@Elektrikkiss Actually, the video is of Shihan Nishiuchi, but I'm American and can only speak English, so he's better than me in language skills already.
@hempev Swastika was recognized as a positive symbol all around the world - from Japanese to Native American peoples' lands. Picking a swastika as a symbol of 3rdR was a part of Hitler's ideology of 'going back to [great, strong] German [Teutonic] tradition'. Nazis didn't consider themselves a bad guys. But what they actually did under swastika as a banner put this symbol infamous in Western world forever.
@hempev The Swastika was widely used long before the Nazi's ever starting using it. It was used in every orientation prior to WW2. I have seen pre WW2 swastikas set at 45 degrees with the arms bent to the right. So there is no such thing a good swastika or a bad swastika. It all depends on the culture. In some if it's bent to the right its "bad", in others bent to the left is "bad".
@purplemutantas You will note I only said the Nazis pointed it to the right - that doesn't make it good or bad, it's just the way *they* chose to use it, and left comes up more often as a benign direction...
This is really cool and all but sai, swords, ect. are basically useless nowadays because if someone has a gun your screwed. Maybe when its like the end of the world and no one can make any more bullets this could be useful lol!!
@hempev This is a really n00b question but what is ki? id rather ask you than search on google and probly get the worung answer lol. im guesing its like some sort of Energy that runs thru us all!
@GibsonLesJosh You got it - also known as chi or prana, it's what an acupuncturist is trying to influence with needles or what you affect with breathing in chi gong.
@GibsonLesJosh The Martial Arts a mainly meant for close quarters combat. If in very close range with a fighter, a gunman may be at a disadvantage because guns are meant for mid-range and long-range combat.
@GibsonLesJosh If that were true, armies wouldn't still issue and train with bayonets and combat knives, would they? There will *always* be a need for hand-to-hand weapons for combat. Ever heard of the 21 Foot Rule?
@GibsonLesJosh I refer you to the story of Bishnu Shrestha last year. He was a lone gurkha armed with only a kukri who took on 40 train robbers/rapists armed with guns, knives, clubs and swords. The ones who still could, fled the train after he killed 3 and wounded 8 of them. Tell him just how useless his big knife/short sword is in a combat situation...
@KingOkami You're right - they are Shureido. They are the best - my son upgraded from cheap Chinese copies to a pair of these and they are $150 a pair, but well worth it to a kobudoka. Our sensei orders them through ShureidoUSA.
I really want a pair of custom made sais for me can you help..i have seen the sai from that weapon connection place and i am not interested in the sai of agena or watever i would like to have a pair of sai that are similar to elektras.....
@16tessen I've seen the movie - hers is meant for cosplay. From Wikipedia: "The sai are often portrayed as much more offensive weapons, being used as swords, daggers, and throwing knives. Little play is given to striking with the knuckle. Thus, the traditionally blunt and rounded weapon is often portrayed as a blade. Western popular culture often portrays the sai as a weapon of the ninja, but it was never actually used in any traditional martial arts from mainland Japan." Hope that helps
im glad that someone is demonstrating the uses and the way to correctly go bout getting the right sai. i myself after teaching the feel like it is one of the weapons that people don't really give the recognition it deserves.
Is there a consideral difference between rounded and hexigonal?? Also I have seen leather wrapping used on the handle and yoku. Is wrapping the yoku ok?? I practice using a hexigonal unfinished steel with no wrapping as a hobby.
Hexagonal cross-section is preferred because it increases the chances that an edge will be the contact point, which would cause more damage than a round surface. I have only seen the handle wrapped, so I have no idea how wrapping the yoku helps - you're not suppose to hold there, since it is highly likely you'd stop a blade or other weapon at that point!
Thank you for your reply. The wrapped yoku I had seen must have been on some kind of fantasy sai then. I had seen it online a long while ago. Again thanks.
Oh yeah, you can see all kinds of sai in the fantasy realm! Most, if not all, should be kept there and never be duplicated in the real world (unless you want them as props in cosplay).
I have a pair of sai that I found at a garage sale that oddly enough, are the perfect size. They are cromed and have a dragon etched in the monouchi. While I understand how to hold the sai, I don't know how to move swiftly from one grip to another, and every time I attempt I usually end up dropping them or I scratch myself. I was wondering if you could post a video on the proper motions needed to move the sai from one grip to another?
That might be in one of my other sai videos, but it is mostly just a lot of practice and time, making sure you have the correct grip in either position.
Focus on the fact that switching from grip to grip involves rotation of the sai, while remaining in contact of the web between the forefinger and thumb. Once this basic principle has been understood, grip switching becomes easy.
wow now that i watch this i got really lucky in choosing my Zai the only thing is mine have a chrome finish. I probably should have gotten the no finish pair but they didnt have a set long enough for my arm. I wish i found this sooner
I'm no expert (Shihan is), but being a little short is usually fine - I know a little long can be a problem for maneuvering, but short means you have some areas not protected when the monouchi is held against the forearm.
great video, very informative and speaker seems trustworthy.
I have a few questions though, are sai and other martial arts weapons illegal in the UK? which are and why? sorry to bother you but I could not find out anywhere else. I would love to collect them and also perform for friends with them, but im not sure if your allowed in the UK.
Also, how does freestyle sai and nunchuck differ from regular use?
I can't help you with local laws, but having these while being in active training is usually legit, as long as the dojo itself is considered a lawful establishment. Training on your own does not count as "supervised training" in the eyes of the law.
Anything "freestyle" is a Western creation for people who don't want to learn the correct techniques and play around like they see in movies.
You don't want the point extending more than a half inch or so beyond the elbow when used in blocking position. Cheap sai are just cut to length, while high quality ones like Shureido are proportional from handle to tip.
Actually, the opposite! Yakuza are the equivalent of Japanese Mafia, but sai are Okinawan and were used by high-ranking peace keepers. The closest they have in Japan is the jitte (or jutte), used by *their* police (and seen in some movies set in pre-Meiji era).
sai were at one point illegal (probably during the satsuma regime) since they could in fact stop a sword. kama were the only legally permitted metal weapons on the island. sai were often carried in threes, one for throwing (think lawn dart!)
That sounds logical - the Satsuma stopped *anyone* from having weapons, and sai were used by the "police". If you look at Shihan's other videos, you will find San Cho Zai, the 3 sai kata, but even Ni Cho Zai (2 sai kata) has nagi, the "lawn dart" throw!
the part between the prongs, were you put your thumb, in another video he said it is supposed to be flat. what kink of techniques can you do if they are rounded like he said not to practice with in the handling video?
perhaps, but i think i'll just buy a proper pair for practice next time at one of the sword shops a shop at. my Octagon Sai are a bit too heavy i think and larger than most i've seen. but i want to get better with a sword first before i start with another "Ni-Cho" weapon, i'm already practicing with the Tonfa . if i try to learn too many at once i'll get confused. lol. it doesn't help that i have to one to help me either.
another thing; could you post the link directly to ioka's videos on centurymartialarts? the link on the ioka website to the videos is broken, and I couldn't find them myself.
thanks to you and Nishiuchi for the video. I have a few questions. first of all, the balance was a bit unclear in the video; is the sai supposed to balance when you place your finger in line with the ends of both yoku, or can your finger (the point of balance) be anywhere within the area bounded by the yoku?
also, my sai yoku are almost rectangular, with a slightly rounded 90 degree angle in them. will this affect technique?
i've never been clear on this, are sais supposed to have sharp edges or not? when i was younger i thought there were just like knives, but the only kind i've seen in real life are cylindral with a point n most of the one online look this way too
There is no blade and even the points are blunt - they can only pierce with a lot of force. The most original form has a shaft with an 8-sided cross-section: more chances to strike with an edge, and the edge causes more damage than a round cross-section, but it is still not a sharp edge.
The bare black metal ones I have came from ShureidoUSA (.com), but they were ordered by my sensei. CenturyMartialArts (.com) has them, but theirs are not as authentic.
YouTube won't let me post links, but if you do a web search for Shureido, you will find a ".jp" site with "en" (for English) and that has links for the company in Okinawa - ask if they will ship to your country. Gambatte kodasai!
There are precursors from China and even India, but they weren't called sai, so it is still accurate to say SAI is an Okinawan weapon (but not from Japan - they had the jitte/jutte).
I thought it was incorrect to say that sai came from Japan and that you actually had to say, that they came from Okinawa because at the time Okinawa was not a part of Japan.
That's right - Okinawa has been influenced by both China and Japan for centuries, annexed as a Japanese prefecture in 1879, and under U.S. control from 1945 until 1972 (although the U.S. still has a large military contingent there), but Okinawans have a culture separate from Japan, and kobudo and karate are wholly Okinawan creations.
The sai may be similar to other weapons, such as the jutte, but there are details that show it has evolved on its own.
i would like to extend my thanks for the videos you continue to post. they are very informative and teach accurate technique without much of the flash many modern practicioners stress.
I didn't order mine myself, but it's probably not a problem if you don't have a sensei, just the legality of walking around with them! The black steel version is the most authentic, but Shihan uses their chrome model for visibility in the videos - both have the same cord-wrapped grips (much nicer than fake leather!)
Sai are suppose to be sharpened but there isn't any places I know where you can buy a sharpened pair anymore. It is true that they can still be a deadly weapon without a sharpened tip, but in the history of the sai, they were always sharpened.
By the way, these videos are great with this Japanese intructor. I highly recommend the one for the bo staff for beginners and experts in bo training.
Where did you read these were ever sharpened? Shureido, the foremost maker of Okinawan weapons, never sells these sharpened. They have a century of manufacturing these, but if you have a link that proves they are wrong, I'd like to read it.
No, because sai are not sharp - you'd have to grind them down to a point yourself. Even with a dull tip, proper throwing technique can make one of these deadly.
I don't walk around with them stuck in my belt, but they are probably concealed weapons. I carry them in my bag with other weapons and my gi, but no-one has ever stopped me, so I have no experience with "the law".
The sai we use have handles wrapped with cord, not leather, but cheap ones may use any kind of stuff on the handles. The manji sai Shihan shows (middle-left-bottom at the beginning) don't have any handle wrapping, since either end can be a handle.
Yes, most Westerners associate the empty hand technique of karate with *anything* in martial arts! Kobudo is specifically the use of weapons, in this case those from Okinawa. Despite this, a lot of schools add various weapons to keep their present and potential students interested. My school considers them separate, so I have to choose in which class I will study technique each day.
'' maybe all are right maybe all are wrong, but there is no such thing as right or wrong'' I just have to make that as my motto :D it's just so good. These videos are the best I have found ever. Respect to this hard trainer and great teacher!
would love to learn how to use them and buy a pair!! have benn interested in a really long time...however i do not know where to buy them and who can teach me how to use them correctly :S does anyone know? im from venezuela
i am a young martial artist practising arnis. and i recently purchased some sai, for fun these weapons are awsome. and i applaud you for posting this video which is both largely entertaining and exrtremely informative. thank you
No, you may be thinking of the Japanese kunai - Okinawans would not use something as expensive as refined metal for that purpose when they needed it for hoes and sickles.
Wouldve been fun to be a Policeman in Okinawa, I wouldve loved to use not so deadly weapons that take years of Discipline to use. it doesnt take much to shoot a gun but to know anatomy to know where to aim.
It took many months for me to finally get a pair of hand-made zai from Shureido Okinawa - I've had a cheap pair of aluminum ones for 2 years and the high quality version is like night and day!
you are the most experienced sai master i have ever seen! not only is your knowledge outstanding, but your history is impecible. Instead of going to the libary to study this historic weapon, i can relax infront of my computer listening to your masterclass!!!! your are the best sai master by far!!!!
Thanks for the kudos - I would pass them on to him, but it wouldn't make much difference: Shihan Nishiuchi just goes on teaching without any ego issues, which is why other sensei come to him to learn more.
hi that video was absolutely brilliant, i could only hope to be honored enough to meet someone who obviously is a pure traditionalist as seen by his handling of the sai. my own background is in kobudo and everything in this video is spot on fair play and keep up the good work.
i dought anyone will be able to answer this but in canada does anyone know if sai's are legal? if they are is aganist the law for me to carry them say outside my propetry, i dought anyone will know the answer, but i thought i should ask,
Sorry, I realize your comment is 10 months old, but I figured I'd answer it anyways. As far as I know, they're legal, but you will probably want to keep them concealed outdoors, because someone might mistake you as a threat and call the cops or something.
I built a trench spike out of a pointed Sai once. They are quite a formidable weapon. Personally, I prefer the Shaolin Spade over all Eastern weaponry on a simple cool factor, and anti-zombie potential. The Sai are a close second though.
Wow, your videos are perfect! i needed to whatch soem videos on sais and research some history on them too. i've whatched most of the other videos too. they were really helpful! What style of karate do you do?
That teacher, is probably the best teacher I gave seen! Explains various facts and theories very well, and has that attitude, that makes you want to learn the techniques. That's what I call a teacher.
i really dont like those yin-yang sai that you get they are really stupid,and hard to hold! by the way if the sai comes 2 inches off your elbow dos that mean they are 2 big for me?
The manji sai is most commonly used with the nunti, which is an advanced weapon, so I have yet to train with one. A sai should extend just to your elbow - a little past is OK but 2" beyond is way too much!
Visit: Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai Hennie-School of Martial Arts Instructor: Hennie de Vries 57 Paula Crescent Doncaster East Victoria 3109 Melbourne Australia Telephone: 03 9841 7706 Kobudo Practice Times Monday to Thursdays 17:00 - 21:00 Saturdays 09:30 - 11.30
I'm a blacksmith, and I'm currently working on a weapon that's sort of a hook sword/sai hybrid. I gotta say, they're turning out great. =)
This was pretty informative. I especially found the method of measuring usefull.
About the origins, I've always heard they evolved from a type of short rake. Personally I think that theory sounds more likely then the ones presented in this clip, what with the inherent practical nature of weapons.
I have seen also other videos of this Grandmaster. To me he is highy knowledgable. These instructions were very helpful for me when I went out to purchase Sai
"Truly great"? I don't know enough about them to say, but I guess Shureido is who Shihan considers the best. There was a problem with their master sai maker needing a successor, but I don't know what happened with that - still waiting for mine...
Thanks for the immediate feedback. It's just that there are a lot of these 'demonstration' or 'just for show' sai out there and I want something more realistic and practical to my training. Gotta have serious equipment for the serious practitioner ya know.
great vid hempev your english is great ignore that asshole.
Elektrikkiss 2 months ago
@Elektrikkiss Actually, the video is of Shihan Nishiuchi, but I'm American and can only speak English, so he's better than me in language skills already.
hempev 2 months ago
@blazeclicker
I doubt you can speak okinawan, so shut up.
TheTotallycoolio 4 months ago
George Takai with an accent? :D
scottyboyguildwars 7 months ago
@scottyboyguildwars If you mean George Takei, Shihan *is* Japanese, but he isn't gay.
hempev 7 months ago
why would the nazis turn a good sign to a bad one? by the way nice video on about sai didnt know where it came from and everything.
yungballer92 8 months ago
@yungballer92 I don't know why the swastika was adopted by the Nazis, but it is a known part of its history.
hempev 8 months ago
@hempev Swastika was recognized as a positive symbol all around the world - from Japanese to Native American peoples' lands. Picking a swastika as a symbol of 3rdR was a part of Hitler's ideology of 'going back to [great, strong] German [Teutonic] tradition'. Nazis didn't consider themselves a bad guys. But what they actually did under swastika as a banner put this symbol infamous in Western world forever.
sprai7 6 months ago
if you dont mind me asking is it difficult speaking english for you?
blazeclicker 8 months ago
@blazeclicker If you don't mind *my* asking, are you always this much of a prick?
hempev 8 months ago 8
@blazeclicker this isnt the uploader dumbass
gmanthebeast1 5 months ago
love your videos, hempev. keep up the good work friend
capoeiraace 9 months ago
Swastika also is an ancient mediterranean greek symbol called TETRASKELES.
Suttanca 1 year ago
His accent just makes me like him even more. lol
PoseidonKross2009 1 year ago
nazi sai
M3ta1 1 year ago
@M3ta1 Nazis got the swastica from Indian culture and twisted it to the right instead of the original left
hempev 1 year ago 4
@hempev actually, it had been in scandinavian culture for centuries before the nazis came along
MrThedalaillamaknows 1 year ago
@hempev The Swastika was widely used long before the Nazi's ever starting using it. It was used in every orientation prior to WW2. I have seen pre WW2 swastikas set at 45 degrees with the arms bent to the right. So there is no such thing a good swastika or a bad swastika. It all depends on the culture. In some if it's bent to the right its "bad", in others bent to the left is "bad".
purplemutantas 1 year ago
@purplemutantas You will note I only said the Nazis pointed it to the right - that doesn't make it good or bad, it's just the way *they* chose to use it, and left comes up more often as a benign direction...
hempev 1 year ago 2
This guy is so awesome.
begrackled 1 year ago
are the blank sai from Shureido ?!? i've heard they make good sais... but they're very expensive T______T
Qwonks 1 year ago
@Qwonks You can click the shopping link for cheaper ones, but Shureido is the best.
hempev 1 year ago
@hempev okay, thx.
but the prob is: im from germany >__<
its a bit expensive to ship from the US....
qwonkso 1 year ago
This is really cool and all but sai, swords, ect. are basically useless nowadays because if someone has a gun your screwed. Maybe when its like the end of the world and no one can make any more bullets this could be useful lol!!
GibsonLesJosh 1 year ago
@GibsonLesJosh We don't practice these weapons for defense against guns, that's for sure. It's for development of the mind, body and ki.
hempev 1 year ago
@hempev This is a really n00b question but what is ki? id rather ask you than search on google and probly get the worung answer lol. im guesing its like some sort of Energy that runs thru us all!
GibsonLesJosh 1 year ago
@GibsonLesJosh You got it - also known as chi or prana, it's what an acupuncturist is trying to influence with needles or what you affect with breathing in chi gong.
hempev 1 year ago
@GibsonLesJosh The Martial Arts a mainly meant for close quarters combat. If in very close range with a fighter, a gunman may be at a disadvantage because guns are meant for mid-range and long-range combat.
pjpless2 1 year ago
@GibsonLesJosh If that were true, armies wouldn't still issue and train with bayonets and combat knives, would they? There will *always* be a need for hand-to-hand weapons for combat. Ever heard of the 21 Foot Rule?
entropy156 5 months ago
@entropy156 yeah but i was talking about sai and swords and stuff in a combat situation
GibsonLesJosh 5 months ago
@GibsonLesJosh I refer you to the story of Bishnu Shrestha last year. He was a lone gurkha armed with only a kukri who took on 40 train robbers/rapists armed with guns, knives, clubs and swords. The ones who still could, fled the train after he killed 3 and wounded 8 of them. Tell him just how useless his big knife/short sword is in a combat situation...
entropy156 5 months ago
I have a sai, a blacksmith made it to mee.
SpideyLum 1 year ago
raphael is cool, but crude.
illuminatioracle 1 year ago
@illuminatioracle Cartoons are not real, but this is.
hempev 1 year ago
i really want to know because i might be getting a pair of sai: are sai legal in canada?
1XracecarX1 1 year ago
@1XracecarX1 yeah of coarse
loosifur 1 year ago
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1XracecarX1 1 year ago
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1XracecarX1 1 year ago
Those look like Shureido Sai. If not can u please tell me what Sai he is using or where did he get them from?
KingOkami 1 year ago
@KingOkami You're right - they are Shureido. They are the best - my son upgraded from cheap Chinese copies to a pair of these and they are $150 a pair, but well worth it to a kobudoka. Our sensei orders them through ShureidoUSA.
hempev 1 year ago
Thanks, this video it is very interesting. :)
LittleFearlessOne 1 year ago
Master Nishiuchi comes across in these videos as a most fascinating manit must be truly a privilege to train with such an extraordinary instructor!
igboamerican 1 year ago
I really want a pair of custom made sais for me can you help..i have seen the sai from that weapon connection place and i am not interested in the sai of agena or watever i would like to have a pair of sai that are similar to elektras.....
16tessen 1 year ago
@16tessen I've seen the movie - hers is meant for cosplay. From Wikipedia: "The sai are often portrayed as much more offensive weapons, being used as swords, daggers, and throwing knives. Little play is given to striking with the knuckle. Thus, the traditionally blunt and rounded weapon is often portrayed as a blade. Western popular culture often portrays the sai as a weapon of the ninja, but it was never actually used in any traditional martial arts from mainland Japan." Hope that helps
hempev 1 year ago
im glad that someone is demonstrating the uses and the way to correctly go bout getting the right sai. i myself after teaching the feel like it is one of the weapons that people don't really give the recognition it deserves.
kris198921 1 year ago
Is there a consideral difference between rounded and hexigonal?? Also I have seen leather wrapping used on the handle and yoku. Is wrapping the yoku ok?? I practice using a hexigonal unfinished steel with no wrapping as a hobby.
brokenhalo240 1 year ago
Hexagonal cross-section is preferred because it increases the chances that an edge will be the contact point, which would cause more damage than a round surface. I have only seen the handle wrapped, so I have no idea how wrapping the yoku helps - you're not suppose to hold there, since it is highly likely you'd stop a blade or other weapon at that point!
hempev 1 year ago
Thank you for your reply. The wrapped yoku I had seen must have been on some kind of fantasy sai then. I had seen it online a long while ago. Again thanks.
brokenhalo240 1 year ago
Oh yeah, you can see all kinds of sai in the fantasy realm! Most, if not all, should be kept there and never be duplicated in the real world (unless you want them as props in cosplay).
hempev 1 year ago
now where can i get a high quality well balanced sai online?
golgo1138 2 years ago
ShureidoUSA is where mine come from
hempev 2 years ago
I have a pair of sai that I found at a garage sale that oddly enough, are the perfect size. They are cromed and have a dragon etched in the monouchi. While I understand how to hold the sai, I don't know how to move swiftly from one grip to another, and every time I attempt I usually end up dropping them or I scratch myself. I was wondering if you could post a video on the proper motions needed to move the sai from one grip to another?
TheMonkeyZombie 2 years ago
That might be in one of my other sai videos, but it is mostly just a lot of practice and time, making sure you have the correct grip in either position.
hempev 2 years ago
Focus on the fact that switching from grip to grip involves rotation of the sai, while remaining in contact of the web between the forefinger and thumb. Once this basic principle has been understood, grip switching becomes easy.
Terriss0421 1 year ago
wow now that i watch this i got really lucky in choosing my Zai the only thing is mine have a chrome finish. I probably should have gotten the no finish pair but they didnt have a set long enough for my arm. I wish i found this sooner
clowcole 2 years ago
Chrome is OK - a little flashy for me, but if it is solid steel inside, it should be fine (I have handled some that were hollow!)
hempev 2 years ago
sorry that im asking this again. Would a pair of sai that are 15inches be good for me if my length is really 16inches?
toastytoast123 2 years ago
I'm no expert (Shihan is), but being a little short is usually fine - I know a little long can be a problem for maneuvering, but short means you have some areas not protected when the monouchi is held against the forearm.
hempev 2 years ago
great video, very informative and speaker seems trustworthy.
I have a few questions though, are sai and other martial arts weapons illegal in the UK? which are and why? sorry to bother you but I could not find out anywhere else. I would love to collect them and also perform for friends with them, but im not sure if your allowed in the UK.
Also, how does freestyle sai and nunchuck differ from regular use?
Sorry for the ignorance.
willjamesgodd 2 years ago
I can't help you with local laws, but having these while being in active training is usually legit, as long as the dojo itself is considered a lawful establishment. Training on your own does not count as "supervised training" in the eyes of the law.
Anything "freestyle" is a Western creation for people who don't want to learn the correct techniques and play around like they see in movies.
hempev 2 years ago
You don't want the point extending more than a half inch or so beyond the elbow when used in blocking position. Cheap sai are just cut to length, while high quality ones like Shureido are proportional from handle to tip.
hempev 2 years ago
what about if a pair of sai are 15inches and my size is 16inches would that fit?
toastytoast123 2 years ago
That should work!
hempev 2 years ago
i want a pair of sai! but my size is 16 inchs in length would a pair of sai that is18 inchs be good? someone please help me!!!
toastytoast123 2 years ago
Actually, the opposite! Yakuza are the equivalent of Japanese Mafia, but sai are Okinawan and were used by high-ranking peace keepers. The closest they have in Japan is the jitte (or jutte), used by *their* police (and seen in some movies set in pre-Meiji era).
hempev 2 years ago
sai were at one point illegal (probably during the satsuma regime) since they could in fact stop a sword. kama were the only legally permitted metal weapons on the island. sai were often carried in threes, one for throwing (think lawn dart!)
glamiss 2 years ago
That sounds logical - the Satsuma stopped *anyone* from having weapons, and sai were used by the "police". If you look at Shihan's other videos, you will find San Cho Zai, the 3 sai kata, but even Ni Cho Zai (2 sai kata) has nagi, the "lawn dart" throw!
hempev 2 years ago
the part between the prongs, were you put your thumb, in another video he said it is supposed to be flat. what kink of techniques can you do if they are rounded like he said not to practice with in the handling video?
manikill7 2 years ago
I don't know - we have to have the right type, but you could probably make do with a pair "not quite right" in a pinch
hempev 2 years ago
perhaps, but i think i'll just buy a proper pair for practice next time at one of the sword shops a shop at. my Octagon Sai are a bit too heavy i think and larger than most i've seen. but i want to get better with a sword first before i start with another "Ni-Cho" weapon, i'm already practicing with the Tonfa . if i try to learn too many at once i'll get confused. lol. it doesn't help that i have to one to help me either.
manikill7 2 years ago
the traditional sai in between the prongs it is round
toastytoast123 2 years ago
heavy asian accent ftw! very useful information as well
BitterTrickster 2 years ago
another thing; could you post the link directly to ioka's videos on centurymartialarts? the link on the ioka website to the videos is broken, and I couldn't find them myself.
privetprivetprivet 2 years ago
I've updated the links in the right-side info box (since YouYube won't let me put URLs in these comments).
hempev 2 years ago
thanks to you and Nishiuchi for the video. I have a few questions. first of all, the balance was a bit unclear in the video; is the sai supposed to balance when you place your finger in line with the ends of both yoku, or can your finger (the point of balance) be anywhere within the area bounded by the yoku?
also, my sai yoku are almost rectangular, with a slightly rounded 90 degree angle in them. will this affect technique?
privetprivetprivet 2 years ago
What is in the video is about all I know, too.
hempev 2 years ago
Super cool! Thank you for the history of this weapon. I can't wait to see more of your other videos!
mzuniga2 2 years ago
i thought the Sai were suppose to past the elbow at least 1 inch?
christoffking 2 years ago
No *more* than 1", and a little less is acceptable.
hempev 2 years ago
i've never been clear on this, are sais supposed to have sharp edges or not? when i was younger i thought there were just like knives, but the only kind i've seen in real life are cylindral with a point n most of the one online look this way too
magnum567134 2 years ago
There is no blade and even the points are blunt - they can only pierce with a lot of force. The most original form has a shaft with an 8-sided cross-section: more chances to strike with an edge, and the edge causes more damage than a round cross-section, but it is still not a sharp edge.
hempev 2 years ago
Where can bare sais be found? Everywhere I look they are painted or shiny and I'm getting really tired of trying to find good ones for practice.
luthientinuviel257 2 years ago
The bare black metal ones I have came from ShureidoUSA (.com), but they were ordered by my sensei. CenturyMartialArts (.com) has them, but theirs are not as authentic.
hempev 2 years ago
Thanks a lot. But my main problem is that I'm not from the USA. Unfortunately I'm not sure if they can be delivered in my country at all :(
luthientinuviel257 2 years ago
YouTube won't let me post links, but if you do a web search for Shureido, you will find a ".jp" site with "en" (for English) and that has links for the company in Okinawa - ask if they will ship to your country. Gambatte kodasai!
hempev 2 years ago
Thanks a lot for the help!
luthientinuviel257 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
He speakaze the engalish.
Thumper17 2 years ago
Dont be so insulting.
GazMaddogJones 2 years ago
He can't help it - he hasn't grown up enough yet to appreciate a master more than his accent.
hempev 2 years ago
show some respect
christoffking 2 years ago
id like ahve two of them, like famous manipulators:
raphal from teenage mutant turtles ninjas
mileena from mortal kombat
gabriella from xena
elektra from marvel...
SAI ! I WANT A SAI !WHERE CAN I BUY?
marcospaulodearaujos 2 years ago
thnx for da history
gozee1 3 years ago
There are precursors from China and even India, but they weren't called sai, so it is still accurate to say SAI is an Okinawan weapon (but not from Japan - they had the jitte/jutte).
hempev 3 years ago
i love this video. i refer TMNT fans to this when they call Raph's zai "Sai's" ...hehe
buslady 3 years ago
i was given a pair of zai for christmas. this video was a lot of help
cyraxofsubterra 3 years ago
thank for the info
ninjagambit 3 years ago
I thought it was incorrect to say that sai came from Japan and that you actually had to say, that they came from Okinawa because at the time Okinawa was not a part of Japan.
UberGameNerds1234 3 years ago 2
That's right - Okinawa has been influenced by both China and Japan for centuries, annexed as a Japanese prefecture in 1879, and under U.S. control from 1945 until 1972 (although the U.S. still has a large military contingent there), but Okinawans have a culture separate from Japan, and kobudo and karate are wholly Okinawan creations.
The sai may be similar to other weapons, such as the jutte, but there are details that show it has evolved on its own.
hempev 3 years ago
i would like to extend my thanks for the videos you continue to post. they are very informative and teach accurate technique without much of the flash many modern practicioners stress.
flying3692 3 years ago
Are all of your Sai from Shureido USA?
I just bought a Black Iron Sai from them and just wondering if thats how it is going to look like
And you dont have to be a Sensei to buy them they just talk to you on the phone on what you want.
cowluver2 3 years ago
I didn't order mine myself, but it's probably not a problem if you don't have a sensei, just the legality of walking around with them! The black steel version is the most authentic, but Shihan uses their chrome model for visibility in the videos - both have the same cord-wrapped grips (much nicer than fake leather!)
hempev 3 years ago
Let me see if I have this straight:
If there is just one sai, you say 'Sai' with an 'S' whereas if there is more than one you say 'Zai' with a 'Z'?
Hmmm ... you learn something new every day.
and003 3 years ago
That's right - otherwise, you can't make a plural in Japanese.
hempev 3 years ago
I love the way he talks, the fact that the grammar is so-so and his accent makes his speech appealing and very interesting to listen to :).
Wingmeaker 3 years ago 2
Sai are suppose to be sharpened but there isn't any places I know where you can buy a sharpened pair anymore. It is true that they can still be a deadly weapon without a sharpened tip, but in the history of the sai, they were always sharpened.
By the way, these videos are great with this Japanese intructor. I highly recommend the one for the bo staff for beginners and experts in bo training.
sedativechunk 3 years ago
Where did you read these were ever sharpened? Shureido, the foremost maker of Okinawan weapons, never sells these sharpened. They have a century of manufacturing these, but if you have a link that proves they are wrong, I'd like to read it.
hempev 3 years ago
do you know whee i can buy a pair of SHARP sai
FuckShitBoloxHaHa 3 years ago
No, because sai are not sharp - you'd have to grind them down to a point yourself. Even with a dull tip, proper throwing technique can make one of these deadly.
hempev 3 years ago
ooooooohhh woooow, u really know your stuff :P:P well thnx
1 more question:
what can u use to *girnd* them sharper???
FuckShitBoloxHaHa 3 years ago
An angle grinder would be enough for most steel versions.
hempev 3 years ago
ohhh thank you veryy much you really helped me :D
FuckShitBoloxHaHa 3 years ago
u can on ebay
but a lil expensive..around the 40 - 6- area
but its worth it1
i have a pair of black saiz
punkaznboi 3 years ago
oh wow thnx mate (Y)
do u need sum kinda licence 2 possess them or summin?
FuckShitBoloxHaHa 3 years ago
I don't walk around with them stuck in my belt, but they are probably concealed weapons. I carry them in my bag with other weapons and my gi, but no-one has ever stopped me, so I have no experience with "the law".
hempev 3 years ago
hahaha lol ur a legend
thanks for ALL the help im soo gettin a piar of sai :D
hu knows maybe our paths will cross and we do a sai showdown ^^ byee
FuckShitBoloxHaHa 3 years ago
so i heard that some ninjas used the sai but i dont know about that
jeffblacc 3 years ago
Most of what you hear about ninjas is fiction. The true history is much different from the popular myths.
hempev 3 years ago
Where can I get apair of sai with no leather, just the metal? (bare?)
cesarinman 3 years ago
The sai we use have handles wrapped with cord, not leather, but cheap ones may use any kind of stuff on the handles. The manji sai Shihan shows (middle-left-bottom at the beginning) don't have any handle wrapping, since either end can be a handle.
hempev 3 years ago
So were in the internet can I get them???
dannymanjarrez 3 years ago
Excellent video. A skilled instructor indeed!
AVanArum 3 years ago 2
that was awesome I luv this teacher
civic626 3 years ago 2
does this instructor have a website were you can possibly buy videos? he is very good
BlackFrop 3 years ago 2
What is the name of sensei who's talking about sai history?
dahlesa 3 years ago
Shihan Nishiuchi
hempev 3 years ago
Thank you hempev.
dahlesa 3 years ago
Karate means open hand. you might not get a chance to lean the sai
lamafoot 3 years ago
Yes, most Westerners associate the empty hand technique of karate with *anything* in martial arts! Kobudo is specifically the use of weapons, in this case those from Okinawa. Despite this, a lot of schools add various weapons to keep their present and potential students interested. My school considers them separate, so I have to choose in which class I will study technique each day.
hempev 3 years ago
Great video, I just started taking sai lessons in Karate and this is a definite help on how to choose a pair that's right for me. :)
JbMcfee 3 years ago
'' maybe all are right maybe all are wrong, but there is no such thing as right or wrong'' I just have to make that as my motto :D it's just so good. These videos are the best I have found ever. Respect to this hard trainer and great teacher!
qwertical 3 years ago
would love to learn how to use them and buy a pair!! have benn interested in a really long time...however i do not know where to buy them and who can teach me how to use them correctly :S does anyone know? im from venezuela
gaby47 3 years ago
If you do a Google search using kobudo and Venezuela, you'll find a lot of schools online. There are plenty of related clips on YouTube, too.
hempev 3 years ago
i am a young martial artist practising arnis. and i recently purchased some sai, for fun these weapons are awsome. and i applaud you for posting this video which is both largely entertaining and exrtremely informative. thank you
Trixz
Trixzterpaul 3 years ago
I've always wanted to learn how to use these
Icecrystal91 4 years ago
u can buy sais off ebay and amazon and any bidding website but i suggest you find a specialised shop. more reliable =D
LaFondaBHH 4 years ago
sai, not "sais"
the man in the video says japanese doesn't have plurals
guiltybystander77 4 years ago
The plural is "zai"
hempev 4 years ago
were can i buy bair sai on the computer
spike11251994 4 years ago
Now sai guy explained over ten minutes how to choose sai and you want to buy them online.
defaultpseudonym 4 years ago
My Nickname(Sai) is a weapon ! Cool !! I like to learn that weapon!
sairamedia01 4 years ago
Wow amazing! I love it!
LuffyKisser 4 years ago
I thought that sai were used by planters to push holes in the ground to plant seeds... I'm not sure.
Kakarot21591 4 years ago
No, you may be thinking of the Japanese kunai - Okinawans would not use something as expensive as refined metal for that purpose when they needed it for hoes and sickles.
hempev 4 years ago
Oh, maybe that's it. My mistake.
Kakarot21591 4 years ago
Sais Were used by Policeman in Okinawa
immortalvamp 4 years ago
Specifically, the high-ranking officers - the average equivalent of a "street cop" had a bo or tonfa.
hempev 4 years ago
Wouldve been fun to be a Policeman in Okinawa, I wouldve loved to use not so deadly weapons that take years of Discipline to use. it doesnt take much to shoot a gun but to know anatomy to know where to aim.
immortalvamp 4 years ago
very very very good info ...
rockyrocko 4 years ago
You are the best! I certainly will know which pair of sai to buy. Again, extremly good video! 5/5
OblivionFan33 4 years ago
It took many months for me to finally get a pair of hand-made zai from Shureido Okinawa - I've had a cheap pair of aluminum ones for 2 years and the high quality version is like night and day!
hempev 4 years ago
very informative and i like it.
janinerhai 4 years ago
you are the most experienced sai master i have ever seen! not only is your knowledge outstanding, but your history is impecible. Instead of going to the libary to study this historic weapon, i can relax infront of my computer listening to your masterclass!!!! your are the best sai master by far!!!!
0OhShit 4 years ago
Thanks for the kudos - I would pass them on to him, but it wouldn't make much difference: Shihan Nishiuchi just goes on teaching without any ego issues, which is why other sensei come to him to learn more.
hempev 4 years ago
hi that video was absolutely brilliant, i could only hope to be honored enough to meet someone who obviously is a pure traditionalist as seen by his handling of the sai. my own background is in kobudo and everything in this video is spot on fair play and keep up the good work.
sonicftr 4 years ago
Thank you - with such a positive review, I encourage you to view my other clips, too!
hempev 4 years ago
How educational!
georgehwbush 4 years ago
i dought anyone will be able to answer this but in canada does anyone know if sai's are legal? if they are is aganist the law for me to carry them say outside my propetry, i dought anyone will know the answer, but i thought i should ask,
1metallica1 4 years ago
i belive they are
samueladams16 4 years ago
Sorry, I realize your comment is 10 months old, but I figured I'd answer it anyways. As far as I know, they're legal, but you will probably want to keep them concealed outdoors, because someone might mistake you as a threat and call the cops or something.
craphead76 3 years ago
I built a trench spike out of a pointed Sai once. They are quite a formidable weapon. Personally, I prefer the Shaolin Spade over all Eastern weaponry on a simple cool factor, and anti-zombie potential. The Sai are a close second though.
BlindDogFulton 4 years ago 2
Wow dude this has pretty much all the information that I needed to help me pick out some sai thank you so much.
evilaj2010 4 years ago 3
Wow, your videos are perfect! i needed to whatch soem videos on sais and research some history on them too. i've whatched most of the other videos too. they were really helpful! What style of karate do you do?
thanks!
sk4428 4 years ago 2
i miss my kobudo training. I trained with sai and bo for 2 years and it was so fun.
farfanugenmaster 4 years ago
That teacher, is probably the best teacher I gave seen! Explains various facts and theories very well, and has that attitude, that makes you want to learn the techniques. That's what I call a teacher.
xparty 4 years ago
i really dont like those yin-yang sai that you get they are really stupid,and hard to hold! by the way if the sai comes 2 inches off your elbow dos that mean they are 2 big for me?
ravenkillalot 4 years ago
The manji sai is most commonly used with the nunti, which is an advanced weapon, so I have yet to train with one. A sai should extend just to your elbow - a little past is OK but 2" beyond is way too much!
hempev 4 years ago
oh ok hey do you train with these people if so where are the studios??
ravenkillalot 4 years ago
The dojo is in Vacaville, CA, and I only get to train with Shihan Nishiuchi several times a year.
hempev 4 years ago
should have watched these videos first...
sneekypanda 4 years ago
ive got a pair of steel ones cost me 70 but karate down here in south australia doesnt teach sai technequie
AcesH1gh 4 years ago
BamaBob22 4 years ago
Well, there ya go, mate!
hempev 4 years ago
cheers mate next time im in melbourne i might look it up
AcesH1gh 4 years ago
I'm a blacksmith, and I'm currently working on a weapon that's sort of a hook sword/sai hybrid. I gotta say, they're turning out great. =)
This was pretty informative. I especially found the method of measuring usefull.
About the origins, I've always heard they evolved from a type of short rake. Personally I think that theory sounds more likely then the ones presented in this clip, what with the inherent practical nature of weapons.
RelativelyBest 4 years ago
damm i wanna larn how to use sais.are they really that expensive?? where can i buy them if i live in venezuela and where can i learn how to use them?
gaby47 4 years ago
I have seen also other videos of this Grandmaster. To me he is highy knowledgable. These instructions were very helpful for me when I went out to purchase Sai
the50s60s70s 4 years ago
I hear Shureido has some good items (gi, obi, kobudo), but can you recommend where I can buy some truly great sai?
LV99MasterMonk 4 years ago
"Truly great"? I don't know enough about them to say, but I guess Shureido is who Shihan considers the best. There was a problem with their master sai maker needing a successor, but I don't know what happened with that - still waiting for mine...
hempev 4 years ago
Thanks for the immediate feedback. It's just that there are a lot of these 'demonstration' or 'just for show' sai out there and I want something more realistic and practical to my training. Gotta have serious equipment for the serious practitioner ya know.
LV99MasterMonk 4 years ago
Ive finally ditched my 'generic' clummsy chromed sai, and invested in a handmade pair made to my measurement in stainless steel.
From: worbingtonsteele
They are absolutely brilliant - the differance between them & my old sai is like the differance between video-tape & DVD (not easy to explain)
Not cheap either - but really really worth