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The ''sai'' ( Japanese: , ; Chinese: 鐵尺, ) is a pointed melee weapon from
Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...
. It was historically utilized in martial arts such as
Okinawan kobudō , literally "old martial way of Okinawa", is the weapon systems of Okinawan martial arts. Etymology and definition Okinawan Kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "''old martial way of Okinawa''". It is a generic term coined in th ...
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 , literally "old martial way of Okinawa", is the weapon systems of Okinawan martial arts. Etymology and definition Okinawan Kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "''old martial way of Okinawa''". It is a generic term coined in th ...
and
karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...
reached international popularity in the mid-20th century.


History

Before the creation of the sai in
Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...
, similar weapons were already being used in other Asian countries including
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
,
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
,
Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...
,
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
, and
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
. Reprint
''Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts''
. New York; Tokyo: Kodansha International. .
The basic concept of this kind of weapon was brought to
Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...
over time from one or several of these places. 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 that may have spread along with
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
and
Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
into South-East Asia. The word ''trisula'' itself can refer to either a long or short-handled trident. In
Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...
, the ''sai'' was used by the domestic police (''ufuchiku'') to arrest criminals and for crowd control. Use of the ''sai'' in
Okinawan kobudō , literally "old martial way of Okinawa", is the weapon systems of Okinawan martial arts. Etymology and definition Okinawan Kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "''old martial way of Okinawa''". It is a generic term coined in th ...
was approved in 1668 by Moto Chohei, an Okinawan prince. Japan had a similar weapon, the ''
jitte A is a blunt melee weapon that was used by police in Edo-period Japan (1603–1868). In English-language sources, it is sometimes incorrectly spelled jutte, such as in Ikkaku-ryū juttejutsu. History In feudal Japan, it was a crime punishable ...
'', 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)

*'' Monouchi'', the metal main prong of the ''sai'', that is either round or faceted. *''
Saki Hector Hugh Munro (18 December 1870 – 14 November 1916), popularly known by his pen name Saki and also frequently as H. H. Munro, was a British writer whose witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories satirise Edwardian society and ...
'', the sharp point of the main prong. *'' 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 was a Japanese martial artist, born as in 1897 on Kume island in the Ryūkyū archipelago. Early life He was the second son in a family of three boys and one girl. He was placed for adoption as a child (not an uncommon practice in old Japan ...
, which has the direction of one of the side prongs reversed, causing the weapon to be reminiscent of a
swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍, ) is a symbol used in various Eurasian religions and cultures, as well as a few Indigenous peoples of Africa, African and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, American cultures. In the Western world, it is widely rec ...
(''manji''). *'' 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

The ''sai'' is a weapon typically wielded in pairs, with one in each hand. In modern Okinawan Kobudo, five ''
kata ''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practiced in Japanese martial arts ...
'' (choreographed patterns of movements in martial arts) are commonly taught, including two ''
kihon is a Japanese term meaning "basics" or "fundamentals." The term is used to refer to the basic techniques that are taught and practiced as the foundation of most Japanese martial arts. The practice and mastery of kihon is essential to all advance ...
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

*
Okinawan kobudō , literally "old martial way of Okinawa", is the weapon systems of Okinawan martial arts. Etymology and definition Okinawan Kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "''old martial way of Okinawa''". It is a generic term coined in th ...
* '' Nunti Bō'' *
Trident A trident (), () is a three- pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and historically as a polearm. As compared to an ordinary spear, the three tines increase the chance that a fish will be struck and decrease the chance that a fish will b ...
*
Trishula The ''trishula'' () is a trident, a divine symbol, commonly used as one of the principal symbols in Hinduism. It is most commonly associated with the deity Shiva and widely employed in his iconography. Etymology The name ''trishula'' ultimate ...


References


Further reading

*


External links


How to Use Sai Instructional Video

Mr. Yoong Swee Yin - Double Sai - Shuang Chai 雙 釵
��video {{Chinese weapons Tridents Weapons of Okinawa Weapons of Japan Weapons of China Weapons of Korea Weapons of Thailand