Classification of Sex Positions

How many sex positions are there?

Let’s face it: the answer is “infinity”. This is because position is an analog quantity. In other words, any limb can be
positioned at any point in the continuous range of positions between fully extended and fully retracted. Similarly, the
orientation of the body in space and the relative position of the partners’ bodies to each other also have an infinite
number of values.

What then can be done to classify positions? The range of each variable could be divided into segments. For example,
the knee joint could be considered to be in one of four possible positions: 0% extended to 25% extended, 25% to 50%,
50% to 75%, and 75% to 100%. The same could be done with the other major joints, the orientation of the body in
space, and the relative position of the partners’ bodies to each other. This system could provide a finite list of every
possible position. However, it would be so complicated that it would be nearly impossible to use.

Therefore, since it is impractical to list every possible position, the purpose of a classification system must be to provide
a set of representative examples that do a fairly good job of representing the entire range of possible positions, and to
organize these examples in a way that makes sense.

Characteristics of classification systems

Alfred Kinsey said there were six sex positions. Alex Comfort said there were over 600. Gershon Legman said there were
3780. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_position .) While there are obviously more than six sex positions,
nobody can grasp over 600, let alone 3780. If a classification system has too few positions, it will not be able to describe
the great variety of positions that exist. On the other hand, if it has too many positions, it will be too complicated and
difficult to remember. A good classification system must make a compromise between these two extremes. Also, a good
classification system makes sense of the bewildering multitude of sex positions by organizing them according to a logical
structure. This makes the positions easier to remember, since remembering patterns is easier than remembering
unrelated assortments of things.

Many sources do an excellent job of illustrating sex positions. However, the positions are often given fanciful names,
which are different in each source, and the positions are often listed in random order or grouped into vague categories.
This makes the positions very difficult to remember, since there are so many and the underlying patterns are not
apparent. These sources may be good at illustrating sex positions, but they are poor at classifying them.

Flat surface positions and non-flat surface positions

A flat surface position is performed on a flat surface, away from the edges. A non-flat surface position makes use of the
edge of objects such as a sofa, a table, or the edge of a bed. It is important to include “edge” in the definition because if
both partners were completely on the object, away from the edges, it would simply be a flat surface position.

This system classifies flat surface positions. However, each non-flat surface position is simply a variation of a
corresponding flat surface position. The only difference is where the position is performed. This system attempts to
answer the question “what positions are possible?” It does not attempt to answer the question “where are positions
possible?” Therefore, non-flat surface positions are ignored. Also, this system does not classify oral sex positions.
First principles

(Exceptions to these principles will be introduced later.)

1. There are two basic types of sex positions: front entry (F) and rear entry (R).

2. The woman can be in one of five positions: (1) lying down face down, (2) kneeling, (3) squatting, (4) sitting, or (5) lying
down face up.

3. The man can be in one of five positions: (1) lying down face down, (2) kneeling, (3) squatting, (4) sitting, or (5) lying
down face up.

4. The legs can be in one of two positions: (1) man’s legs on the inside and woman’s legs on the outside, or (2) woman’s
legs on the inside and man’s legs on the outside.

For front entry positions, the total number of possible combinations of woman’s position, man’s position, and leg
position is 5 x 5 x 2 = 50. Similarly, for rear entry positions, the total number of possible combinations of woman’s
position, man’s position, and leg position is 5 x 5 x 2 = 50. Each of these two groups of 50 combinations can be visualized
as an array of points in a three-dimensional space, 5 columns wide by 5 rows tall by 2 layers deep. This is shown in Figure
1, below.

Figure 1

If you examine each of these combinations in turn, you will find that many combinations are not possible sex positions.
Eliminating these combinations results in Figures 2 and 3 on the next two pages. These diagrams are a map of all basic
sex positions. This is very useful, because four principles describe 61 basic positions!
Figure 2
Figure 3
The basic positions can be named according to their coordinates on the map. For example, “missionary position” is
F(5,1,1). “F” indicates front entry, “5” indicates the woman’s position (lying down face up), the first “1” indicates the
man’s position (lying down face down), and the second “1” indicates the leg position (man’s legs on the inside and
woman’s legs on the outside.) “Doggy style” would be R(2,2,1).

There are four basic positions that are shown disconnected from the rest. These are the unusual basic positions. It is
difficult at first to see why F(1,1,1) is front entry and R(5,1,1) is rear entry. Here is an explanation: turn F(1,1,1) upside
down and you get F(5,5,1). Turn R(5,1,1) upside down and you get R(1,5,1).

Non-basic positions

Unfortunately, there are many flat surface positions that are not described by the four principles above. These non-basic
positions are the subject of the rest of this document.

Lying on the side positions

In basic positions where both partners are lying down, it may be possible to roll over onto the side, and roll over again so
that the partner who was on top is now on the bottom and vice versa.

In lying on the side positions, the partners’ lower legs are parallel, because it would be uncomfortable for one partner to
lie on top of the other’s lower leg. It is possible for the upper legs to be parallel as well. This is classified as leg position 2
since the woman’s legs are close together.

Figure 4, below, shows the lying on the side positions, their names, and how they are related to the basic positions. For
clarity, some of the positions are shown flipped horizontally with respect to how they appear elsewhere. The basic lying
on the side positions F(1), F(2), R(1), and R(2) can be added to the map of basic positions in place of the unusual basic
positions. This is shown in Figures 5 and 6 on the next two pages.

Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Flat surface standing variations

The lying on the side positions can also be done standing up. Figure 7, below, shows the flat surface standing variations.
For variations, the name consists of the name of the position that the variation is based on, with a suffix indicating the
type of variation. For example, F(1)T is the flat surface standing variation of F(1). The “T” stands for “sTanding” or “Tall”.

Figure 7

Shoulder variations

In some positions, it is possible for the woman to put one or both legs on the man’s shoulders. She could also put them
on his chest, or he could hold them in the air. Figure 8, below, shows the shoulder variations. T(2) and T(4) are
transitional positions, which will be introduced later.

Figure 8
Butt lift variations

In some positions in which one of the partners is lying down, it is possible for the one lying down to lift their lower body
up off the flat surface. Figure 9, below, shows the butt lift variations.

Figure 9

Straddling variations

There is another possible leg position besides leg position 1 and leg position 2. It is the “straddling” leg position,
meaning the man is straddling one of the woman’s legs and vice versa. This leg position is given the letter “X” because it
is a cross between leg position 1 and leg position 2. Figure 10, below, shows some examples of straddling variations. This
leg position was not included in the first principles because it is uncommon and more awkward. There are two versions
of F(2,2,X) worth noting.

Figure 10
Transitional positions

There are some positions that are neither front entry nor rear entry. They can be used to transition between front entry
and rear entry positions. Figure 11, below, and Figure 12 on the next page show these positions and how they relate to
the positions described above.

Figure 11
Carrying positions

This is a distinct category on its own. The carrying positions are:

• C(1): Carrying, front entry, man’s arms above woman’s legs

• C(2): Carrying, front entry, man’s arms below woman’s legs
• C(3): Carrying, front entry, man’s arms below woman’s legs, shoulder variation
• C(4): Carrying, rear entry.

Figure 13, below, shows these positions.

Figure 13

Miscellaneous positions

Unfortunately, there are still a few positions that do not fit very well into this classification system. Figure 14, below,
shows some examples (and there may be more.)

Figure 14

Conclusion

All flat surface positions can be organized into the following categories:
• Basic positions (61)
• Non-basic positions
• Lying on the side positions (6)
• Standing variations (6)
• Shoulder variations (10)
• Butt lift variations (6)
• Straddling variations (many; 11 examples shown here)
• Transitional positions (13)
• Carrying positions (4)
• Miscellaneous positions (3 examples shown here; there may be more)

The total number of positions described in this document is 120. Appendices 1 to 5, attached, contain higher-quality
versions of Figures 5 to 14. For more detailed illustrations, see the links in Appendix 6 (“Examples of Sex Positions”).
I hope that these ideas have given you a deeper understanding of sex positions, and that this understanding will bring
greater confidence.

- Ed U . Kate