My weapons came in!

[Shorinryu Sensei]

And another thing Shorinryu Sensei, at least for this month, I'm always right. I'm member of the month!

 

ALL HAIL KICKS...GLORIOUS MEMBER OF THE MONTH!

 

<--------Look at me...bowing before your glorious presense!

 

*ahem*...*clearing my throat here and dusting off my knees*

 

By the way...congrats kicks...that belt looks great on you. Did delta1 give you much trouble when you took it off him?

[Kicks]

Did delta1 give you much trouble when you took it off him?

 

Not a bit, ouch... is there an icon with a black eye?

[47MartialMan]

"The New Phone Books Are In"!!!!!

 

"The New Phone Books Are In"!!!!!

[Shorin Ryuu]

Right...phone books.

 

Anyway, just as an interesting input (perhaps), I was actually told by Doug Perry (head of my style for North America) that it was more important to be able to attack with the sai quickly then defend with it down to your elbow. I had a pair of sai that were 1 1/4 inches past my elbow and he suggested that I get some sai that were either just to my elbow or slightly less. He said that in combat, the sai has to be used closer in anyway, and if you block down by your elbow you're doing it wrong. He said you're not just going to stand there and let a katana slide down to your elbow anyway.

 

That being said, he didn't mean that it should be "ninja turtle Raphael short" either. It's just that it is more important to be able to manipulate it quickly because of it's two handed, close fighting and attacking nature.

 

Just to provide a conflicting perspective, maybe.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I was actually told by Doug Perry (head of my style for North America) that it was more important to be able to attack with the sai quickly then defend with it down to your elbow.

 

I can't argue with that logic I guess. You can have the greatest, most impenatrable defense in the world...but if you can't attack with them, all is for naught. And yes, you don't want to block an incoming weapon down by the point of your elbow. That part is for "sliding" techniques, where the incoming weapon is sliding off and to the side. If your elbosw isn't protected by the end of the sai, a sword (there are a lot of swords walking around on the street ya know ), baseball bat, whatever can take a good chunk out of your elbow.

He said you're not just going to stand there and let a katana slide down to your elbow anyway.

 

As with all shorinryu techniques (that I practice anyway), body movement along with your defense and offense are the norm. So yes, hgopefully the end of the wsai isn't going to be necessary...but....you never know.

 

Good feedback bud.

[47MartialMan]

Here is a question:

 

Can the Sai be used effectively against the sword?

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Here is a question:

 

Can the Sai be used effectively against the sword?

 

Of course that depends on the skill of the swordsman, and the skill of the sai wielder...but yes, it is a metal weapon and should be able to withstand the attack of a sword without any problem.

[47MartialMan]

Yes, I had thought the answer would be the degree of skill from either.

 

Perhaps another question could have followed:

 

Can a sai made in the "day" withstand a sword attack, per its material vs the material of the sword?

[Shorin Ryuu]

Yes. It was more likely used against the bo thought. The bo was more of a common weapon back then.

[47MartialMan]

Yes, I agree. Could it be, that its practice, use, did not have much degree, per material, when put against the material/structure of the sword?