Just a quick one -

Does anyone know the Japanese terminology for body scissors / crab claw scissors?

Ive read it as 'Kani Bassami' but wondered if this is correct.

Im goin to teach this technique to my class as part of the theme - sweeps, trips, takes downs...and thought id include this for fun. Im usualy up on my Japanese terms but unsure on this one.

Thanks.

Hi Charlie

I'm not an expert on Japanese, but Kami Basami refers to the so called "scissor throw" in Judo.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x79hfs_kani-basami_sport

It is mostly used in Judo. Or, it was until it was banned by the IJF. Apparently the throw, like Waki Gatame, had caused a series of injuries in tournaments/randori. It also seems to be one of the few judo moves that are also banned under International BJJ rules (look under restrictions, Article 6, "Scissor Takedown"):

http://www.ibjjf.org/rules.htm

It is still taught in some Judo classes as part of a traditional Judo curriculum though.

Looks spectacular if you do it right, but it's a dangerous throw/takedown, no question.

Yeah thats exactly the technique - we did this last night along with other sweeps, take downs etc - they loved it. Didnt realise it was a judo technique though - or that it is also banned in competition!

We used mats of course!!

Hi Charlie

I wouldn't say Kani Basami is exclusively a Judo technique. I'm sure other systems use it, but I've never seen it taught as part of a system the way it has been in Judo.

FWIW, there seems to be a lot of info online about it injurying peoples legs. There is even a clip on line for people with particularly macabre sensibilities of Yasuhiro Yamashita, a Japanese Judoka, getting his leg broken by the technique in a match back in the day (when it was legal). So I don't think it is an issue of mats, more of the leg joints being put under an awful lot of strain.

You have to bear in mind that Judo and BJJ have banned it for a reason. I suspect that it was due to high incidents of injuries compared to other throws/takedowns. I would be very wary of Kani Basami, even in a controlled setting.

Scissors takedown to heel hook:

http://fightgifs.com/sites/default/files/anderson_silva_gets_heel_hooked.gif?1246261995

All good information, thanks. The clip looked painfull!
What I meant was that I had never seen it in anything judo related, but have seen in it karate and TKD - there are some clips of Yahara sensei doing it on youtube. I didnt realise it was classed as a dangerous technique - that is very interesting. I will look apon it now as such so thank you for your imput.(not that I practice/teach carelessly but you know what I mean)

Here is a clip of me doing scissor take down - ive put it on here before, its my kata applications clip - the body scissors is at the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlqOcLqc0Wg

Thanks again.