Sai (weapon)

Pointed melee weapon from Okinawa

Two modern sai

The sai (Japanese: 釵, lit. 'hairpin'; Chinese: 鐵尺, lit. 'iron ruler') is a pointed melee weapon from Okinawa. It was historically utilized in martial arts such as Okinawan kobudō and southern Chinese martial arts, and has been absorbed into the curriculum of many modern martial arts. Although similar weapons can be found in other parts of Asia, the sai is the Okinawan take on the basic concept and should not be confused with the other weapons. The sai is primarily used for stabbing, striking, parrying and disarming opponents. It consists of a pointed metal main prong, that projects from a one-handed handle, two shorter metal side prongs, which project from the opposite sides of the base of the main prong and point in the same direction as it, and a blunt metal pommel fixed to the bottom end of the handle. The sai came to international attention when Okinawan kobudō and karate reached international popularity in the mid-20th century.

## History

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An antique sai (left) and an antique tekpi (right)

Before the creation of the sai in Okinawa, similar weapons were already being used in other Asian countries including India, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.[1] The basic concept of this kind of weapon was brought to Okinawa over time from one or several of these places.[2] However, the sai is the Okinawan take on this weapon concept, and should not be mixed with the other similar weapons.

Some sources theorize that this weapon concept may be based on the Indian trisula, an ancient Hindu-Buddhist symbol[3] that may have spread along with Hinduism and Buddhism into South-East Asia.[4] The word trisula itself can refer to either a long or short-handled trident.

In Okinawa, the sai was used by the domestic police (ufuchiku) to arrest criminals and for crowd control. Use of the sai in Okinawan kobudō was approved in 1668 by Moto Chohei, an Okinawan prince.[5]

Japan had a similar weapon, the jitte, which was originally used as a blunt weapon by guards in the Shogun's palace, and it was subsequently issued to senior officials as a badge of office. Edo period examples of the jitte typically have only a single hook. The relationship between the sai and jitte is unclear.

## Parts (in Okinawan)

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Parts of a modern sai

* Monouchi, the metal main prong of the sai, that is either round or faceted.
* Saki, the sharp point of the main prong.[6]
* Yoku, the two shorter metal side prongs of the sai, which usually point in the same direction as the main prong, with the exception of the manji sai developed by Taira Shinken, which has the direction of one of the side prongs reversed, causing the weapon to be reminiscent of a swastika (manji).

A modern manji sai

* Tsume, the sharp points of the two side prongs.
* Moto, the center point between the two side prongs.
* Tsuka, the one-handed handle of the sai, which is usually wrapped with different materials or given different treatments to add more grip to it.
* Tsukagashira, the blunt metal pommel of the sai.

## Technique

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A pair of modern sai

The sai is a weapon typically wielded in pairs, with one in each hand.[1] In modern Okinawan Kobudo, five kata (choreographed patterns of movements in martial arts) are commonly taught, including two kihon kata.

The utility of the sai is given away by its distinctive trident-like shape. It is a weapon primarily used for fast stabbing and striking, but being very versatile, it has many other uses as well. These include a variety of blocks, parries and captures against attackers from all directions and height levels. Use of the sharp points, the main prong and the pommel is emphasized, as well as rapid grip changes for multiple fast stabs and strikes.

One commonly depicted technique in sai kata is to use of one of the sai's side prongs to entrap an opponent's weapon and then disarm them of it. Some variations of the sai have the two side prongs pointing inwards towards the main prong to facilitate this maneuver. While this does not completely immobilize the attacker, it encumbers them in close quarters.

Because there is no morphological plural in Japanese, the word "sai" refers to either a single weapon or multiple. Nicho sai refers to a kata that uses two sai, while sancho sai kata refers to kata using three sai.

## See also

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* Okinawan kobudō
* Nunti Bō
* Trident
* Trishula

## References

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1. ^ a b Draeger, Donn F.; Robert W. Smith (1969). Asian Fighting Arts. Tokyo: Kodansha. OCLC 812370873. Reprint: Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (registration required). New York; Tokyo: Kodansha International. ISBN 978-0-87011-436-6.
2. ^ "Everything You Need to Know About the Sai Weapon". Technology.org. 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
3. ^ "The Trishula". Ancient-Symbols.com. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
4. ^ Gosula, Poojitha Reddy (2021). The Girl Who Reads Her Past Six Lives: She Is the Army-Chief (eBook ed.). Chennai: Notion Press. p. 250\. ISBN 9781648998782.
5. ^ Kanenori Sakon Matsuo (2005). The Secret Royal Martial Arts of Ryukyu. Translated by Joe Swift. Norderstedt, Germany: Books on Demand. p. 81\. ISBN 9783833419935. OCLC 778744684.
6. ^ Graham, Dr. Leslie M. (August 1993). "The Sai: Okinawan Karate's Treasured Trident". Black Belt. Vol. 31, no. 8\. p. 51. ISSN 0277-3066.

## Further reading

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* Demura, Fumio (1974). Sai: Karate Weapon of Self-Defense. Burbank, Calif.: Ohara B Publications. ISBN 0897500105. OCLC 1103415.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sai.

* How to Use Sai Instructional Video
* Mr. Yoong Swee Yin - Double Sai - Shuang Chai 雙 釵—video

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Okinawan kobudō

Weapons|

* Bō
* Eku
* Kama (Okinawan kusarigama)
* Kuwa
* Nunchaku
* Sai
* Sansetsukon
* Surujin
* Tanbō
* Tekko
* Tinbe-rochin
* Tonfa

Styles|

* Kenshin-ryū
* Matayoshi
* Ryukyu
* Yamanni ryu

Comparison of styles

* v
* t
* e

Types of Chinese weaponry

Swords|

| Short swords|

* Dadao 大刀
* Dao 刀
* Hudie shuangdao (butterfly sword) 蝴蝶雙刀
* Jian 劍
* Liuyedao 柳葉刀
* Niuweidao 牛尾刀
* Piandao 片刀
* Yanmaodao 雁毛刀

|

Long swords|

* Changdao 長刀
* Miaodao 苗刀
* Wodao 倭刀
* Zhanmadao 斬馬刀

Polearms|

* Guandao 關刀
* Ge (dagger-axe) 戈
* Gun 棍
* Ji 戟
* Podao 朴刀
* Qiang 槍
* Hongyingqiang 紅纓槍
* Tang 镗
* Yueya chan (monk's spade) 月牙鏟

Roped/chained|

* Liuxing Chui (meteor hammer) 流星錘
* Sheng biao (rope dart) 繩鏢
* Jiujie bian (nine section whip) 九節鞭
* Sanjie gun 三節棍
* Chang xiao bang 長小棒

Projectile|

* Nu 弩
* Zhuge nu 諸葛弩
* Fire arrow 火箭
* Huoqiang 火槍
* Tu Huo Qiang 突火槍
* Huochong 火銃
* Shouchong 手銃
* Rocket cart 火箭車
* San yan chong 三眼銃
* Che Dian Chong 掣電銃
* Xun Lei Chong 迅雷銃
* Wankou Chong 碗口銃
* Hu dun pao 虎蹲砲
* Thunder crash bomb 震天雷

Handheld|

* Biān 鞭
* Chǐ 尺
* Chúi 錘
* Emeici 峨嵋刺
* Jiǎn 鐧
* Lujiao dao / Yuanyangyue (deer horn knives) 鹿角刀, 鴛鴦鉞
* Hook sword 鉤
* Ji lian 鷄鐮
* Fenghuo lun 風火輪

Protection|

* Armour and helmet 甲胄
* Shield 盾
* Hook shield 鉤鑲

Major lists|

* Eighteen Arms of Wushu

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