@DB3457 - even if they do know.. well, accidents happen. I could imagine some heavy guy doing sai pushups with some cheap metal sai with factory made defects.. *SNAP* - and you got two metal spikes on your liver/heart, coupled with, in that point not so meaningful anymore, probably also two broken fingers. Be careful, AND STAY OUT FROM WOODEN SLIPERY FLOORS if trying to do something like this! (-I probably wouldn't) since there are good exercises doing pushups with so many variations.
@king1Malik No, you just can't push up any more - the points aren't beneath you, they are aimed outside the body, but if those with poor form could win a Darwin award.
@Rangermed Kenpo (or, as it's pronounced, kempo) literally translates to "rule of the fist"; traditionally, that defines the art. If they were using sai, it was probably a recent addition to keep people interested, but just like karate, there are plenty of budoka who learned both.
@hempev Actually, no, I meant Kempco. It's a now defunct company that used to make weapons. One of the guys at my karate school has a pair that look just like those and his are from there. I could be wrong on the spelling, but the pronunciation is correct. Sorry for the confusion!
@Rangermed Thanks - never heard of them - most people get crappy Chinese sai, but when you upgrade to Shureido (an Okinawan company that has made these for generations), you can feel the difference the moment you pick them up.
Great video. I've been looking to get back into training with sais and this was very informative.I never thought of doing push ups with them before. I'm going to have to try that.
@joeman123964 I've never slammed my armpits into my sai, but then I am older than your parents and out of shape, and even my empty-hand pushups are done with some form of fist or fingertips, not flat palms, so I guess you are not exercising to improve your martial arts.
@hempev yes but theres always a possibility, and no i havent tried that and no it doesnt mean im not trying to be more experienced, how does doing finger push ups help your stance or counters in any way? grand master pak doesn't do that and hes the best in Georgia.
@joeman123964 Grand master Pak probably doesn't do Okinawan karate, which uses finger strikes and one knuckle punches, and probably does not participate in the kind of full contact body training done in Okinawa. Very little of this was brought to Japan, and it was further diluted when adopted by Koreans. At least you should be doing seiken (fist) pushups, not to mention shuto, tetsui, and uraken, all well-used in most empty-hand martial arts.
I ordered the Octagon Sai BLACK 21.5IN, listed on your wishlist, from Amazon. The distance from the tip of my middle finger to my elbow is about 20", and the sai extends scarcely 0.5". beyond it. The width of my palm (excluding thumb) is about 3.75", and the sai fits in my hand comfortably. The center of balance is about two inches up the shaft past the wing base. Banging the two together rewards me with a clear, long-lasting ring. Would definitely recommend at $44.
@unnamednewbie13 Also, it'll be nice to get back into the swing of things with this pair. About the only happier I could be with them is if they were custom-made in Okinawa.
The "TMAS Soft Sai Case w/ Zipper TMAS Soft Sai Case w/ Zipper" is a decent way to store them. The one I received was all black: no red felt, but it works for me. Shipping on both sai and case were timely. I will definitely be buying from "The Martial Arts Store" and "The Martial Arts SuperMarket" on Amazon in the future.
Are Sai considered a dangerous weapon? Cause I had to argue with my parents until they let me have a pair, but they don't exactly like the idea of having a weapon in the house, even if my dad likes martial arts
@searchlight12 Having a blunt tip and no edge, I wouldn't consider them dangerous unless you think you know how to use them and go off half cocked! At least you didn't ask for a pair of kama!
@hempev hmmm maby more dangerous but certainly not much more lethal if used properly i can find the sai could actuly be just as deadly but i have a question for you i herd that one would normaly carry 3 sai is this true?
@Margui622 Shihan has a few versions shown at the beginning, but the type most traditionally used are black steel with 8-sided shaft and a blunt tip. He notes at one point that he uses chrome ones just so they are more visible against his black gi.
@witchy892 Similar, based on the size and ability to switch to monouchi forward, but obviously a difference in how you handle something with steel prongs and point!
@Ryokushindo You can do them as long as they are not the primary situp form - Shihan has been doing this for more than half a century and can still stand with his hands flat on the floor and his knees straight, so I think his back has survived this without any abuse. In fact, he is in better shape than most sensei that he teaches, and just about all are much younger.
@sk8rl Octagonal cross-section is traditional, supposedly more damaging; also traditionally of black steel, but Shihan uses a chromed pair when needed for visibility against his black gi.
@jisaid08 Whether they've been warned or not, anyone stupid enough to hurt themselves with sai has no right to sue - and besides, his videos were filmed 20 years ago.
@hempev I understand what you're saying, but it just seems like a bad idea no matter how skilled you are with a sai. I mean slipping with them and impaling yourself seems like a real possibility no matter what.
@jisaid08 I do those push-ups, and I am not in the best of shape, but I do them without any risk to myself - I am also not very coordinated, but I have never slipped my body on top of the sai, it just doesn't go that way if you hold it correctly...and if you hold it incorrectly, you are not paying attention. In my family, we say "Social Darwinism is a bitch, but it only works if you die before you reproduce" (I don't think Shihan would even think of this).
@hempev If you don't do them that often, then that is ok. But it has been said that regular situps are not the best for the best due to the position your body is in and the strain that goes with it. with the straight legs...it seems even worse. Not saying that I totally disagree with doing straight legged situps but most people in the world would not even know how to do a regular situp correctly and if they attempted the straight legged...they surely could be hurting their back.
@CosmoNaut18 They *are* hard - we don't do them very often, but those at sho dan or above should be able to do them without a problem (assuming you are actively in training - people who get to that level but haven't trained in many years aren't really "at that level" any more!)
@eacortes I've never had an issue with these pushups, and I can barely do 10 of them - I guess I know how to hold them so I don't fall on them when I run out of steam. Like I say with any weapon, if you are afraid you'll hurt yourself, don't even start.
Thank you for teaching me how to properly holy the sai. I just got myself a pair and now for one realize they are unbalanced and sorta chunky but I love the way of the martial arts and will continue to try and better myself.
i've never seen the point in learning to hande sais, from a purely practical standpoint. you're not going to be carrying them when you get attacked, and if a person IS crazy enough to jump you when you're carrying mini tritons, he probably isnt someone you want to fight anyway.
@karatefightr15 If you worry about practical, why would anyone learn any weapon - katana are illegal to wear, but even nunchaku and tonfa are widely regarded as illegal. Practical is the act of learning these in themselves and the effects on the body, reflexes, and muscle memory.
@hempev well, the bo is a fairly practical weapon. i mean, a stick, a broom, a mop, etc, can all be used as a bo. same type idea with escrima and the like. it just seems strange to me to study these weapons for purely tradition's sake, which seems to be why most people study them. when they were originally taught, they were practical weapons. i just think it would be more in the same vein of thinking to study practical weapons today.
@karatefightr15 Kobudo was taught to farmers and fishermen, not monks or warriors, so it was imminently practical - use whatever you have at hand when it has been mad unlawful to own actual weapons. Of course, the same is true of karate, at least in Okinawa.
@karatefightr15 one reason to study sai handling is because you are forced to train both hands equally and also could learn to do different things with both of them. Regarding self-defence instead of sai a pair of daggers would come in handy. Watch "Legend of the Seeker" for some suggestions.
@Luxley01 Actually, if you are worried about self-defense, pepper spray or a taser is a better choice in the eyes of the law. "Appropriate response" will keep you out of prison, where your hands are the best weapons.
@hempev ehhh sai arnt realy illegal if you modify them and i could carry eskrima stick around all day and no one could say anything because i could claim its just a dowl
Haha, I can't do very good push ups the traditional way, all I could do was shakingly balance myself in the sai one. XD And you lost me on that whole strike-thrust sit up thing. I had no idea how to do the motion, I can't flip my sais in my hands very well yet.
@MadraLanna You'll get it down, it takes some work for a lot of people. It took me longer than I like to admit to be able to flip/spin mine without bashing myself lol. I tried to be cool one day with my friends and did spins going from front to back in complicated motions. I lost the grip on one and it ricocheted off the back of my dome lawl. I was careless and got lucky, don't try to advance too soon or you get a nice gash and bump :) Don't be afraid if it bumps your arm, just keep practicing
Indonesian Silat has a similar weapon called the trisula or siku-siku. They tend to be heavier and thicker than the ones normally purchased in the usa.
@sornostrasse Elektra doesn't use these - she has something with a blade and a sharp tip, and yes, I did see the movie. Sai were used for non-lethal control of criminals by the Okinawan version of "police" - they were not seen in mainland Japan until the 20th century, and by then there were no active ninja left, just history and mythology, which is what movies are all about!
@sornostrasse Sai yes are used originally as a non-lethal, even defensive, weapon. They may have not been originally molded as lethal weapons with sharp tips like a knife, but as with many weapons the Sai has evolved as time passed. To not consider them Sai because they are pointed is splitting hairs but I have to agree that they don't feel the same with a sharp tip. The Sai I own each have rounded tips and I am by far no expert but practice breeds hope. :)
@hempev : Naruto?? I've never seen that anime series that everybody is glue to it. Only I saw the comic book and really am I not hooked to it. I've listen to the music because somebody put the songs into a 2003 TMNT video.(I love the TMNT)
That music of that anime is good, the rest I don't care.
@hempev What elektra has is a sai, but it's not traditional. If we follow along with the comic book story then Elektra was trained to "not become a victim" and with a father as filthy rich as he was it's not surprise that he would have specially made sais for her.
@Gan596 If you want to discuss sai, this is the right place - if you want to discuss make-believe and movies, this is not. Whatever fictional storyline you want to follow, or later-day creation of weaponry, I have no desire to discuss it.
@Gan596 Well, honestly, Electra was designed in the eighties by a guy who didn't know much for a audience who didn't know much. That's the first thing a person needs to remember when they cite a comic book character as a source of information. Even Frank Miller would say he hasn't delved at all deep into Asian history and probably picked the idea up off a Bruce Lee movie.
@psychedashell In all honesty that doesn't matter. even traditional sais can be used offensively if enough force is put behind them. And if she has personalized sais made to her liking, then so be it. That isn't uncommon even today. And why would you research asian culture, when your target audience couldn't care less about the culture and is more concerned with the story?
@detourediavalo But then they wouldn't be sai, and even the blunt tips are enough to cause fatal injuries when wielded by the experienced. The inexperienced would just be at more risk to hurt *themselves*!
@detourediavalo Fun? Ouch! Just because I practice martial arts doesn't mean I think pain (or even risk of great bodily injury) is fun....but to each their own!
@MegaFoShow No, I've slipped doing this and never gotten close to any injury. Anyone not comfortable doing this exercise shouldn't even try...anything that might possible hurt them in any way.
The push ups demonstrated look dangerous. Why risk your well being with those push ups? By doing that with the Sai what are we really bringing to the exercise?
@cjs610 If you have never used a sai, you may not know, but striking is done with the same part you have against the floor (the butt end of the handle), and as we are taught in karate, if you can't at least do a push-up with the part of your hand used for the strike, you are not strong enough to do the strike in the first place. Besides, this only looks dangerous -in the beginning, even when I wasn't strong enough, I would try this push-up and failing did no harm...now I can manage about 10.
"You two" meaning Shihan Bolz and Nishiuchi, I assume, since I am a beginner in this. You could either come to N.Cal or pay for Shihan Nishiuchi to visit (which he does all over the world several times a year), but he is also working on an internet-based training website - I'll post info on each of his clips when we get everything set up.
I only just got my first Sai yesterday, and already I know more about the weapon than I ever thought possible.
I'm sure I've only scratched the surface, but will continue to dig. Thanks to sensei for posting this video. At least I won't be holding them wrong now!
There is no second teacher, the Caucasian is a sempai in his school.
Not encouraging you to even *try* sai pushups does not instill much confidence in your sensei - Shihan still teaches these, even to the whitebelts, and he's in his late 60's.
Rubber tonfa? I wonder how well you can spin them from short to long ends - is the grip smooth enough for that? This is always the hardest part of picking them - grips should allow easy swivel but also allow a tight grip to keep them solid (especially for the push-ups!)
yeah the grip is quite smooth they aren't too different to smooth bo staffs in texture, they are designed to give a little under pressure if you drop them so you don't damage stuff, or yourself however this means they wont take the weight of a pushup. as soon as my skill and confidence improve I'll look at a proper practice pair but at the moment that would be foolish
I'm just curious why you're supposed to keep your feet at shoulder width for pushups, rather than feet together? stability? because with feet together wouldn't that be better for balance? or does shoulderwidth pushups help with more of your body?
No, in fact, they were meant for high-ranking Okinawan "police", similar to how the Japanese police had jutte as their "badge of office" (before the Meiji era, when everything became increasingly Western)
No kobudoka would use "bo staff", about as appropriate as saying "Mount Fujiyama". Of course, I get all kinds of know-it-all answers from people in their 20's and below, so when you get to do Japanese and Okinawan martial arts for more than half a century like Shihan has, then I will unblock you.
this video is vary helpful to me! i collect many martial arts weapons and try to master each of them. the Sai however has always confused me, it does suck though, i thought mine were bigger than most i've seen, i have a set large octagon Sai. the kind he just said to avoid practicing with. lol. bad luck on my part. i should probably stick to the Tonfa. lol.
wow u need balls for the first exercise
jihad4realniz 2 days ago
That doesn't look safe
joemchang 2 days ago
@joemchang For some people, it probably isn't - for the rest of us, it's fine
hempev 2 days ago
Does this kobudo sytle open school in Malaysia???
TheBAC321 1 month ago
@TheBAC321 No, just Northern California.
hempev 1 month ago
@TheBAC321 we got Kobudo class in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
senisuka 1 week ago
Shureido is another good one! I got mine from the site run by my style, and they are pretty solid. Nice chatting with ya!
Rangermed 1 month ago
why do i get the feeling a 99% of people watching this will think they know what to do simply because they watched this video :-/
DB3457 1 month ago
@DB3457 Oh, I hope it's less than 99%, but at least they (or their survivors) can't sue me for their own stupidity.
hempev 1 month ago
@DB3457 - even if they do know.. well, accidents happen. I could imagine some heavy guy doing sai pushups with some cheap metal sai with factory made defects.. *SNAP* - and you got two metal spikes on your liver/heart, coupled with, in that point not so meaningful anymore, probably also two broken fingers. Be careful, AND STAY OUT FROM WOODEN SLIPERY FLOORS if trying to do something like this! (-I probably wouldn't) since there are good exercises doing pushups with so many variations.
BigJay604 1 month ago
Martial Arts are like dancing, I realized it after few classes of Judo ^^.
aripck 2 months ago in playlist Sai Training
@aripck Depends entirely on the art itself. Different styles have different flows and tactics.
JJAB91 2 months ago
Sai pushups until failure = self impailment
king1Malik 4 months ago 3
@king1Malik No, you just can't push up any more - the points aren't beneath you, they are aimed outside the body, but if those with poor form could win a Darwin award.
hempev 4 months ago 5
@hempev Those look like Kempco Sai
Rangermed 1 month ago
@Rangermed Kenpo (or, as it's pronounced, kempo) literally translates to "rule of the fist"; traditionally, that defines the art. If they were using sai, it was probably a recent addition to keep people interested, but just like karate, there are plenty of budoka who learned both.
hempev 1 month ago
@hempev Actually, no, I meant Kempco. It's a now defunct company that used to make weapons. One of the guys at my karate school has a pair that look just like those and his are from there. I could be wrong on the spelling, but the pronunciation is correct. Sorry for the confusion!
Rangermed 1 month ago
@Rangermed Thanks - never heard of them - most people get crappy Chinese sai, but when you upgrade to Shureido (an Okinawan company that has made these for generations), you can feel the difference the moment you pick them up.
hempev 1 month ago
Great video. I've been looking to get back into training with sais and this was very informative.I never thought of doing push ups with them before. I'm going to have to try that.
jlf2032 5 months ago
no way im fucking doing push ups lmao
joeman123964 5 months ago
@joeman123964 No, wouldn't want to work too hard, would we...
hempev 5 months ago
@hempev well not with the sai u can mess up and those things with cut u up lol, ill keep to my palms.
joeman123964 5 months ago
@joeman123964 There is no sharp edges to cut yourself on a sai - even the tip is blunt.
hempev 5 months ago
@hempev ok well u slam your arm pits on them idc lol. im not going to, the comment on the bottom said he went to the hospital.
joeman123964 5 months ago
@joeman123964 I've never slammed my armpits into my sai, but then I am older than your parents and out of shape, and even my empty-hand pushups are done with some form of fist or fingertips, not flat palms, so I guess you are not exercising to improve your martial arts.
hempev 5 months ago
@hempev yes but theres always a possibility, and no i havent tried that and no it doesnt mean im not trying to be more experienced, how does doing finger push ups help your stance or counters in any way? grand master pak doesn't do that and hes the best in Georgia.
joeman123964 5 months ago
@joeman123964 Grand master Pak probably doesn't do Okinawan karate, which uses finger strikes and one knuckle punches, and probably does not participate in the kind of full contact body training done in Okinawa. Very little of this was brought to Japan, and it was further diluted when adopted by Koreans. At least you should be doing seiken (fist) pushups, not to mention shuto, tetsui, and uraken, all well-used in most empty-hand martial arts.
hempev 5 months ago
@hempev we learn tang su do. and pak came from korea so idk
joeman123964 5 months ago
@joeman123964 but tang soo do is korean in origin too...or is that what you meant
Maddestmonte 3 months ago
wowwwww ancient people did sai push ups too? wtf
ravekiddie 6 months ago
I tried the sai puch ups but fell and stapped through my armpits and had to go to the hospital
TheAlmostGod888 7 months ago 4
@TheAlmostGod888 Proof that jumping into anything without enough experience and practice time may very well be a dangerous habit.
hempev 7 months ago 3
This video is such a joke, push up with saïs really lol this is so dumb. And as for the manipulation of saïs this is not the only way
kikyo53000 7 months ago 2
@kikyo53000 You're a troll
hempev 7 months ago 10
A bit of feedback:
I ordered the Octagon Sai BLACK 21.5IN, listed on your wishlist, from Amazon. The distance from the tip of my middle finger to my elbow is about 20", and the sai extends scarcely 0.5". beyond it. The width of my palm (excluding thumb) is about 3.75", and the sai fits in my hand comfortably. The center of balance is about two inches up the shaft past the wing base. Banging the two together rewards me with a clear, long-lasting ring. Would definitely recommend at $44.
unnamednewbie13 7 months ago
@unnamednewbie13 Also, it'll be nice to get back into the swing of things with this pair. About the only happier I could be with them is if they were custom-made in Okinawa.
The "TMAS Soft Sai Case w/ Zipper TMAS Soft Sai Case w/ Zipper" is a decent way to store them. The one I received was all black: no red felt, but it works for me. Shipping on both sai and case were timely. I will definitely be buying from "The Martial Arts Store" and "The Martial Arts SuperMarket" on Amazon in the future.
unnamednewbie13 7 months ago
Sit ups with a Sai?? Don't sound too smart, you slip and you will get stabbed. Can't we just do a"Normal" situp?
maq0kfx 9 months ago
@maq0kfx If you are not coordinated enough to feel comfortable with sai, don't use them.
hempev 9 months ago 12
@hempev Not sure why someone would be worried about the situps. The pushups looked more like an "oh crud" scenario to me. :P
unnamednewbie13 8 months ago
@unnamednewbie13 I agree, but anyone afraid to handle them in such common situations probably shouldn't use them at all.
hempev 8 months ago
@hempev Very true. And there's always devices like padded nunchaku for people worried about bludgeoning or stabbing themselves as well. Heh.
unnamednewbie13 8 months ago
Sai push up... looks dangerous.
quesder 10 months ago 2
@quesder Not really when done right - even if your arms give out, the tips are not pointed at you (close but not directly!)
hempev 9 months ago
Are Sai considered a dangerous weapon? Cause I had to argue with my parents until they let me have a pair, but they don't exactly like the idea of having a weapon in the house, even if my dad likes martial arts
searchlight12 10 months ago
@searchlight12 Having a blunt tip and no edge, I wouldn't consider them dangerous unless you think you know how to use them and go off half cocked! At least you didn't ask for a pair of kama!
hempev 10 months ago
@hempev Okay, thanks. Wait whats a kama?
searchlight12 10 months ago
@searchlight12 A Okinawan sickle - very sharp and much more dangerous than a sai.
hempev 10 months ago
@hempev hmmm maby more dangerous but certainly not much more lethal if used properly i can find the sai could actuly be just as deadly but i have a question for you i herd that one would normaly carry 3 sai is this true?
blazeclicker 9 months ago
@blazeclicker We have both ni cho zai (2 sai kata) and san cho zai (3 sai kata) - I have both posted.
hempev 9 months ago
Are sai sharp? because I saw two pairs of them in this video. One of them is pointy and the other is rounded. Which one is used for a fight?
Margui622 11 months ago
@Margui622 Shihan has a few versions shown at the beginning, but the type most traditionally used are black steel with 8-sided shaft and a blunt tip. He notes at one point that he uses chrome ones just so they are more visible against his black gi.
hempev 11 months ago
aren't these drill exercises the same as intermediate tonfa exercises?
witchy892 1 year ago
@witchy892 Similar, based on the size and ability to switch to monouchi forward, but obviously a difference in how you handle something with steel prongs and point!
hempev 1 year ago
can the tip of your sai really stop a bostaff
111stevenking 1 year ago
@111stevenking No, the saki is almost always offensive - same goes for the gashira. In bunkai, defense is usually done with the yoko or the monouchi.
hempev 1 year ago
You wanna screw up you lower back? Do sit-ups exactly like him.
Ryokushindo 1 year ago
@Ryokushindo You can do them as long as they are not the primary situp form - Shihan has been doing this for more than half a century and can still stand with his hands flat on the floor and his knees straight, so I think his back has survived this without any abuse. In fact, he is in better shape than most sensei that he teaches, and just about all are much younger.
hempev 1 year ago
Thanks for the help much appreciated
sk8rl 1 year ago
Wat is the difference between hexagonal Sai and rounded Sai ?
sk8rl 1 year ago
@sk8rl Octagonal cross-section is traditional, supposedly more damaging; also traditionally of black steel, but Shihan uses a chromed pair when needed for visibility against his black gi.
hempev 1 year ago
this is great - Thank you!
bmxion 1 year ago
this looks dangerous
8636qwerty 1 year ago
@8636qwerty If it looks that way to you, it probably would be - for you.
hempev 1 year ago
was this filmed in the 1980,s?
8636qwerty 1 year ago 2
@8636qwerty No, I think he filmed these videos in 1991.
hempev 1 year ago
Dropping those = foot kebab
SandyattheBeach1 1 year ago
@SandyattheBeach1 There kinda blunt - throwing them down, now that's a foot kabob (watch the Ni Cho Zai Kata)
hempev 1 year ago
This guy isn't afraid of being sued for suggesting you do push ups with sai pointing up into your torso?
jisaid08 1 year ago
@jisaid08 Whether they've been warned or not, anyone stupid enough to hurt themselves with sai has no right to sue - and besides, his videos were filmed 20 years ago.
hempev 1 year ago
@hempev I understand what you're saying, but it just seems like a bad idea no matter how skilled you are with a sai. I mean slipping with them and impaling yourself seems like a real possibility no matter what.
jisaid08 1 year ago
@jisaid08 I do those push-ups, and I am not in the best of shape, but I do them without any risk to myself - I am also not very coordinated, but I have never slipped my body on top of the sai, it just doesn't go that way if you hold it correctly...and if you hold it incorrectly, you are not paying attention. In my family, we say "Social Darwinism is a bitch, but it only works if you die before you reproduce" (I don't think Shihan would even think of this).
hempev 1 year ago
@hempev Alright man, you're braver than I.
jisaid08 1 year ago
"Sitz!" :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D wie geil
theoneandonlyhut 1 year ago
@theoneandonlyhut :?
hempev 1 year ago
those weapons are dangerous sensei!!!
1000YearsOfDeathh 1 year ago
@hempev If you don't do them that often, then that is ok. But it has been said that regular situps are not the best for the best due to the position your body is in and the strain that goes with it. with the straight legs...it seems even worse. Not saying that I totally disagree with doing straight legged situps but most people in the world would not even know how to do a regular situp correctly and if they attempted the straight legged...they surely could be hurting their back.
CosmoNaut18 1 year ago
@CosmoNaut18 True, Shihan can do things lesser mortals only dream of doing, and all without any injury.
hempev 1 year ago
@CosmoNaut18 dude just modify it
Kaisertoji 1 year ago
ouch....those situps with the straight legs seems like it would be worse than better for your back!!
CosmoNaut18 1 year ago
@CosmoNaut18 They *are* hard - we don't do them very often, but those at sho dan or above should be able to do them without a problem (assuming you are actively in training - people who get to that level but haven't trained in many years aren't really "at that level" any more!)
hempev 1 year ago
Comment removed
CosmoNaut18 1 year ago
It looks so easy to injure or kill yourself trying those pushups, even if the sai are dull. At least stick a cork on the tip of each sai.
eacortes 1 year ago 2
@eacortes I've never had an issue with these pushups, and I can barely do 10 of them - I guess I know how to hold them so I don't fall on them when I run out of steam. Like I say with any weapon, if you are afraid you'll hurt yourself, don't even start.
hempev 1 year ago
268 like this video, 267 of which are now dead after attempting the sai pushups.
akumacornflakes 1 year ago
@akumacornflakes That's fine - social Darwinism at its finest.
hempev 1 year ago
Comment removed
frost2021 1 year ago
Thank you for teaching me how to properly holy the sai. I just got myself a pair and now for one realize they are unbalanced and sorta chunky but I love the way of the martial arts and will continue to try and better myself.
frost2021 1 year ago
i've never seen the point in learning to hande sais, from a purely practical standpoint. you're not going to be carrying them when you get attacked, and if a person IS crazy enough to jump you when you're carrying mini tritons, he probably isnt someone you want to fight anyway.
karatefightr15 1 year ago
@karatefightr15 If you worry about practical, why would anyone learn any weapon - katana are illegal to wear, but even nunchaku and tonfa are widely regarded as illegal. Practical is the act of learning these in themselves and the effects on the body, reflexes, and muscle memory.
hempev 1 year ago 6
@hempev well, the bo is a fairly practical weapon. i mean, a stick, a broom, a mop, etc, can all be used as a bo. same type idea with escrima and the like. it just seems strange to me to study these weapons for purely tradition's sake, which seems to be why most people study them. when they were originally taught, they were practical weapons. i just think it would be more in the same vein of thinking to study practical weapons today.
karatefightr15 1 year ago
@karatefightr15 Kobudo was taught to farmers and fishermen, not monks or warriors, so it was imminently practical - use whatever you have at hand when it has been mad unlawful to own actual weapons. Of course, the same is true of karate, at least in Okinawa.
hempev 1 year ago
@karatefightr15 one reason to study sai handling is because you are forced to train both hands equally and also could learn to do different things with both of them. Regarding self-defence instead of sai a pair of daggers would come in handy. Watch "Legend of the Seeker" for some suggestions.
Luxley01 1 year ago
@Luxley01 Actually, if you are worried about self-defense, pepper spray or a taser is a better choice in the eyes of the law. "Appropriate response" will keep you out of prison, where your hands are the best weapons.
hempev 1 year ago
@hempev ehhh sai arnt realy illegal if you modify them and i could carry eskrima stick around all day and no one could say anything because i could claim its just a dowl
blazeclicker 9 months ago
black or chrome sais?
JesterSkywalker 1 year ago
@JesterSkywalker The main reason to use chrome is for visibility - black is authentic and what most of us have in the dojo.
hempev 1 year ago
@hempev i see i see, but is it the black steel ones or the bare iron ones?
JesterSkywalker 1 year ago
@JesterSkywalker The black is just a finish on the iron ones - this wears off over time, leaving just the dark color like "wrought iron".
hempev 1 year ago
Oooff! ... those situps are killer. The "how to hold" tutorial at the end is excellent.
annaesquire 1 year ago
@annaesquire A lot of our situps are "killer" -- my hip-flexors (top of the quads) usually give out before my abs!
hempev 1 year ago
Haha, I can't do very good push ups the traditional way, all I could do was shakingly balance myself in the sai one. XD And you lost me on that whole strike-thrust sit up thing. I had no idea how to do the motion, I can't flip my sais in my hands very well yet.
MadraLanna 1 year ago
@MadraLanna You'll get it down, it takes some work for a lot of people. It took me longer than I like to admit to be able to flip/spin mine without bashing myself lol. I tried to be cool one day with my friends and did spins going from front to back in complicated motions. I lost the grip on one and it ricocheted off the back of my dome lawl. I was careless and got lucky, don't try to advance too soon or you get a nice gash and bump :) Don't be afraid if it bumps your arm, just keep practicing
Bribri25 1 year ago
those pushups are hard as fuck
Haku69 1 year ago
those sai pushups are no joke, they can be rough.
nexivdr 1 year ago
It was my first time using the sai today I really loved using it!
aquaquad7 1 year ago
Indonesian Silat has a similar weapon called the trisula or siku-siku. They tend to be heavier and thicker than the ones normally purchased in the usa.
alandrew 1 year ago
Thank you for this lesson, Sensei.
Rhythmicons 1 year ago
just bought a sai few weeks ago
DeafAztec 1 year ago
only Elektra has the ability to use these weapons
sornostrasse 1 year ago
@sornostrasse Elektra doesn't use these - she has something with a blade and a sharp tip, and yes, I did see the movie. Sai were used for non-lethal control of criminals by the Okinawan version of "police" - they were not seen in mainland Japan until the 20th century, and by then there were no active ninja left, just history and mythology, which is what movies are all about!
hempev 1 year ago 12
@sornostrasse Sai yes are used originally as a non-lethal, even defensive, weapon. They may have not been originally molded as lethal weapons with sharp tips like a knife, but as with many weapons the Sai has evolved as time passed. To not consider them Sai because they are pointed is splitting hairs but I have to agree that they don't feel the same with a sharp tip. The Sai I own each have rounded tips and I am by far no expert but practice breeds hope. :)
Bribri25 1 year ago
@hempev : Look on Wikipedia. The comic book says she is a ninja asassin. She uses the sai weapon.
Margui622 11 months ago
@Margui622 And next you will tell me something is so because you saw it on Naruto - make-believe has nothing to do with historical fact.
hempev 11 months ago
@hempev : Naruto?? I've never seen that anime series that everybody is glue to it. Only I saw the comic book and really am I not hooked to it. I've listen to the music because somebody put the songs into a 2003 TMNT video.(I love the TMNT)
That music of that anime is good, the rest I don't care.
Margui622 11 months ago
@hempev What elektra has is a sai, but it's not traditional. If we follow along with the comic book story then Elektra was trained to "not become a victim" and with a father as filthy rich as he was it's not surprise that he would have specially made sais for her.
Gan596 10 months ago
@Gan596 If you want to discuss sai, this is the right place - if you want to discuss make-believe and movies, this is not. Whatever fictional storyline you want to follow, or later-day creation of weaponry, I have no desire to discuss it.
hempev 10 months ago
@hempev Wow that's a great attitude to have. I was simply proving a point. But okay that works :)
Gan596 10 months ago
@Gan596 Well, honestly, Electra was designed in the eighties by a guy who didn't know much for a audience who didn't know much. That's the first thing a person needs to remember when they cite a comic book character as a source of information. Even Frank Miller would say he hasn't delved at all deep into Asian history and probably picked the idea up off a Bruce Lee movie.
psychedashell 10 months ago
@psychedashell In all honesty that doesn't matter. even traditional sais can be used offensively if enough force is put behind them. And if she has personalized sais made to her liking, then so be it. That isn't uncommon even today. And why would you research asian culture, when your target audience couldn't care less about the culture and is more concerned with the story?
Gan596 10 months ago
i wan a sai customized.... and i want sharp points on em \m/
detourediavalo 1 year ago
@detourediavalo But then they wouldn't be sai, and even the blunt tips are enough to cause fatal injuries when wielded by the experienced. The inexperienced would just be at more risk to hurt *themselves*!
hempev 1 year ago 3
@hempev true, that. just for fun though :D
detourediavalo 1 year ago
@detourediavalo Fun? Ouch! Just because I practice martial arts doesn't mean I think pain (or even risk of great bodily injury) is fun....but to each their own!
hempev 1 year ago
@hempev that's a though.. hmm..i think im playing too much video games.
detourediavalo 1 year ago
i meant thought.
detourediavalo 1 year ago
LOL the push ups are a fail if he slips they go right into is pecs owch...
MegaFoShow 1 year ago 3
@MegaFoShow No, I've slipped doing this and never gotten close to any injury. Anyone not comfortable doing this exercise shouldn't even try...anything that might possible hurt them in any way.
hempev 1 year ago
@1purplemimi Sais are not sharp, so you can't cut yourself :)
melanie2244 1 year ago
LOL, The chinese guy is awesome. Sai push ups are HARD!!!
melanie2244 1 year ago
The push ups demonstrated look dangerous. Why risk your well being with those push ups? By doing that with the Sai what are we really bringing to the exercise?
cjs610 1 year ago
@cjs610 If you have never used a sai, you may not know, but striking is done with the same part you have against the floor (the butt end of the handle), and as we are taught in karate, if you can't at least do a push-up with the part of your hand used for the strike, you are not strong enough to do the strike in the first place. Besides, this only looks dangerous -in the beginning, even when I wasn't strong enough, I would try this push-up and failing did no harm...now I can manage about 10.
hempev 1 year ago
ya make sure to get training sais when ur doin the push ups cause if there real and u slip u could dye
tombraidertuff 1 year ago
@tombraidertuff ...really...dye?
hempev 1 year ago
I want sai's : (
Saiiii91 1 year ago
yeah about the sai pushups i would cut myself doing that...
1purplemimi 2 years ago
sai's are not knives, they're dull pieces of metal for pressure points, usually aimed for the throat.
SquarshyJr 1 year ago
I truly desire to train under you two.
I have learned a lot from these videos and will continue to practice.
The sai has been my choice for years however I've only been training for about 8 months now.
Their history is also very interesting to me.
Thank you for posting these videos, I've watched them all.
I will continue to study and train.
Any words of encouragement or advice would be greatly appreciated.
-Kc
Snowboarding85 2 years ago
"You two" meaning Shihan Bolz and Nishiuchi, I assume, since I am a beginner in this. You could either come to N.Cal or pay for Shihan Nishiuchi to visit (which he does all over the world several times a year), but he is also working on an internet-based training website - I'll post info on each of his clips when we get everything set up.
hempev 2 years ago
@hempev:
Yes, Shihan Bolz and Nishiuchi.
I eagerly await the info on the website and will look into the visitation.
Thank you.
Snowboarding85 2 years ago
I only just got my first Sai yesterday, and already I know more about the weapon than I ever thought possible.
I'm sure I've only scratched the surface, but will continue to dig. Thanks to sensei for posting this video. At least I won't be holding them wrong now!
blessedwrath 2 years ago
yea, I dunno about sai push-ups. I've had my sai for about 2 months and even my shihan says its a bad idea. Those things will stab lol.
Might I ask who the second teacher is in this video? He's Okinawan right? Teaches traditional Japanese Karate?
Palamneus 2 years ago
There is no second teacher, the Caucasian is a sempai in his school.
Not encouraging you to even *try* sai pushups does not instill much confidence in your sensei - Shihan still teaches these, even to the whitebelts, and he's in his late 60's.
hempev 2 years ago
Excellent teaching!!!!!!
enemarius 2 years ago
I think I'm just gonna stick with the Bo.. I'm very clumsy so Sais won't be a good idea.
sakurashizune 2 years ago
Then the benefit to you is the challenge!
hempev 2 years ago
Katana Nunchaku and Sai are my favorite weapons
Hyan36 2 years ago
Got those other two, too, also with Shihan Nishiuchi
hempev 2 years ago
hmmmm. i can predict a punctured lung
PalebobUK 2 years ago
Only by those who don't do it correctly!
hempev 2 years ago
I don't wnt to stab myself, so.......
TheAlecB123 2 years ago 2
...so I guess you won't be trying. That's fine, doing something difficult isn't for everyone.
hempev 2 years ago
Ya, I'm not too good with sharp things, thats why I use nunchuks, and staffs.
TheAlecB123 2 years ago
It may prove useful in the future to refer to them as nunchaku and bo.
hempev 2 years ago
@TheAlecB123 sai are blunt nowadays also they never had blades
TeamExoticSPR 2 years ago
my rubber sai really don't like those push ups... so I'll have to leave them for a proper pair of sai when I'm a bit better
MidnightxxxRunner 2 years ago
Rubber tonfa? I wonder how well you can spin them from short to long ends - is the grip smooth enough for that? This is always the hardest part of picking them - grips should allow easy swivel but also allow a tight grip to keep them solid (especially for the push-ups!)
hempev 2 years ago
yeah the grip is quite smooth they aren't too different to smooth bo staffs in texture, they are designed to give a little under pressure if you drop them so you don't damage stuff, or yourself however this means they wont take the weight of a pushup. as soon as my skill and confidence improve I'll look at a proper practice pair but at the moment that would be foolish
MidnightxxxRunner 2 years ago
I just got a pair today and the push ups are hard
Nosferatu1717 2 years ago 3
These videos made me want to get my own pair of sais! So I did. Rubber ones though. And I plan to use these videos as tutorial. Thanks!
MaryseJordan 2 years ago
lol miss ur push ups and kill ur self
jean9910 2 years ago 42
just don't use sharp sais :D
but you can still injure^^
FlightOfAChimaira 2 years ago 2
I'm just curious why you're supposed to keep your feet at shoulder width for pushups, rather than feet together? stability? because with feet together wouldn't that be better for balance? or does shoulderwidth pushups help with more of your body?
just curious..
dbyammy 2 years ago
80-60-20... i like that analogy. Shinpo Matayoshi school... cool.
Sai are excellent for building forearm/wrist/finger strength. The pull exerted on them are pretty heavy, but its worth it. Wrist-rollers are gd too.
logpos 2 years ago
this is so cool i want to get some sai and learn!!!!! this tutorials are great are can be very useful
toastytoast123 2 years ago
arnt sai , assassin weappns ?
scampest 2 years ago
No, in fact, they were meant for high-ranking Okinawan "police", similar to how the Japanese police had jutte as their "badge of office" (before the Meiji era, when everything became increasingly Western)
hempev 2 years ago
great tutorial, 5 star =)
i never knew how to hold my sai but i do now thanks
JustAllexx 2 years ago
No kobudoka would use "bo staff", about as appropriate as saying "Mount Fujiyama". Of course, I get all kinds of know-it-all answers from people in their 20's and below, so when you get to do Japanese and Okinawan martial arts for more than half a century like Shihan has, then I will unblock you.
hempev 2 years ago
this video is vary helpful to me! i collect many martial arts weapons and try to master each of them. the Sai however has always confused me, it does suck though, i thought mine were bigger than most i've seen, i have a set large octagon Sai. the kind he just said to avoid practicing with. lol. bad luck on my part. i should probably stick to the Tonfa. lol.
manikill7 2 years ago
Yes I agree on that part....But still....everytime I hear bo staff I want to cringe...
brasshandmartialarts 2 years ago