The STF is truly one of the most vicious looking submission holds, and one of the most efficient ones too. It is a combo submission hold, which means both the victim’s leg/knee joint, and neck/upper back are under serious strain in the hold. Most girls tap out extremely fast in the STF as the combined attack on the various body-parts is something almost no one can cope with for more than a few seconds. A well applied STF (Step-Over Toehold and Facelock?) will certainly yield a very urgent tap-out and possibly some welcome “I give!” screams as well.

The victim is on her stomach on the ring floor/mat and the attacker stands behind her. Stepping between her legs, the attacker isolates one of them and bends it at the knee after which she locks it with her legs by lying sideways on her opponent’s lower back/bottom. She then has her arms completely freed to reach forth and clutch the chin of her victim, pulling back on it. The victim’s body is not only bent upward but sideways too at the same time.
The funny thing about the STF is, although the victim has both her arms and one leg free, she will be completely at the mercy of her opponent.

Possible escapes: None (tapping out).

Rating: given that it takes the attacker a lot less energy to keep her victim in the hold than it takes the victim to even attempt to hold on, I’ll give the STF the highest efficiency ranking in female wrestling. The STF can be applied in real women’s wrestling too, with devastating results.