[FSCJedi]

Just sitting here and wondering to myself. Figured I'd post about it.

So do any of you all use 'em? I've got a pair that use to be sized properly for me (i.e. 1" past my elbow when held in a reverse grip with one of the tines in the crotch of my thumb/pointer-finger) but aren't any more, and I'm looking to get a new pair of combat-worthy ones. From what I've learned of them (books and practical hands-on training), they are an excellent defensive weapon with several offensive applications.

Can anyone point me to a site that might make custom sai, or just a site that has a good selection? I prefer round sai over the octagon ones. The octagon ones just seem to dent and burr easier (for obvious reason). Thanks for any help you all can offer. I won't be surprised if I don't get many replies. Heck, I've only gotten a few actually useful ones on a similar topic on an actual "martial arts" message board. :rolleyes:

[CWL]

double-tap

[CWL]

Are you talking about aluminum practice ones or real ones made of steel? Steel shouldn't burr. Saw a martial arts meet where a guy was 'wowing' everyone with the speed of his technique, then it turned out that he was using aluminum ones.

The hexagonal/octagonal ones are better for real defensive/offensive applications because they provide edges to focus the energy of your strikes, good for breaking blades and bones.

Here's a Jitte from Japan (at least 200 yrs old), wide base which narrows before expanding out to ~ 1/2" diameter at the tip, you can see & feel the lethality of the design. Heavy sucker too, don't think this one would dent or burr.

[gun-fucious]

http://store.yahoo.com/tigerstrike-martial-arts/sai.html

[Drjones]

I recently bought a pair for $12.

Here's a thread I started on this exact same tool: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2322378#post2322378

Basically, you can pay $12-50 for the exact same thing, just different markup, or you can pay over $200 for higher quality ones.

You decide what you need. All the links are in the above thread.

Good luck and let me know what you decide on.

:)

[JShirley]

CWL:

And, you can stop sword wielders without spilling their blood. ;)

John

[Yahmanin]

Shureido (www.karatedo.co.jp/shureido/english/e_kobudo/e_kobu.html) make quality gear, but you'll pay for it.

[JShirley]

Welcome to THR.

John

[The Tengu]

Sai are good as traditional martial arts weapons, and studying them is important to preserving a part of martial arts history.

But as far as modern, practical application goes, the sai are not the best blunt weapons available to us.

[JShirley]

NO! ;) You mean they aren't better for carrying concealed than a lightweight ASP? Besides, it would just be...wrong for a Tengu to teach us how to wield a weapon with such a simple manual of arms. :)

The important thing is to train with a weapon type, then be able to translate that to current tools.

John

[The Tengu]

NO! You mean they aren't better for carrying concealed than a lightweight ASP? Besides, it would just be...wrong for a Tengu to teach us how to wield a weapon with such a simple manual of arms. You're right. Instead, I'll teach you how to use a short length of bamboo to fight off a ravenous beast in a dream and then I will disappear into the trees.

From that dream you will awake and invent the ASP from spare parts in your garage.

[JShirley]

;)