I’m writing a story in which one of the characters uses sai as her main weapon. In order to understand the weapon and write more realistically, I bought some on Amazon. I must say, they totally exceed expectations. They’re really cool!
Couple impressions: They are heavier than they look in movies, but they are also somewhat easier to handle than you might think. Here is my totally non-expert opinion on why they’d be good in actual street combat, plus some miscellaneous advantages as a weapon, in no particular order:
- They are inexpensive. I bought two pairs and was impressed with the quality of both. They were each about $50. I’ve watched some videos go on about choosing sai and quality and whatnot, but both pairs impressed me as being fairly indestructible. Thus, you can get (apparently) maximally sufficient quality for a low price.
= advantage over pricey weapons like swords
- They are fairly small (smaller than I had thought. I followed YouTube video advice and got 19.5", which does seem right for my arm length [arm length + 1"]) and genuinely portable. You could put them in a belt or stick them in a car (pocket behind seat, etc.) without them being too conspicuous.
= advantage over large, conspicuous weapons like the bo staff
- They also serve as a shield.
You can guard with one or both or strike with one or both. The ability to use one as a shield while striking with the other seems fairly rare among martial arts weapons.
= advantage over many weapons
- Blunt (hard to hurt yourself, low-maintenance, and less lethal if you want them to be)
I put these factors here because they all arise from bluntness. You don’t have an edge with which to cut yourself or that could get damaged in a fight. Also, while these could easily be lethal, they don’t necessarily have to be. If I had to defend myself in a street fight, I would not want to kill the other guy. Just gain the advantage and get away. That is hard to control if you’re using a bladed weapon (any hit could be lethal).
= advantage over edged weapons
- Indestructible
As I said, I was impressed with the quality. These are solid-seeming chunks of metal with no visible welds. The one pair that is polished (the other is black) has casting marks on the yoku and seems to be one solid cast piece. I can’t imagine any street fighting scenario that could destroy one of these. In contrast, a bo has the advantages of bluntness stated above but could in theory be broken. A nunchaku cord could break, etc.
= advantage over many weapons
- Throwable
Sai technique includes throwing.
= advantage over many weapons
- Yoku (curved cross guards) protect hands.
= advantage over many weapons
- Formidable, credibly dangerous appearance.
This is a pretty subjective factor, but if you see the real thing, they look even more badass then they do in movies and whatnot (where they already look badass). A guy coming at me with a bo would be scary, but these would be scarier. A guy coming at me with a sword would seem like a joke, but these would not. Let me explain this last one. Yes, a guy serious with a sword would indeed be terrifying, but they seem on the surface a little renfair, a little absurd. Sai do not. I think the thought would be, “Oh fuck this guy really knows martial arts and shit!” Thus, in a street fight, I think you could scare a lot of people off, especially if they are unarmed.
Some disadvantages:
- Limited reach.
= disadvantage over bo, many swords, three-section staff, chain-based weapons, etc.
- Blunt.
Being blunt also has disadvantages, of course. Drawing blood can be an important psychological factor, even if the wound is not serious. You can also theoretically kill quicker if that’s your goal.
Those are the main disadvantages I see.
OK, the above are my inexpert ponderings. The thing about sai is that, owing to the shortness and simplicity of the word, it is a bit hard to google facts about them, and information online about them seems fairly limited. Real-world info, that is. Sure, you can learn about them in martial arts dojo context, but I have yet to read any account of someone who used them in a real fight. I’d love to hear stories if you have them (whether your own or links).
What are your thoughts on sai and how they’d fare in a fight? How would they stack up against a bo, for instance? I was watching a video with a guy doing wicked bo spins, and I don’t even know how you’d attack such a person with sai.
How would sai do versus a sword? nunchaku? three-section staff? and so on?
I eagerly await your opinions, as I have no idea myself and am quite curious. Thanks!