YR Sports Lab
You are standing across from your opponent when they suddenly drop low and launch at your legs. Their own legs clamp your feet like scissors, and a second later you are on the mat with your foot caught in a heel hook. That is Kani Basami, a judo sacrifice throw. It became an iconic image at PRIDE in 2004, yet it is explicitly banned under IJF judo rules and by the IBJJF. This guide does not teach you how to do it. It covers the famous finish, why it is banned, how to recognize and defend it, and safety.
1. Origins: From Judo Sacrifice Throw to a PRIDE Highlight
Kani Basami is a Japanese judo term. Judo BC's throw reference labels it "scissor throw (prohibited)", and AKBAN's technique wiki files it under sacrifice techniques (sutemi-waza) as the "crab or scissors throw", meaning the legs clamp and trip the opponent like crab claws or scissors. This article found no reliable inventor or founding year, so it does not invent an origin and sticks to what is on record.
December 31, 2004: Chonan vs. Silva
The move's most famous use came on December 31, 2004, at PRIDE Shockwave 2004 in Saitama, Japan. Wikipedia's record table lists Ryo Chonan beating Anderson Silva by "flying scissor heel hook" in round 3 at 3:08. Sherdog describes Chonan diving at Silva's legs and executing a "picture-perfect flying scissor takedown" while simultaneously locking up a heel hook. Sherdog's Silva retrospective adds that Silva then tapped.
Sherdog ranked the finish No. 1 in its "Coolest Moves" list on December 2, 2014, and Wikipedia records several 2004 honors for the win, including MMAFighting's Submission of the Year.
Notably, Wikipedia describes Chonan's background as Kyokushin karate, noting he later trained in Thailand, with no mention of judo or BJJ. The throw belongs to the judo system, but the people who can pull it off are not limited to judoka.
As for why judo banned it, many stories circulate. Grapplearts' author writes that judo legend Yasuhiro Yamashita broke his leg when rival Sumio Endo attacked him with Kani Basami, and that judo banned the throw shortly after. That is a single-source account, no official ban year was found, and so this article does not treat it as settled. What is certain is the current status: Wikipedia's Judo rules article says kani basami is not permitted, and Judo BC, citing the IJF rules (SOR Version 8, July 2020), also marks it prohibited.
2. Structure: Outline Only, No Fine Details
Because this technique is banned in major rulesets and costly to get wrong, this article deliberately describes only the outline and gives no step-by-step leg placement or force details. The verifiable outline is below.
| Stage | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| 1. Target stance | Grapplearts notes that an opponent standing with one foot forward and one back is the ideal position to launch at, and the author calls it a particularly good counter against Uchi Mata specialists, who tend to stand that way |
| 2. Diving entry | Sherdog says Chonan "dove at Silva's legs", launching his whole body at the legs instead of reaching with the hands |
| 3. Scissoring the legs | Sherdog's Silva retrospective says Chonan scissored Silva's legs and took him down |
| 4. Landing into a leg lock | Grapplearts says the thrower lands in a good spot for leg attacks such as a leg weave leglock or Heel Hook; Chonan went straight to the heel hook |
Grapplearts' author is blunt: live use has "too many variables", and misjudged distance, slips and trips can all go wrong. Only static drilling under a qualified instructor can be "somewhat safely". That is why this article does not expand on the mechanics.
3. Timing and Setups
The timings that can be confirmed from sources are limited, so only sourced ones are listed here, with no invented "gym wisdom".
First, when the opponent's feet are staggered and they are closing in. This is the best launch position Grapplearts describes, and the author says the throw is a particularly good counter against Uchi Mata specialists, who tend to stand in a staggered stance.
Second, as a surprise attack. Grapplearts calls it a "great surprise attack". Sherdog's Top 10 ranking of Chonan's finish as the No. 1 coolest move also hints at how unpredictable a diving attack like this is.
Third, landing straight into a leg lock. The scissor takedown is not a submission itself. Its value is that you land already in leg-lock position. For heel hook mechanics see our Heel Hook mechanics guide and leg lock system guide.
4. Strengths and Limits
| Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|
| Surprise: opponents rarely expect a diving attack at the legs from standing | Banned in every IBJJF division and in IJF judo, so there are almost no places to use it |
| Can counter throwers who stand with a staggered stance | Errors can injure both you and your partner; Grapplearts' author reports two ACL tears at his gym |
| Lands in leg-lock position, so a heel hook can follow | Needs precise distance judgment; misjudging it can twist your own ankle |
5. Recognition and Defense
This section differs from the "counter" sections of other move guides. Because the move itself is banned, the more practical question for most readers is how to avoid injury if someone tries it on you. We found no defense research specific to this move, so what follows are general stance and distance principles, not conclusions from a single study. Ask your coach for specific escape details.
Recognize the warning sign. The opponent suddenly drops their level and launches off the ground at your legs, which is how Chonan's finish looked.
Avoid presenting the target stance. Grapplearts notes that a staggered stance is the best position to attack, so in close range avoid stretching your feet too far apart front to back and keep a stable base.
Protect the knee and ankle once you are tripped. The follow-up threat is a heel hook, and Silva's outcome was a tap. If you are locked, do not fight it; tap immediately, which matters more than any escape technique.
After Being Tripped by a Scissor Takedown
The first priority is to stop the leg lock from forming, and only then to return to standing or build a guard. On landing your leg may already be controlled by the opponent's legs. Rather than twisting hard, first judge whether you are caught, and tap if you are.
To strengthen your standing defense, see our takedown defense guide and Single Leg.
6. Competition Presence and Rules
We found no officially published per-technique frequency, so there is no "X% of matches" figure to cite here. What can be confirmed is the rule status (checked 2026/10):
| Ruleset or event | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IBJJF (Rule Book v6.1, 2024) | Scissor Takedown is item 23 in the Technical Fouls table, marked prohibited in every division | IBJJF Rule Book |
| IJF judo (SOR v8, July 2020) | kani-basami is marked prohibited | Judo BC reference |
| Wikipedia, Judo rules | "The technique known as kani basami is not permitted" | Wikipedia |
| PRIDE Shockwave 2004 | Chonan beat Silva with a flying scissor heel hook | Wikipedia, Sherdog |
In other words, the move's most famous use came in the looser rules of MMA, not in BJJ or judo competition. The IBJJF rulebook is updated regularly, so check the current version before you register.
7. Safety
・It is banned in every IBJJF division and in IJF judo, so there is no sanctioned competition to use it in
・Do not test it in live rolling or on friends; failures mostly injure the knee and ankle
・If a coach does teach it, it should be supervised static breakdown only, after confirming gym rules
・If you feel your foot being controlled after a dive at your legs, tap immediately
The knee is among the most commonly injured areas in BJJ. A 2024 systematic review in Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia included 7 studies and 2,847 jiu-jitsu practitioners and found the highest prevalence in the knee joint and the chest and rib region, followed by the shoulder. The review has no data on Kani Basami specifically, but it illustrates why leg-diving attacks that twist the knee and ankle are treated as high risk in rulebooks.
For related injury guides, see our Heel Hook mechanics guide and Kneebar.
FAQ
What is Kani Basami and why is it banned?
Kani Basami is a judo sacrifice throw (sutemi-waza), usually translated as the scissor throw: you dive at the opponent's legs and trip them with your own legs. Grapplearts says it has caused severe lower-body injuries in dojos and competitions around the world, and IJF judo rules do not permit it. This article found no official record of the year it was banned.
Is the scissor takedown legal in IBJJF competition?
No. IBJJF Rule Book v6.1 (2024) lists Scissor Takedown as item 23 in its Technical Fouls table, marked as prohibited for every age and belt division. Rules can change each year, so check the current rulebook before you register.
What was the Ryo Chonan technique against Anderson Silva?
It was a flying scissor takedown into an immediate heel hook at PRIDE Shockwave 2004 on December 31, 2004, and Silva tapped. Sherdog describes Chonan diving at Silva's legs, executing the scissor takedown and locking in the heel hook at the same time, and ranks it No. 1 on its Coolest Moves list.
How do you defend when someone dives at your legs for a scissor takedown?
Recognize the warning sign first: the opponent suddenly drops their level and launches at your legs. A judo instruction article notes that a staggered stance, one foot forward and one back, is the ideal target, so avoid being stretched into that stance and manage distance. These are general principles, and this article found no defense study specific to the move, so ask your coach for the details.
Should a white belt practice Kani Basami?
No, not on your own and not in live rolling. It is prohibited in every IBJJF division, and one gym reports ACL tears from the throw going wrong. If a coach still teaches it, it should be slow, static drilling under supervision, after checking your gym and competition rules.
References
1. Wikipedia contributors. Ryo Chonan. en.wikipedia.org/Ryo_Chonan (checked 2026/10; supports the 12/31/2004 PRIDE Shockwave 2004 win over Anderson Silva by flying scissor heel hook, round 3 at 3:08, the honors, and Chonan's Kyokushin karate roots and training in Thailand)
2. Sherdog. Sherdog's Top 10 Coolest Moves (2014/12/02). sherdog.com (checked 2026/10; supports Chonan diving at Silva's legs for a flying scissor takedown while locking a heel hook, and the No. 1 ranking)
3. Sherdog. Anderson Silva: 10 Memorable Moments. sherdog.com (checked 2026/10; supports the 12/31/2004 Saitama event, the scissored legs and takedown, the heel hook finish and Silva's tap)
4. IBJJF. Rule Book v6.1 (2024). ibjjf.com/rules (checked 2026/10; page 29, Technical Fouls – Illegal Moves table, item 23 Scissor Takedown, marked prohibited in every division)
5. Judo BC. Nage-waza Katame-waza References v3. judobc.ca (checked 2026/10; cites IJF SOR v8, July 2020, listing kani-basami as a prohibited scissor throw)
6. Wikipedia contributors. Judo rules. en.wikipedia.org/Judo_rules (checked 2026/10; supports "kani basami is not permitted"; the sentence has no footnote and gives no ban year)
7. Grapplearts. The Most Dangerous Throw in Judo and BJJ. grapplearts.com (checked 2026/10; instructional article supporting the staggered-stance target, surprise attack and leg-lock follow-ups, plus the Yamashita injury and gym ACL accounts, all single-source narratives with no statistics)
8. AKBAN. Kani Basami - Crab or scissors throw. akban.org (checked 2026/10; supports the sutemi-waza classification and the "crab or scissors throw" translation; no origin information)
9. Santos SP et al. (2024). Epidemiology of Injuries and Their Implications in Jiu-Jitsu Practitioners: An Integrative Systematic Review. Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo);59(3):e364-e371. PubMed 38911890 (supports the knee and the chest and ribs as the most prevalent injury sites among BJJ practitioners, 7 studies and 2,847 people; no Kani Basami specific data)