Kani Basami – Kinshi Waza The Banned Scissor Take Down

Kani basami is an extremely controversial takedown and is classified as Kinshi Waza in judo, which roughly translates as a banned technique. If you are to perform this illegal technique, in most competitions this will be an immediate disqualification. Although the flying scissors (kani basami) is not banned from all grappling competitions, it doesn’t feature in judo or gi BJJ competition at all.

It should be noted that kani basami is still a legal and accepted technique in most nogi BJJ competitions, as well as sambo tournaments.

The reason why flying scissors is thought to be so dangerous is that it features uncontrolled bodyweight thrown forwards in a unidirectional manner against an opponent’s body. This is universally the most dangerous use of force and weight in any grappling sport.

Kani basami is unlike most other judo techniques which usually feature either a throwing motion or a sweeping motion. The kani basami is certainly not a throw and could only be very loosely classified as a leg sweep. Before the technique became forbidden, it was classified as a nage waza (throwing technique) as well as a sacrifice technique. It is also NOT one of the original judo throws created by Kano Jigoro.

Entries To Kani Basami

For a standard entry to the kani basami you would like as near to a 90 degree angle on your opponent as you can get. Your grip should be on the opponent’s collar and your other hand should be free (no grip). You generally always want the “dominant” grip over the top of the opponent’s arm, however for kani basami this does not matter that much.

You should aim to place your front leg in between your opponent’s legs, with your foot hooking the inside of the far leg. From here you place your free hand on the ground and insert your free knee behind the opponent’s knee.

Single Leg Counter

The kani basami is a good sacrifice technique to use against a single leg takedown. Often when your opponent has you in a single leg, they will aim to trap your leg in between both of their legs.

If you are able to create a side angle on your opponent (not directly facing them) as well as create a hook with your trapped foot. You will be in a very good position to attempt a kani basami. If you fail, it should be noted this is a sacrifice technique and you will essentially be giving your opponent a free takedown.

However, if the opponent does trap your leg in the said position. You can simply jump your non trapped leg behind the nearside ankle of the adversary and perform the scissor motion to complete the counter.

Mechanics Of The Flying Scissor Takedown

The idea behind the mechanics of the kani basami is to get as deep as you possibly can on your opponent’s standing leg. This increases the chance that your force will take them down, as well as reducing their chance of injury from poorly placed shallow hooks.

When forcing your weight into the opponent, the idea is to drive them directly backward. Whilst your hips are facing forwards (sideways through your opponent’s body) this is NOT the way you want to force them. It will be impossible to make your opponent move this way since their other leg is completely free. By driving them backward they only have one leg to step backward with, this will not be enough to keep them on their feet.

When the kani basami is completed, you should end up in a top position with full control of the entangled leg.

Why Kani Basami Is Dangerous & Illegal

The kani basami requires uncontrolled bodyweight directed into a single leg of the opponent.

Firstly, it must be stated that when drilled in a sterile and non-resisting environment. The kani basami should not really be any more dangerous than any other judo technique. This is because your uke is essentially a grappling dummy. They will stand very still, not resist your techniques, and know exactly what you’re about to attempt.

When training in randori or competition, these things change drastically. If you include variations, there are literally hundreds of judo throws and footsweeps. Your opponent has little to no idea what you’re about to attempt if they’ve never met you before. Even if you are facing a regular sparring partner, there is no guarantee that they haven’t learned a new technique and today is the day they will try it.

This is when kani basami becomes dangerous. It requires a sideways angle but is mostly a vertical jump. If your opponent moves further away or the distance is regularly changing, you also must jump a little horizontally. If you jump too far away from your target, you are simply going to land flat on the ground and have no connection with the opponent. However, if you jump too close to the opponent, you will crash into their knee at an unnatural angle, causing either (or both) the ACL and LCL to snap.

These knee ligament injuries are often horrific and require surgery as well as many months of rehab.

Example Of Kani Basami Injury

Kani basami injury videos are not for the faint of heart.

In the video below, we can see what happens when kani basami happens in an uncontrolled setting. The opponent is moving backward and the man in black is simply too far away to complete this technique. In addition to this, he does not have a 90 degree angle on his opponent. This causes him to reach too far and get a very shallow leg entanglement. The result speaks for itself.

It should be noted that this is not even the most common way to injure someone from a kani basami. This usually happens when the jump is far too deep on the opponent’s knee and all of the force goes sideways through the leg.

Modern Submissions From Kani Basami

Kneebar

Kani basami is great in that it pretty much sets up the submission for you. Whilst you still need to control your opponent’s leg to finish the submission, your legs are already fully entangled and need very little adjustment at all.

When gripping your opponent’s leg, you should make sure that their kneecap is facing your belt. This will completely block any kind of escape and nullify any resistance to the kneebar, there will be no space for the knee to move in to.

From here you simply grab the upper part of your opponent’s leg and bring it towards your top shoulder. As the leg is fully isolated, your opponent will have no choice but to tap to the pressure.

Heelhook

There is not too much difference between a kneebar or a heel hook from kani basami. That said, there are some subtle differences. The main difference being that your main priority is not to turn the knee towards your own body. If the leg entanglement is tight, it is almost always best to reach straight over to the heel of the opponent.

Once the heel is under control, you should use a folded arms grip to rotate your opponent’s heel towards your own body. Note that the heel hook finish from kani basami is always an inside heelhook (inside sankaku) and not an outside heel hook.

As you are twisting your opponent’s knee, you should also aim to lean back slightly whilst giving a big arch upwards with your hips. Injuries can be devastating from this position, so you must be very slow and cautious in a gym setting.