sai question

[BUslady]

hi, im new in here. i don't study the arts ... yet... i have a priority before i think about looking for somewhere to learn karate but i was wondering, i got this sai off ebay, I just wondered if they're cheapos or something actually decent. They have dragons on them and they're freakin heavy. I never seen a set like them before. Im sure they're cheapos. I liked the dragons on them so I was like, eh, for $20, who cares? hehe...they were cool.

 

Here's a pic:

 

http://www.deviantart.com/view/6562006/ and

 

http://www.deviantart.com/view/6561970/

 

Opinions? Are they junk or ?? How do you tell if a set are decent or crap?

 

I read that Shureido are like the best out there but they don't make round ones. I think those are better looking.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I've seen those before in some catalog somewhere, but don't remember what they cost offhand. If you paid $20 for them, I'd say you got a pretty good deal...probably around 2/3 - 1/2 price over a new set.

 

A new set of sai's...good ones...will probably run you $150-200. The ones you show are made of pot metal, and will break if you start sticking them in the ground (voice of experience here) or tossing them at trees.

 

For a beginner, I'd say stick with what you have. No sense shelling out big bucks for a good set until you see if you're going to like them or not.

 

As for the weight...they're all made out of metal, so their all going to be heavy. A good pair is going to weigh just about the same as a cheap pair.

[BUslady]

I figured they were a cheaper metal. tha's ok, cause I just thought that were cool with the dragons on them.

 

I saw the really good sai online, wow! I really like the natural, non chromed ones. If and when I get to that point, I would invest in a custom made set.

 

Does it make a difference in performance if they're faceted(octagonal) or round?

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Does it make a difference in performance if they're faceted(octagonal) or round?

 

Not at all. It's personal preference in what you like. I've had both, and tend to like the reound ones...but I really don't know why other than I like the looks of round better than octagonal.

 

One thing about the sai that you bought. Hold the in your open palm (hand pointing upward) and the tong of the sai resting between yoru thumb and index finger with the sai running down the outside edge of your forearm. How far past your elbow do they go?

 

To be a proper fit, they should extend about 1/2" to 1" past the point of your elbow. Longer than that and the might be to long for you and be clumsy to use. Shorter than your elbow, and they will cause your elbow to get hurt if you block a hard strike with them.

[CloudDragon]

Nice pair of dragon sai, they are getting to be hard to find.

 

IMO, I would find a nice place to display them and get another pair, just because they can be hard to find.

[BUslady]

Does it make a difference in performance if they're faceted(octagonal) or round?

 

Not at all. It's personal preference in what you like. I've had both, and tend to like the reound ones...but I really don't know why other than I like the looks of round better than octagonal.

 

One thing about the sai that you bought. Hold the in your open palm (hand pointing upward) and the tong of the sai resting between yoru thumb and index finger with the sai running down the outside edge of your forearm. How far past your elbow do they go?

 

To be a proper fit, they should extend about 1/2" to 1" past the point of your elbow. Longer than that and the might be to long for you and be clumsy to use. Shorter than your elbow, and they will cause your elbow to get hurt if you block a hard strike with them.

 

the dragons are too long for me, I knew that when I got them. I just measured one and it's like just under 3" past my elbow! They're 21" long. They need to be rechromed and they're just for looks and part of my TMNT collection really.

 

When I get to that point, I'll shop for a good set. Custom would be the ultimate.