Shorin Ryuu Posted August 12, 2004 Posted August 12, 2004 Well, if you knew the geography of Okinawa, you would know that metal was difficult to make and come by for the average person on Okinawan. The sai has always been (historical records and such) favored by the police and by royal bodyguards. Why? Because peasants and the like couldn't afford them. Why couldn't they? The simple answer is that there is no iron ore on Okinawa, iron had to be imported. It is for this reason that one of my instructors always told me he thought that policemen carried three sai was always a myth, because it was too expensive to have three for just one person... Martial Arts Blog:http://bujutsublogger.blogspot.com/
Kicks Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 I'm just starting out on sai. What's the best sai to use in competition or demostrations if you are going to be doing a lot of flipping of the sai? I already have one set that good for demostraiting defenses against long sticks, but hear the I would need a lighter or "balanced" sai for free style. What sai you? (don't ya just hate puns?) when you create the world's largest trailer park, you're going to have tornadoes
Shorin Ryuu Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 I'm of the opinion that you need a balanced sai in order to do techniques properly. I don't do "freestyle" sai and train in them in traditional kobudo. I have a pair of handmade sai by Shureido (inspected by the North American head of our style, Doug Perry because he confided to me that for a while, Shureido's standards were slipping a bit until he gave them a stern "talking to"). All instructors I have had in various styles told me they believe the sai should never extend beyond the elbow (or if it does, only by a centimeter or so). The reason for this is that the sai was never meant to be a defensive weapon per se. It was meant to be used as quickly as possible to detain criminals or attackers (in the case of policemen or bodyguards, as the sai weren't something that everyone had). It could certainly be used for defense, but its mainly supposed to be an offensive weapon... I had an overly long Shureido one for a while, but have since discarded it for a more practical, shorter one. Long explanation = Balanced sai is necessary for proper use and avoid the use of an over-long sai. That being said, don't buy one so short that it makes you look like Raphael when you hold it... Martial Arts Blog:http://bujutsublogger.blogspot.com/
Kicks Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 Shorin Ryuu Thanks for this reply also. I have heard of Shureido. Are all Shureido sia 'balanced'? If I were to order one would I be assured that it was blaanced. Does it matter if it's chrome or not? Again I thank you. when you create the world's largest trailer park, you're going to have tornadoes
karatekaBR86 Posted August 16, 2004 Author Posted August 16, 2004 Well one is chrome plated (Shiny) the other is natural (blackish/silver...more of a rugged look)....Does the only diference is the appearance, it doesn't affect the weight, balance, in any way...I own a natural (22 1/2 inch) pair of Shureido simply because of my traditional/practical taste...ancient okinawan karateka i don't think had the luxury of owning chrome-plated sai (if any)
CloudDragon Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 O.K. who knows the real agricultural use for them? A Black Belt is just a white belt that don't know when to quit!
Shorin Ryuu Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 Yes, Shureido sai are pretty much guaranteed to be balanced. The criticism that was to be had was that Shureido for a brief time was starting to take shortcuts and put a slight bulge where the tines connected to the handle. This bulge wasn't as big as the mass produced ones, I'm told, but was big enough to cause problems. This bulge is bad because in proper sai technique, the thumb should press against the section of the sai where all the pieces connect during certain movements. With the bulge there, it makes it difficult to apply the proper force/energy transfer necessary. It also interfers with the proper wrapping of the fingers in other movements. I think Shureido has long since corrected this problem, I believe. But yes, there should be no worries about the balance. You will notice an incredible world of difference between using mass produced sai and the hand made ones. I do want to emphasize getting a pair of sai that fit you. There are varying ways of doing this, and no one agrees exactly, but everyone is pretty similar. One way is to measure from your elbow to the tip of your index finger. Then add 1/2 of an inch. This half of an inch takes into account the bottom end piece of the sai (the knob so it doesn't slip out of your hand and probably has to do something with the balance of the sai as well, I'd imagine) and the slight bit that extends past your elbow. Anyway, Shureido is not the only manufacturer to handmake them. Weapons Connection makes them here in the states and are quite reputable as well. http://www.weaponsconnection.com One warning about the "energy sai" though. I have never used them, but one of my instructors (I consider him my main instructor, but we are now separated in terms of distance) bought some and a person I trained with over the summer bought them as well. Both of them mentioned that they were good, but were weighted a bit heavier than most (not necessarily out of balance). This doesn't mean that if you don't use them you are "wussing out", it is just a compromise between speed and weight. If anything (once I get more money), I might try out this type of sai, but I prefer quicker techniques since this is meant to be a quick offensive weapon, in my opinion. Martial Arts Blog:http://bujutsublogger.blogspot.com/
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