by Y-Chromosome Wed Mar 28, 2018 10:05 am
Stiffness of the gi is not really a factor.
I've tried it and it's a bit tricky to pull off if you're not used to it.
I don't think it's illegal as it doesn't really breach any of the rules concerning chokes.
I think the main reasons you don't see it much in judo are as follows:
Not a standard Kodokan choke, so doesn't automatically get taught.
Would usually be applied as a follow-on to Kami-shiho-gatame, but there is little incentive to make the transition under judo rules because 1. You are already less than 20 seconds away from winning; and 2. You need to relax your control on the body to focus on the choke which can result in an escape.
I think very few competitors would give up a solid Kami-shiho to attempt this choke, especially on a strong opponent. In BJJ there's an incentive because you can't win with a pin, so you need to keep working for some sort of sub.
I visited a local BJJ club for kicks and this was the instructor's lesson of the night.
In randori (or sparring I guess) I got paired with a 280 lb beast (maybe 300?... huge guy) and I managed to get him into kami-shiho. From there I thought I'd give this choke a try since we'd just worked on it. As I shifted to the choke position, he immediately rolled me and I was thoroughly stuck.
I'd have to work this one a lot in randori before I'd attempt in a competition. I would need to have it honed to the point, where I could get a tap within a second or two, with little or no risk of an escape or reversal, otherwise I'd have no reason to give up the kami shiho.
Home
and had the option of pinning the writhing monstrosity with Kami Shiho or the NS choke - I took the safe option and chose the Kami Shiho for the Ippon.