wiznant Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Can someone please explain to me how to figure what size Sai I should get. Do you measure it from the beginning of the blade or do you measure the entire thing. The length from my longest finger to my elbow is about 18 inches. thanks for the help Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacificshore Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 Some say that you are suppose to measure from the web of your thumb to about a 1/2" past your elbow. Make sure your arm is bent during the measurement. I use the 18" Sai(s), or Zai(proper term for plural). It dosen't go past my elbow, but that's alright for me, because when I manipulated the one's that extended past my elbows, it would get caught up in my gi sleeves. So for proper sizing, they are suppose to go past the elbow, but I went with what was comfortable to handle. Hope this helps Di'DaDeeeee!!!Mind of Mencia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommarker Posted March 25, 2003 Share Posted March 25, 2003 It is my understnading that you hold them in the proper reverse grip, and it should extend an inch beyond your elbow. http://www.karate.org.yu/images/sai.jpg Why? Because you block with the sai in the manner, and not protecting your elbow could be a "Bad Thing." I'm no longer posting here. Adios. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritNoob Posted November 5, 2004 Share Posted November 5, 2004 I'd also like to know this one. I'm going to be buying mine soon. I'm 6'2" and my arms are about 18inches from longest finger tip to elbow - can anyone of similar size tell me what I will need? I presumed I would need the longesst as i'm a tall guy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb Posted November 5, 2004 Share Posted November 5, 2004 My understanding also is that you should measure from the web of the thumb to your elbow and add 1/2 to 1 inch. Where is Shorinryu Sensei? He is usually all over these questions... Res firma, mitescere nescit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommarker Posted November 5, 2004 Share Posted November 5, 2004 I'd like to hear an answer too, as I really want to buy a pair of Shureido sai, but don't want to get a too short or too long pair... With the kind at the store, I can just pick the pair that stick out past the elbow a bit, but with Shureido, I have to order without trying them on I'm no longer posting here. Adios. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorinryu Sensei Posted November 5, 2004 Share Posted November 5, 2004 My understanding also is that you should measure from the web of the thumb to your elbow and add 1/2 to 1 inch. Where is Shorinryu Sensei? He is usually all over these questions... ZZZZZZZZ..........ZZZZZZZZZZ........ZZZZZZZZZZZZ snork!!!??? What the....??? Oh...Hi people. Somebody want me? Oh...how to measure the size of sai that you need? Easy one (for a change)! With your arm bent, measure the distance from the webbing between your thumb and index finger, to the very point of your elbow. The blade of the said should run along the outside of your forearm, not the inside (this is important). It is also important to extend either to the very end of your elbow, or 1/2" past. Avoid any longer than that if possible. To short, and you could chip the end of your elbow bone if you block a serious strike in practice. I'm 6'6" tall (about 198cm I think) and use a 21 1/2" sai, which is the longest that I've seen short of being custom made. Even at that, they reach just to the end of my elbow and don't extend beyond...and so far, it's worked fine for me against full force strikes by baseball bats, shinai and boken strikes. My nightly prayer..."Please, just let me win that PowerBall Jackpot just once. I'll prove to you that it won't change me!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritNoob Posted November 5, 2004 Share Posted November 5, 2004 Hhmm...that only works out to about 15 inches for me and I thought I was lankier than most? Am I doing it right? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorinryu Sensei Posted November 5, 2004 Share Posted November 5, 2004 Now you got me to thinking...and that makes my head hurt! I grabbed my sai and did some measuring myself. Total length of my sai is 21 1/2" from hilt end to point. From inside of the tine to point is 15 1/2" My extended figer arm length from finger tip to elbow is 20". Inside of the thumb webbing to tip of my elbow is 15" (that was fun to do). Soooooo....*doing mental calculations here*...I'd suggest getting a 21 1/2" sai...and if it's to long, send it back and get the next shorter one. What are your choices? Maybe a 19"? Personally, it's better to be a bit to long, then to short (contrary to some people's opinions). I don't think you'd want to try to grind the sai down to size if it's to long, as it's normally made out of cheap pot metal and might break during the grinding process. Not to mention that if you get the chromed one, the chrome will come off and possibly start to flake the entire distance of the sai eventually. Shoreido I believe does a custom order and sizing...but pretty expensive. I'm sure they have a sizing chart on their website somewhere. My nightly prayer..."Please, just let me win that PowerBall Jackpot just once. I'll prove to you that it won't change me!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritNoob Posted November 5, 2004 Share Posted November 5, 2004 K I'll get the longest ones. You make them sound worrying badly made though - are they fragile then? Is it better to get black if the chrome ones flake? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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