The Crossbody Pin is one of the most basic women’s wrestling maneuvers and one of the most efficient ways to attain a pinfall both in pro and competitive wrestling matches.  Unlike most pro pinning maneuvers, the Crossbody Pin is designed to keep the victim’s shoulders on the mat while she is very much capable of fighting back (not knocked out by a previous maneuver).

The victims is on the mat on her back as the attacker mounts her lying across her chest so that her entire body-weight is pressing her opponent’s shoulders into the mat. She immobilizes one of her opponent’s arms with her hands the other one with her legs, either by kneeing on her arm or – more frequently – by catching the other arm between her legs.

The defender’s legs are left free. Most pin victories in competitive female wrestling are scored via this pin.

Possible escape: a well-applied Crossbody Pin is extremely difficult to get out of. The defender may pull her legs back above the attacker but that won’t help her in any way. Squirming to the site is usually futile as well. Attempting to buck the attacker off is the only thing that seems to work in this predicament. I’ve seen several girls get out of Crossbody Pins that way. In professional matches, the attacker will often arch her back in the hold to enhance the visual element involved.

Rating: Extremely efficient. The fact that competitive wrestlerettes use it as well is a clear indication in this respect. The attacker has to spend very little energy to keep her foe pinned, while the defender has to spend a disproportionately large amount of energy to attempt a break-out.