The Rocking Horse is a relatively seldom seen women’s wrestling submission hold. It is quite on the spectacular side, but it’s an intricate hold, one that’s relatively difficult to apply too. The victim is face down on the ring-floor and the attacker is sitting right behind her. The attacker takes the victim’s legs and folds them, trapping them under her armpits as she slides forward. Once the legs are securely in place, the attacker stretches her own legs out, under the victim’s shoulders and grabs hold of both her wrists pulling her arms backward. As soon as the hold is locked in, the attacker begins to rock back and forth (hence the name of the hold) with her victim, increasing the tightness of the combination. The Rocking horse targets the back and the shoulder-sockets, but interestingly enough, it puts pressure on the knees as well. At the peak of the rocking motion, the victim’s knees will pretty much have to support her entire weight while in a rather awkward position.

Possible escape: if you’re flexible and hardy enough, you can simply ride out the rocking horse. It is a hold that saps the attacker’s strength too, so it’s only a matter of time before she decides to break it. Other than that, you can prevent the hold being applied by not allowing your opponent to get into position to set it up.

Rating: the rocking horse is spectacular enough to be used as a finisher, although it is seldom used to that end. It is generally a move which weakens the victim’s back, setting her up for a Boston crab or a camel clutch submission.