Wen Hsiu Quan

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to the next installment of my newly begun series of posts on my weapons. I know by now that most of my followers know what these are.  The Sai is most commonly associated with Okinawan martial arts, that are known to us today as Kobujutsu and Kobudo.  Had to do the Wolverine! :D This weapon, however, has a long history of being used in China. Thanks to Jesse Enkamp sharing his research on Karate's Chinese roots I have found that it was actually well known in Southern China. A number of Kung Fu Elitists who would not mind telling you that they study Mok Gar (Mok Family Style) will tell you that the Sai is known to them as the Tee Chek or Iron Ruler. The easiest Mandarin name that I have ever heard for the weapon is Cha- which is not to be confused with the Mandarin word for tea.  Researching this weapon's history is a tricky affair. You can run into somebody tell you th...

If it isn't fun you won't feel like doing it, right?

The Sai is a weapon which became known to the West when it was found being used on the Ryukyu Islands during the 1920's. Generally recognised as a "karate weapon" its techniques strongly resemble karate techniques. The Sai is a bludgeoning as well as a stabbing weapon, with prongs that are used to trap weapons. Although it can be used as a single weapon, the Sai is usually seen used in pairs. This allows for the practitioner to incorporate the teachings of Musashi's Nito Ryu- style of sword fighting. Twirling movements during form practice improves dexterity. Before thediscoveryof the Sai on the Ryukyu Islands the Samurai in Japan had a truncheon with a single prong called the Jutte . It is very likely that the techniques taught by karate schools nowadays would employ Jutte tecniques as well, especially when the weapon is used against a sword.