.
• Overcommitting force without control: Excessive force without maintaining proper control points can inadvertently lead to losing dominant position.

Effective Defenses and Escapes from the Twister

Successfully defending the Twister involves early recognition and disrupting key control points:

• Breaking leg entanglements: Use the free leg to pummel and pry apart the attacker's leg hooks, removing their lower body anchor.
• Protecting the far arm and shoulder: Aggressively hand-fight to prevent isolation of the far arm, preserving defensive rotation options.
• Realigning the spine: Shoulder-walk or scoot hips away to flatten the back against the mat, neutralizing spinal torque.
• Rolling toward the attacker: If caught early, rolling toward the attacker can untwist the spine and create scrambles to escape.
• Early recognition and proactive defense: Identifying Truck or half-back setups early allows practitioners to preemptively counter and avoid the Twister entirely.

Strategic Application and Competition Context

The Twister is strategically valuable primarily in no-gi grappling and MMA competitions, where spinal submissions are permitted. Due to its spinal lock nature, the Twister remains illegal in most gi-based Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions under IBJJF rules. Notable high-level competition examples include Chan Sung Jung's historic Twister submission victory over Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24 in 2011—the first-ever Twister finish in UFC history. In 2019, Bryce Mitchell secured another notable Twister submission against Matt Sayles at UFC on ESPN 7. In submission grappling, Vinny Magalhães famously executed a Twister at the ADCC 2015 World Championship, demonstrating its effectiveness at elite levels. Within the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu curriculum, the Twister remains a signature technique, frequently taught and utilized in competition by prominent practitioners such as Geo Martinez.