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.

One of the most recognizable of the kobudo karate weapons, Sai are one of the first Okinawan weapons birthed from the Asian martial arts. Designed as a weapon with both offensive and defensive capabilities, Sais have proven themselves versatile in various types of engagements.

What Is A Sai? The sai is a three-pronged weapon that looks similar to a small trident. As stated, this weapon is not a knife or sword as it does not have a blade. It is used to incapacitate an opponent by bludgeoning him or her, and can also be a defensive weapon to keep attacks away from the person.

Aug 19, 2021 · The sai (釵, lit. which means “Hairpin” in Japanese) looks something like a cross between a trident and a dagger. The three-pronged sai weapon is commonly used in ninjutsu and Kobudo, the Okinawan martial art that involves weapons.

It is a three-pronged weapon mostly used in Kobudo and means Hairpin in Japanese. However, the sai cannot be classified as a Japanese knife or sword, because it does not have a blade in it. A sai is typically made from stainless steel, with a long, needle-shaped prong in …

This article provides information on the practicality of the sai for self defense, its learning curve, historical background, legal aspects, martial arts that use the sai, and where to get your own sai for training.

Apr 20, 2020 · The Sai is a melee weapon developed in Okinawa. It resembles a smaller version of a pitchfork or trident. The Sai features two small parallel sideguards and has a length of around 53 cm (20.9 in). It is mainly used as thrusting weapon, but the blunt blade is also suited for clubbing strikes.

Sai (釵, chāi) is perhaps most commonly known in popular culture today as the featured weapon of choice by the comic book characters Raphael of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Elektra of Marvel Comics.

Difficult to define properly, the Sai is somewhat known as a short sword, but it is, in fact, closely related to a trident. It is a hand weapon with a central ‘blade’ between 15 and 20 inches in length and two forward-curved quillons.

Jul 4, 2024 · The architecture of the sai guides the blade into the yoke, while the swinging movement removes the subject’s hand from the sword. The outward rolling movement hurls the blade away, leaving the subject defenseless against the follow-up strike.