norse_dragon

Something that I've recently fell in love with for solo training is an agricultural sickle that came with this house I've moved into 7 years ago. It's very similar to this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-Hand-Sickle-Scythe-Austria-Ribbed-Wood-Handle-Primitive-Farm-Handtool/133101247371?hash=item1efd73db8b:g:NzAAAOSwOPxdGsRP This is not something you can just swing and it will feel right. Due to it's curves (the blade itself is contoured like) and the agricultural work it's meant for, it takes the proper body mechanics to achieve a gratifying swashing sound. To me that swash sound is the same effect as a sword passing clean through a tatami mat. Or achieving a the clap when striking a clapping makiwara. A good swash tells me it's a well honed swipe. I practice with one every other day, for five minutes with each hand, and a different combo every minute. And I do these in a 1-2, the first being main power stroke which is wide but compact, with the follow up being more of an outreaching pecking 'thrust' motion. 1: Downwards cross stokes 2: Upwards cross strokes 3: Horizontal 4: Vertical down with upwards jab 5: Vertical up with downwards jab And when it comes to these first main strokes mentioned, I do so with the contours in mind and use the direction and body mechanics necessary to achieve the swash. Like with my right hand, I would primary strike inwards 'with the grain'. Even with the left hand, I don't alternate to the mirror reflection, but in the same exact direction to achieve the swash. So I'm still going left-to-right, just with another hand.

Glad to help. It does make for a very good workout, so well it can creep up on me even if I'm not seriously training with it. Let me reiterate. Last week or so my upper body felt sore, especially my shoulder region. Well, the thing was I didn't do any heavy workouts for at week due to a flu I had. In hindsight I -did- however fiddle with my subrito, doing slower more taichi-esk movements about that time. I also take it easy when I'm handling it indoors because this thing would likely demolish practically anything in it's path. Its basically an oar shaped kanabo in a way.

Neat! No, I didn't know about it myself. Thanks for sharing!

Hey there, I thought I'd finally get around to an actual introduction and chronicle my history as a freestylist. I have no professional training, having only read about it and watched video tutorials and demonstrations. But loved martial arts and ancient combat of all kinds as far as I can remember. To this day I practice them as a means of exercise and a means of study. It was when I was about 17 that I received my first sword as a gift, a cheap but cherished katana. I didn't have the internet, but a good friend of mine gave me a printed off article on Japanese sword play and how to grip and wield the sword. It explained that one should 'use the same muscles as one would use to cast a fishing rod'. Ever since when I demonstrate and/or talk swordplay with friends and family, I explain that just as its suggested to squeeze the trigger and not pull it, that I sling the sword, and not just swing it. Another two years or so, another pointy gift came in the form of a medieval long sword. Again affordable but presentable. Heavy and best wielded with two hands, but still wield-able enough to get a workout with one. Then I got my own two-handed 15th century long sword replica, and began to train more seriously with German longsword principles, and began to delve more into HEMA. (Historic European Martial Arts) Western medival martial arts in other words. From here I started learning more about using both edges. I even adapted this in the form of spinal parries when practicing with single-edged weaponry such as my bowie. I have since retired my longswords as showpieces, and use a Cold Steel subrito for pell training (stake striking dummy). Yes a bowie, which I use as a make-shift falchion in practice, the thing is damn well big enough... Almost 10 years ago I began studying Okinawan martial arts as well as FMA sinawali drills. Namely nunchaku and bo, and recently, sai and sansetsukon. With the nunchaku I started with a foam pair, and subsequently ones of hard rubber for when they wore out. As for the bo, I ordered an iron Chinese staff, but after a couple of weeks of waiting, I grew impatient and ordered a red oak bo. It arrived in a week while the iron took a month. With all these weapons came a new regiment that I use to this day. What I do is switch off to a different weapon focus, and if I have multiple of at least a similar weapon, I use the heavier form on heavy work out days every other day, and use the lighter form in between. My training regiment to date. Again, I rotate the following three forms week to week. Parentheses denote the form I use: Iron staff and oak bo Santetsukon and Nunchaku Suburito (German longsword and arming sword) and bowie knife (falchion) When the weather isn't permitting (or it's gotten late and wish to sneak in some training): Sai (partial kali) and tanto Over the weekend I avoid heavy workouts aside from any work needing done. Instead this is when I do taichi, some of it in the form of empty handed sinawali. I intend to expand and elaborate on my otherwise simple and fun training system sometime soon.

Hi, I was wondering, is there an average lifespan for corded connections for sansetsukon? How long do cords usually last with regular practice, does anyone know? You, see I just ordered one with 60cm handles, cording, red oak, and varnish and intend to practice with it 3 times per every other or 2 weeks. I intend to use them for a heavier weapons workout on weightlifting days, in place of my nunchakus. Like heavy 'chucks', so to speak, and perhaps more substance than just weight. Why I chose cords instead of chains, as I've read that cords require more control- therefor they are bound to reinforce better form and coordination. If I understand correctly? Not to knock chains, of course. Heck, perhaps with my style of training, I'll be glad my nunchakus have a chain for those days I'd like to cut loose on between lifting days.

Thank you for the welcome. I'll consider doing a more formal introduction in the specified forum sometime. To be frank, I wasn't sure if I'd get much results, my main goal was to at least have something other there on these sai in case they were looking into them as well. I realize now that the differant links could be confusing, but they are all one in the same, my intention was to show that they are the only sources for them. Although even Seido, their seller even admitted that they are "average quality" I am really liking mine. Granted I have no experience with other sai, I still commend it for solo strength drill training. I've been having a lot of fun while getting great workouts from it and have even came up with a style to train with until my other one arrives. I call it sai-rochin. Pretty much a hybrid between the Kabudo styles of sai and rochin-tinbe, where the sai replaces the tinbe shield, using closed grip sai techinques intstead. And for a rochin, I use a Cold Steel bowie. And I don't only use the sai defensively in closed position, as I also altnerate the roles of each weapon. For an example, I'll switch the sai to open position and have it take the rochin's place with similar open sai techniques, while the 'rochin' is used to perform wrenching parrying moves of the sides and spine of the blade. And as for the tips, they are devoid of any kind, not even rounded- they are flat as a table. It makes sense, because the maker is Minosaka, renowned for iaito. Due to sword laws, they can't make any that can be sharpened and need to use a special nickel based alloy to avoid this. So they probably transferred this mindset with their sai and made it to where they couldn't be any means be sharpened at the tip. Not that I'd want tips, I'm just expressing thoughts on the matter.

A point would be merely aesthetic, really. Almost everybody I show it to makes note of it. That does make for more conversation though, as it brings up Japan's Sword and Gun laws. I'll think about Worbington sometime, but for now the topic is on Minosaka sai.

Hello, I'm interested in sai, that I at least believe is produced by Minosaka. However I have found little about them save for a couple of reviews on Seido. https://www.seidoshop.com/products/chrome-sai The only other two shops online I've found was https://www.masamune-store.com/mekki-sai,us,4,BU_AD_MEK_SAI.cfm and https://www.konjaku.fr/catalogue/le-japon-passion/sai-minosaka.html Does anyone know much about these sai, and can give some insight, as well as why they at least to appear to be little known? I'm interested in it and what can be told of them. As of why I'm interested in them as a middle ground between the cheaper ones with the bubbled out moto above the tsuka and the expensive pro sai out there. I have bought one from Seido, starting with one to save on money, and I'm thinking about getting the second soon. Its great, really well made! Not hand-forged according to my father who was a master machinist capable of telling, but it is very beautifully made. He said that he can see, however see that this was not stamped out of one piece. No point, likely due to the sword and gun laws, but I suppose this could help it pass off as a sai-jitte? It even seems to have more narrow wings. This is a very practical sai, from what I see, by that I mean its not one for doing tricks with the wings. But then again, it can be done, at least I can, it just takes more focus. Before anyone groans at the talk of tricks, I only warm up with these as mere warmup exercises before I get into doing sai kabudo and sinawali drills. I'm no professional and haven't received any official sai or martial arts training aside from online tutorials, but I think I would recommend this as a weighted weapon for solo conditioning kata training. I say this because first minutes even in merely handling and doing some basic maneuvers such as grip-flipping, blocks, and strikes- my hands and arms felt worn and strong as if I could deliver and deflect heavier blows with them or something! And yet it when pinched at the shoulders as in the sai-kabudo open grip, it becomes extremely live in the hand, like a large stiletto dagger or something! Anyways, I'm looking forward to hearing some insight on them.