Amazon Sex Position

In the Amazon sex position, the penetrating partner lies on their back with the knees bent or raised while the receiving partner faces them from above and controls insertion, angle, depth, and pace. Begin with the top partner kneeling instead of holding a deep squat. Keep the lower partner's legs comfortably bent, guide penetration by hand, and use a small rocking motion before adding more range.

The Amazon position is also called the Amazonian position or, less consistently, the Amazon press. It combines a receiver-on-top arrangement with the lower partner's legs held in a more folded position than standard cowgirl. The compact angle and role reversal are the main reasons couples try it.

Amazon Sex Position: The Short Version

1. Agree on the setup. Decide who controls insertion, movement, barriers, and the stop signal.
2. Warm up first. Begin penetration in a familiar position if that makes alignment easier.
3. Position the lower partner. They lie on their back with knees bent and feet on the bed or legs raised comfortably.
4. Bring the top partner into a kneel. They face the lower partner and place knees beside or between the lower partner's legs.
5. Guide insertion by hand. The top partner lowers slowly while keeping the penis or toy aligned.
6. Start with rocking. Test a small forward-and-back motion before lifting, squatting, or bouncing.
7. Adjust one variable. Change leg height, pillow height, knee position, torso angle, or pace separately.

The top partner should remain in control of final depth because they receive the penetration and have the clearest information about internal comfort. The lower partner can assist with balance or gentle hip guidance only when asked.

What the Amazon Position Looks Like

The lower partner lies face up. Their knees may stay bent with feet on the mattress, rise into a tabletop shape, or open toward the shoulders. The top partner faces them and lowers their pelvis over a penis, strap-on, or compatible toy. Depending on body proportions, the top partner may kneel between the lower partner's thighs, place knees outside the hips, or use one knee and one foot.

There is no single correct leg arrangement. A tightly folded lower partner and a deep squat create the dramatic version often shown in illustrations, but both choices increase mobility and strength demands. The kneeling version preserves the Amazon angle while giving both partners more support.

Amazon versus cowgirl

In cowgirl, the lower partner usually keeps the legs extended or relaxed while the receiver straddles the hips. Amazon brings the lower partner's knees upward and places the top partner closer to or between those legs. This changes the pelvic angle and creates a more compact, role-reversed shape.

Amazon versus mating press

In a mating press, the penetrating partner is usually above and controls movement while the receiver's legs fold toward the torso. Amazon reverses those active and receiving roles. The person receiving penetration is above and should control the movement.

The phrase Amazonian mating press mixes informal names rather than identifying one agreed position. Amazon and Amazonian usually mean the same arrangement; mating press describes a different distribution of support and control. Before choosing either, clarify who is on top, whose legs are raised, and whether both partners can pause and move away comfortably.

Why the name varies

Position names are informal and can mean different things across sites. Amazon and Amazonian usually describe the same basic setup, while Amazon press may refer to a more compressed variation. Confirm the body arrangement instead of assuming a name communicates consent to a particular depth or power dynamic.

Before You Try It

Consent to the position is not consent to a role

The Amazon position is often described as dominant or femdom, but the shape does not assign anyone a psychological role. The top partner can control the mechanics without performing dominance. If power exchange, commands, restraint, rough movement, or humiliation are part of the fantasy, discuss each separately.

Agree that the top partner guides insertion and can lift away immediately. The lower partner should not pull the top partner down, thrust upward unexpectedly, or hold the legs in a way that prevents movement. A short word such as "pause" should stop all motion.

Check knees, hips, and lower back

The top partner needs a comfortable kneeling or partial-squat range. The lower partner needs to bend the hips and knees without compressing the abdomen or rounding the lower back sharply. Begin with a loose leg position and add height only if both people remain comfortable.

If kneeling or the folded shape is uncomfortable, compare the supported beginner positions rather than trying to reproduce a more compressed version.

Prepare support and lubrication

Use a firm pillow or wedge, not an unstable stack of soft pillows. Keep lubricant, condoms, and tissues within reach. If a latex condom is used, choose water-based or silicone-based lubricant rather than oil. Adequate lubrication reduces friction and makes small alignment changes easier.

How to Do the Amazon Sex Position Step by Step

1. Start with the lower partner on their back

The lower partner lies near the center of a stable bed. Bend the knees and place both feet on the mattress. This is easier than pulling the knees fully toward the chest and gives the lower partner an immediate way to change the angle.

2. Raise the legs only as far as comfortable

The lower partner can keep feet down, lift the shins into a tabletop position, or let the knees open toward the shoulders. Avoid pressing the thighs tightly into the torso. Breathing and lower-back comfort should remain normal.

3. Let the top partner choose the base

For the easiest version, the top partner kneels with knees on either side of the lower partner's hips or between the lower legs. A wider kneel may create more stability, while a narrower base may improve alignment for some body proportions.

A partial squat creates more vertical movement but is harder on the thighs and knees. Do not begin there unless the top partner already feels stable and wants the added range.

4. Guide the penis or toy

The top partner uses a hand to align the penis or toy with the vaginal or anal opening, then lowers slowly. The lower partner stays still during insertion. If alignment is awkward, lift away completely, add lubricant, and reposition rather than bending or forcing the angle.

5. Test rocking before lifting

Once penetration feels comfortable, begin with a small forward-and-back pelvic rock. Leaning slightly forward can add support through the hands and change external contact. An upright torso creates a different angle but requires more balance.

6. Add movement only when the base is stable

The top partner can continue rocking, make shallow up-and-down movements, or alternate between the two. Keep the penis or toy aligned throughout the stroke. If it slips out, stop and guide it back by hand instead of dropping down onto it.

7. Exit slowly

The top partner lifts until penetration ends, then moves their knees or feet away. The lower partner lowers one leg at a time. Moving slowly helps if hips or knees have been held in one position for several minutes.

Movement Options Compared

Movement	What it changes	When to adjust
Forward-and-back rocking	Uses a small range and can preserve external contact	Shorten the rock if the angle feels sharp
Shallow vertical movement	Adds a repeated in-and-out sensation	Use a hand for alignment if slipping begins
Upright kneeling	Gives the top partner a clear view and moderate control	Lean forward if balance or thigh fatigue develops
Forward lean	Moves weight toward the hands and changes pelvic angle	Add hand support without collapsing onto the lower partner
Partial squat	Creates a larger movement range	Return to kneeling before knees or thighs become unstable

Four Amazon Position Variations

Kneeling Amazon

The top partner keeps both knees on the bed and uses rocking or short lifts. The lower partner holds the legs in a loose tabletop or keeps feet down. This is the best starting version because neither person depends on a deep squat.

Supported Amazon

The top partner holds a stable headboard, places hands on the mattress, or rests forearms lightly on the lower partner's thighs with permission. A firm pillow beneath the lower partner's hips can bring the pelvis closer without requiring a tighter fold.

Half-kneel Amazon

The top partner keeps one knee on the mattress and places the opposite foot flat. This can suit uneven hip mobility or provide more leverage. Switch sides if one knee or hip begins carrying all the effort.

Reverse Amazon position

The top partner faces away from the lower partner. Begin from a stable kneel, guide insertion by hand, and use a small movement range. Because eye contact is unavailable and the penis or toy can bend at a different angle, verbal feedback and slow transitions matter.

How to Make the Amazon Position Easier

• Keep the lower partner's feet on the bed. This reduces hip flexion and gives them more control.
• Choose kneeling over squatting. Kneeling reduces thigh demand and fall risk.
• Add one firm pillow. A small lift beneath the hips can improve alignment without sharply folding the spine.
• Use a stable handhold. A fixed headboard or mattress support is safer than pulling on the lower partner's legs.
• Make the stroke shorter. Rocking and shallow movement require less balance than full lifts.
• Change positions before fatigue. Amazon can be a transition position rather than the entire session.

External Stimulation and Hand Placement

The top partner may have one or both hands available for clitoral, penile, or perineal stimulation depending on balance. A small vibrator can be used externally if both people agree and it does not interfere with alignment. There is no need to add multiple sensations before the basic movement feels stable.

The lower partner can touch the top partner or help hold a toy, but should not use the top partner's hips as handles for unexpected thrusting. Hands used for balance should stay away from joints and should not press the lower partner's raised legs past their comfortable range.

Using a Strap-On or Toy

The Amazon position can use a penis, a harness-compatible dildo, or another body-safe penetrative toy with a secure base. Check the harness fit before the lower partner raises their legs. A loose harness makes alignment difficult, while a toy that is longer or firmer than expected may require a smaller movement range.

For anal penetration, use generous lubricant because the anus does not lubricate itself. Begin with the receiver in full control and keep movement shallow. Put a new condom on a shared toy for each partner and each body opening, or clean it according to the manufacturer's instructions before reuse.

Common Problems and Better Adjustments

Problem	Likely adjustment	What not to do
The angle feels sharp	Lift away, lower the legs, change knee placement, or remove the pillow	Force a deeper stroke
The top partner's thighs burn	Drop from a squat to both knees and switch to rocking	Keep bouncing until balance fails
The lower back feels compressed	Lower the knees, flatten the pillow, and restore a neutral spine	Pull the thighs closer to the chest
The penis or toy slips out	Stop, guide it by hand, add lubricant, and shorten the stroke	Drop down without seeing the angle
The position feels unstable	Widen the kneeling base and use a fixed handhold	Use a moving chair or unstable pillow stack
One person dislikes the power dynamic	Use neutral language, share decisions, or choose cowgirl instead	Assume the physical shape requires dominance

Safety and Safer Sex

Stop immediately for sharp pain, numbness, dizziness, bleeding, knee or hip instability, breathing difficulty, or a penis or toy bending at an uncomfortable angle. If penetration slips out, realign by hand. Do not let body weight or momentum decide where it re-enters.

ACOG advises that pain during sex can have many causes and that lubricant or different sexual activities may help in some situations. Persistent or recurring pain deserves medical evaluation rather than repeated position changes.

Use condoms or other appropriate barriers from start to finish to reduce STI exposure. Use a new condom when changing between anal and vaginal penetration or when sharing toys. Water-based and silicone-based lubricants work with latex condoms, while oil-based products can weaken latex.

Who May Prefer a Different Position

Amazon may not suit a top partner with significant knee, hip, ankle, or balance limitations. It may also be uncomfortable for a lower partner who cannot flex the hips or knees, has lower-back pain in a folded position, or feels anxious with the legs raised.

A standard cowgirl gives the receiver similar movement control with less folding for the lower partner. Seated face-to-face positions add torso support, while spooning reduces load for both people. Choosing a different position is a successful adjustment, not a failed attempt.

What Makes the Amazon Position Work

The Amazon position works when the receiver remains in control, the lower partner's legs stay within a comfortable range, and both people prioritize alignment over spectacle. Its distinctive feature is not maximum depth or a mandatory dominance script. It is the combination of a folded lower-body angle with a top partner who controls receiving.

Start kneeling, use a firm support if needed, guide insertion by hand, and learn the rocking motion before trying a squat or reverse variation. Afterward, ask which leg position and torso angle felt most stable. Those details will make the next attempt easier than memorizing another position name.