Difficulty Level
Unverified

Kani Basami (Scissor takedown)

A leg-scissoring sacrifice throw (yoko-sutemi-waza), 'crab scissors,' in which tori drops beside a standing opponent and scissors their legs — one of tori's legs across the front (waist/thigh), the o…

Alternative Names
  • Judo: Kani-basami, Kani Basami
  • BJJ: Scissor takedown, Kani basami
  • Wrestling: Flying scissors, Scissor takedown
  • Sambo: Crab scissors
Intrinsically dangerous technique Severe

Scissoring both legs across a standing opponent's leg loads the planted knee and lower leg laterally, with high risk of spiral fracture of the tibia/fibula or knee ligament rupture to the receiver — often instantly, with little or no chance to tap.

Primary risk to: Receiver (uke)

This warning reflects the technique's mechanics and does not change with competition ruleset.

Legality by ruleset

Unknown means no rule is on record — never assume legal. Always confirm against the official rulebook before competing.

Description

A leg-scissoring sacrifice throw (yoko-sutemi-waza), 'crab scissors,' in which tori drops beside a standing opponent and scissors their legs — one of tori's legs across the front (waist/thigh), the other behind the knees — then extends and falls to topple the opponent backward/sideways. Part of the early Kodokan curriculum, it was banned in competitive judo in 1980 after it fractured Yasuhiro Yamashita's fibula, and is classified among the four kinshi-waza (forbidden techniques). It remains legal in sambo and some no-gi rulesets but is banned in IBJJF (all belts) and freestyle/Greco
wrestling. The scissoring action can tear knee ligaments or break the lower leg almost instantly, with little chance to tap.

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