Sai.

Joined
Sep 6, 2000
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Anyone here have any?

Where is a good place to get them? I've done an internet search, and there are a myriad of martial arts sites selling them for around $50 a pair.

Are they good quality at that price?

Any other info is much appreciated!

Thanks!
Drjones
 
You can do better. There are plenty of pairs around that will suffice for most training/tournament/practice needs for thirty or so.
 
Originally posted by Sharp Phil
You can do better. There are plenty of pairs around that will suffice for most training/tournament/practice needs for thirty or so.
I can do better than what?

As I've said, of the dozens of sites I've seen, they all seem to offer the same product for the same price. Is there some secret ninja site I'm missing out on??? :p

And I don't plan on training with these...I just kinda like 'em...But I also don't want junk. Just cause I'm not going to USE them doesn't mean I want crap... :)
 
I really don't know anything about Okinawan Sai and what makes one better than another. I am sure that materials and balance have a lot to do with higher costs.

You might want to check out the link below for what look to be high quality Sais.

Weapons Connection
 
Thanks for the links, Keith and Phil.

Yeah, those at WeaponConnection seem like the type I'd like, but I doubt I'll get those.

Probably the ones phil linked me to.

Thanks!
Drjones
 
www.eknifeworks.com has sai for 14.99. They probably are not very good but then again just about all production martial arts weapons are junk (especially wooden weapons like hanbo and bo.) You can probably get better sai by going custom but you'll be paying much more.
 
So its either crappy/mediocre stuff for $15-30, or high-end (?) stuff for several hundred?

Eh...I think I'll be untrue to myself this once and get the ones for $15...

:)


Thanks for all the links guys!!!

Does anyone have anymore information on them; their use, history, etc.?
 
The Sai, described by Fumio Demura* as a "short sword with two prongs at the handle," might be more accurately characterized as a small trident with an elongated middle tine, or a two-pronged jutte. Most examples available from martial arts supply houses are cylindrical or octagonal (I refer to the cross-section of their tines), relatively blunt, and either painted or chrome-plated.

Relatively small, light, and easily carried (at least singly), the sai is an excellent tool for self-defense, particularly against short edged weapons. The prongs of the sai can be used to trap an opponent's wrist, and while the central tine can be used to poke and stab, the side prongs can be used to hook and gore soft targets.

*Sai: Karate Weapon of Self Defense
 
I think that Mr. Demura's book also mentioned some sai being cast from lead. So even some authentic sai might qualify as 'junk'.

Are you planning on using these for practice, life and limb retention, or as agricultural tools? Anything can work well as a life and limb retention implement, but you may want high-chromed steel for practice and technique demonstration (or if you want them to double as high-test kebab skewers) and low-chrome steel or iron if you want to poke planting holes in the ground with them.
 
Of all the martial arts weapons being sold, the sai is probably the one that quality doesn't matter that much. It is probably hard to really mess up a sai. The $15.00 pair should be ok and I'll probably get one since I don't have any sai at this time. It doesn't have an edge to hold so the steel is not as important as in a knife.

Most shuriken, swords, kama, and other bladed weapons I've seen in MA catalogs and swords are made incorrectly and I've not seen any real kyoketsu-shoge, kusarifundo or shuko being sold except for some custom makers. I won't buy wooden weapons from any production suppliers. In the past few years about half the wooden weapons I bought that were made by production companies were warped and/or split. The jerk who ran the store had them in thick plastic wrap so you can't see the defects. Last summer I bought a hanbo and eda-koppo from Dick Severance and they are excellent quality. His $15.00 hanbo is made of purple heart and is a bargain compared to the $10.00 warped and split production hanbo I bought.
 
Does anyone have any?

I'm curious as to the quality...I'm not expecting much, especially for $15, but I'd still like to know.

The sai on every website seem to be the exact same product too...
 
There's not much you can really "do" to them except A) mar the finish (which will come off pretty easily on some "black" versions but is okay on the chromed versions, though the chrome makes them a bit more clunky); and B) watch as the grip tape peels off, which it might.
 
I have a pair, but lack the skills of people trained in Okinawan sai and Indonesian tjibang. I played with them a lot as a child and didn't manage to break them (that's no small feat). They still look swell.
 
Originally posted by Sharp Phil

Relatively small, light, and easily carried (at least singly), the sai is an excellent tool for self-defense, [/i]

Unfortunately many jurisdictions ban them!
 
From what I have had and used, not much if any difference between a $50 and $20 Sai. They are all junk but useable junk. If you care about looks and your going to use em forget about the looks.
 
Originally posted by Sharp Phil

Relatively small, light, and easily carried (at least singly),
Compared to what?? Yes I am trained in the sai and think your wrong.
edit added...
this is the full quote I wanted to show..
Relatively small, light, and easily carried (at least singly), the sai is an excellent tool for self-defense, particularly against short edged weapons.
 
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