I'm not a practitioner of Okinawan martial arts but I do appreciate that the sigh is a very misunderstood weapon but also a very effective weapon for it was intended to do. a lot of people think it's a dagger and it really isn't because it's not a cutting weapon. A similar Japanese weapon jitte (sp?) Was used in later periods by Japanese police as a riot baton but also to disarm swordsman. And I think in a way that speaks to what the sai was also meant for. Is a weapon largely meant to subdue and disarm but not be outright lethal although it certainly can be lethal if need be with the point or a strike with one of those edges especially to the skull. Good video thank you I enjoyed it
I believe it is too... there was so much cross-cultural martial arts it's no surprise. And so much came from India and China and then spread out to places like that and Japan, etc.
@@jezah8142 I have a set from 15 years ago. Not the chrome plated but the rougher metal. They are really nice. Not sure how well balanced they are but I'm not an expert.
The old o es really ran the gamut IMO and based on the few pictures we have. So there were some that were billy clubs (in essence), and some were sharp pig stickers.
It’s not for stabbing or puncturing sai is literally used as like a baton and disarming weapon only which is why the two prongs at the sides it was also used for farming when the two prongs at the side were a lot closer together as sais are a blunt weapon
Yes, sometimes they were actually just tied to a staff, other times they or something very much like a sai was built in to a pole arm with a more permanent construction.
They did in some cases. Some old specimens are just pig stickers. Others are really a metal billy club. My guess is that the police (essentially) that used them tried to carry less lethal versions just like Western cops carried a wooden, rounded baton instead of a sword or large knife, which is way more effective.
@@ObjectHistory I like the blackjacks over billy clubs but yeah policing is different. I guess they wanted a weapon to defend against knives and hit people with non lethal like
@@ObjectHistory that's debatable. If a person's life isn't in danger they're better off fighting with their fists. If Ted bundy just picked you up hitchhiking you better have a shank. In other words self defense weapons are really for life threatening situations and then you want the most lethal weapon available.
I’m not aware of any evidence that they were. Unlike in Japan (typically at least), Okinawa did fight with shields- most famously in conjunction with a (very) short spear.
This is more of a police service weapon for daily carry. And large shields are an extremely inconvenient thing for everyday wear. If it came to some kind of riots, most likely these largest shields were taken from warehouses, but paired with swords - Tinbe and rochin.
If you're in the U.S. it will depend on state and local laws. Here in Texas they are not actually named in any statute but I'm sure you could be charged with it as an, "illegal club"... an umbrella term that they can use to nab you with for carrying any number of objects.
Picked up my first set of Sai more than 30 years ago... they quickly became one of my favorite weapons. Might have to pick up a new pair and see what I still remember. It's gonna be a bitch sorting through the junk on Amazon... Oh, and thumbs up on the video(s).
Appreciate it. They're fun to pick back up after a long time. Got mine just lying around the house where I can snatch them up whenever I have a minute now.
Well, Shureido (shureidousa.com) says there's are made in Okinawa and they have natural finish instead of that cheesy chrome that you see all over the place.
There's not a flail like controversy on the sai but it probably has an outsized footprint today because it gets lumped in w 'ninja' weapons in pop culture, yeah.
good collection!
Thanks
I got a single Sai years back and I just was amazed at how much fun it was
Nice.
Learned as much watching this a while back. Thanks
Glad to hear it.
@@ObjectHistory oh yeah. Thx again.
I'm not a practitioner of Okinawan martial arts but I do appreciate that the sigh is a very misunderstood weapon but also a very effective weapon for it was intended to do.
a lot of people think it's a dagger and it really isn't because it's not a cutting weapon.
A similar Japanese weapon jitte (sp?) Was used in later periods by Japanese police as a riot baton but also to disarm swordsman.
And I think in a way that speaks to what the sai was also meant for. Is a weapon largely meant to subdue and disarm but not be outright lethal although it certainly can be lethal if need be with the point or a strike with one of those edges especially to the skull.
Good video thank you I enjoyed it
Well said. Sorry I missed this comment until now.
@@ObjectHistory no problem thank you for sharing
Beautifull collection
I have a pair hand made by sensei Carbone out of Michigan. Amazingly balanced and a gorgeous weapon.
I need a pair of hand-made ones!
I wish I could find a pair that is shaped like this. All of the ones I've found are more angular.
Yes, wish there was more easily found variety in the market.
It's also a Filipino weapon, according to Daniel Inosanto.
Do you also extensively train Okinawan Hojo Undo? 🥋
I believe it is too... there was so much cross-cultural martial arts it's no surprise. And so much came from India and China and then spread out to places like that and Japan, etc.
Have some Peter Carbone Sai ..
I have a pair of peters sai, what do you think of them?
@@jezah8142 I have a set from 15 years ago. Not the chrome plated but the rougher metal. They are really nice. Not sure how well balanced they are but I'm not an expert.
@@rmcfee from my experience with them they're top heavy and got a decent weight to them
So instead of stabbing people with a really sharp end the Sai is used to stab (and puncture) humans with a somewhat blunt tip? Sounds hella painful.
The old o es really ran the gamut IMO and based on the few pictures we have. So there were some that were billy clubs (in essence), and some were sharp pig stickers.
@@ObjectHistory I guess it's a testament to the versatility of the sai design.
It’s not for stabbing or puncturing sai is literally used as like a baton and disarming weapon only which is why the two prongs at the sides it was also used for farming when the two prongs at the side were a lot closer together as sais are a blunt weapon
were they ever converted in to pole arms?
Yes, sometimes they were actually just tied to a staff, other times they or something very much like a sai was built in to a pole arm with a more permanent construction.
Any links I can buy legit ones from Okinawa? Thanks for the info
www.shureidousa.com/kobudo/sai.html
@@ObjectHistory thank you♡
why wouldn't they at least sharpen the point for stabbing?
They did in some cases. Some old specimens are just pig stickers. Others are really a metal billy club. My guess is that the police (essentially) that used them tried to carry less lethal versions just like Western cops carried a wooden, rounded baton instead of a sword or large knife, which is way more effective.
@@ObjectHistory I like the blackjacks over billy clubs but yeah policing is different. I guess they wanted a weapon to defend against knives and hit people with non lethal like
@@ObjectHistory so what's better a Sai or billy club? be a good episode
@@fattonyd232 That's what I think. And even self-defense oriented people often want a medium option vs the deadliest thing they can carry.
@@ObjectHistory that's debatable. If a person's life isn't in danger they're better off fighting with their fists. If Ted bundy just picked you up hitchhiking you better have a shank. In other words self defense weapons are really for life threatening situations and then you want the most lethal weapon available.
were they ever used with large shields?
I’m not aware of any evidence that they were. Unlike in Japan (typically at least), Okinawa did fight with shields- most famously in conjunction with a (very) short spear.
This is more of a police service weapon for daily carry. And large shields are an extremely inconvenient thing for everyday wear. If it came to some kind of riots, most likely these largest shields were taken from warehouses, but paired with swords - Tinbe and rochin.
1:52 thats just awesome
As long as we are on karate weapons how bout a video on nunchaku?
Definitely. I'll do all the karate weapons. It's weird that it's taken so long since I actually train with them all the time.
So are these legal to carry or what
If you're in the U.S. it will depend on state and local laws. Here in Texas they are not actually named in any statute but I'm sure you could be charged with it as an, "illegal club"... an umbrella term that they can use to nab you with for carrying any number of objects.
Object History thanks for the response. Peace.
Picked up my first set of Sai more than 30 years ago... they quickly became one of my favorite weapons. Might have to pick up a new pair and see what I still remember.
It's gonna be a bitch sorting through the junk on Amazon...
Oh, and thumbs up on the video(s).
Appreciate it. They're fun to pick back up after a long time. Got mine just lying around the house where I can snatch them up whenever I have a minute now.
Could you please point me in the right direction of the good stuff not the junk that isn't 57 bucks?
Well, Shureido (shureidousa.com) says there's are made in Okinawa and they have natural finish instead of that cheesy chrome that you see all over the place.
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What dojo do you go to?
I take Goju Ryu and kobudo directly with my sensei who no longer runs a dojo.
I thought they were more or less fictitious
No, they were definitely carried and used. There's plenty of controversy about their origin but not about their existence as far as I know.
Object History I knew they existed but figured they were Way more common in pop culture than irl like the flail
There's not a flail like controversy on the sai but it probably has an outsized footprint today because it gets lumped in w 'ninja' weapons in pop culture, yeah.
The Rondel Dagger is the puncture function that Sai leave to be desired. Rare square edge, flutted blade sai, could do some lancing.
Money
These types of weapons come from china
I agree. I've seen the Chinese original called a Cha but don't know if that's accurate. They seemed thicker and less pointy.