Thin Shureido Sai

[MatsuShinshii]

There are quite a few people training in kobudo or other weapons systems who have or use two of each weapon. They have a standard version and training version which is heavier.

The idea of using a heavier version of a weapon to practise is shared by many weapons practicionners since very early in history. The idea is that a heavier weapon trains and strengthens the wielder’s body so that handling the “standard” weapon becomes easier. Full speed and power with the standard weapon and slower technique concentration work with the heavy version.

Precisely! Exactly right.

[Struggling_Mudansha]

Never heard of sai referred to as 'light vs heavy'. Which version would be 'light'?

http://www.shureidousa.com/kobudo/sai.html

Lightweight sai are only listed in their catalog.

http://i.imgur.com/x8Ynit7h.jpg

There are quite a few people training in kobudo or other weapons systems who have or use two of each weapon. They have a standard version and training version which is heavier.

The idea of using a heavier version of a weapon to practise is shared by many weapons practicionners since very early in history. The idea is that a heavier weapon trains and strengthens the wielder’s body so that handling the “standard” weapon becomes easier. Full speed and power with the standard weapon and slower technique concentration work with the heavy version.

Wish I had that luxury. Can't really afford to have two sets of each weapon considering that our dojo practices everything except the 3 section staff. I try to find weapons that are of medium weight because weapons that are too light don't feel like weapons and ones that are too heavy just slow me down. I like weapons that fall in between the two.

I think I managed to find the only image online of "lightweight" Shureido sai:

http://i.imgur.com/UFe53AIl.jpg

A lot of the bulk seems to be shaven off which would definitely save on the weight, but I'm not sure how durable they would be for say a bo/sai kumite.

[Struggling_Mudansha]

Think I may have found another image of thin Shureido sai.

The sai on the right appears to be their small sai, but the monouchi is round and the tsukagashira is smaller. A lot of the bulk seems to have been shaven off the moto and yoko as well.

Very interesting.

[strangepair03]

I would forget Shureido sai, I was there last year and they had zero in stock and they told me it would be a very long time before they are available. I have a pair of chrome shureido and a pair of Carbone sai. They are fantastic

[Struggling_Mudansha]

I would forget Shureido sai, I was there last year and they had zero in stock and they told me it would be a very long time before they are available. I have a pair of chrome shureido and a pair of Carbone sai. They are fantastic

Can't really see myself giving up on Shureido sai. Every time I get to try a pair they're always the best, hands down. The Energy Sai of Agena are nice, but they weigh a metric ton and don't offer much in the way of options (octagonal monouchi, different tsukagashira, different weights, etc.) Not to mention they're made to order and priced very steep.

I called the Shureido store in Naha, Okinawa and the English speaking representative said they're aiming to get natural sai in on the first quarter of this year and stainless steel later on, possibly December or early 2019. Might not be entirely true but Shureido has NOT said they've stopped making metal weapons, so they've got to produce more sai eventually. I've got 18.5 inch thin natural sai on back order from the USA store and I'll keep using my standard Shureido sai until then.

[MatsuShinshii]

2019????

Wow that is backed up.