NYC Kyoshi

To Sauzin: Pushing point: When the sai is “open” (point aimed away from the body,) the pressure is applied between the tip of the thumb and its pad. At the front part of the pad. It seems its most natural point, but maybe that’s because I’ve been doing it that way and it’s become natural. Anyway, the pressure is applied in such a way that, 1) the thumb is angled into the “hill” at about a 60º angle, 2) the thumbnail is clear of the peak and there’s no pressure on the nail, 2) the front part of the pad presses against the “rise” of the “hill,” and 3) the entire thumb is behind the “peak.” Weight: A round moto doesn’t add weight as much as it improves balance. (Because the sai is inherently weighted toward the tip, the added weight toward the grip shifts the balance back slightly toward the hand.) To Andrew_Patton: My contention actually was that the round moto IMPROVES control of the sai. (Not reduces.) And that’s not my original idea, but the founder of our style, Grand Master Ansei Ueshiro. My experience merely confirms his admonition.

Thank you for your input. I assure you that the round moto is not a mistake or manufacturing defect, and the entire sai is solid. We do a lot of bunkai: sai against sai (using dedicated “bunkai” sai for that purpose) so I know that none of our sai are hollow. I own at least six pair of sai and there are another twenty or so pair of sai on the weapons wall of our dojo which I have also handled at one time or another. About half have a flat moto and half a rounded moto. Regarding the placement of the thumb, if you accept the analogy of a hill for the round moto, the thumb pushes against the grip’s side of the uphill rise. (Not on the peak of the "hill," as I believe one of you may have inferred.) In our version of the Tsukenshitahaku kata, we do a lot of clubbing with the blade of the sai and the thumb needs to control the sai by having a “hill” upon which to push. Also, over the years we’ve used for striking, 1) a railroad tie suspended between concrete construction blocks, and 2) a steel belted car tire on its edge. The flat moto does not allow sufficient control of the sai when struck. The sai vibrates when it’s struck and the flat moto shifts under the thumb, causing the sai to slip out of one’s grip. However, the round moto stays in position during the strike’s vibration, allowing the strike to deliver its force into the target. Also, thank you for telling me about the other manufacturers of sai. I’ll have to keep looking or take up sai building myself.

I found this thread searching on Google for custom sai. I too own Shureido and they are very good quality. However, the moto (center point where the blade and prongs converge) is flat and the balance is too saki (tip)-heavy for my taste. Actually, my favorite pair of sai are a pair that hang on the wall here at the dojo and no one remembers where they’re from. They sort of look like the generic cheapie kind: chrome, octagonal, pointed tip and butt. But they have a built up (rounded) moto (to allow your thumb to control the sai when the saki is pointed forward and to keep your thumb away from the hypothetical sword blade,) plus they’re well balanced and well made. Whoever brought them in to the dojo also wrapped the handle with a really nice, thick, braided string, mounted with rubber cement. (Bicycle handlebar tape works well too.) I’ve looked at the websites for Karate Connection, Murasaki and Kobudo-Kwai in Germany but can’t tell whether the moto are rounded or flat (like Shureido’s are.) Does anyone know whether the sai from these sites have a rounded (built up) moto and are octagonal, and how their balance is? I’ve also looked at a lot of other sites like Century, Tiger Claw, AWMA, etc. and they seem all to be the generic, cheapie kind. Thanks.