Weapons Rant - Sai

I felt another rant coming on, so instead of frothing at the mouth, I decided to provide anyone who cares to read this with a lesson on the weapons used by the TMNT.

Today's lesson will be on the Sai. There are some things about Raphael's weapon of choice that I would like to point out, including the fact that he has to be extremely talented and versatile to use this weapon, as it is considered a difficult weapon to truly master.

Please note that this information was taken from Wikipedia and cross referenced with several other online weapons sites.

"The sai is a traditional Okinawan martial arts weapon. The basic form of the weapon is that of a pointed, dagger-shaped metal baton, with two curved prongs called yoku projecting from the handle. It is generally used in pairs. There are many types of sai with varying prongs for trapping and blocking.

The sai is typically used in pairs, with one in each hand. Five kata are commonly taught, including two kihon kata. The style includes a variety of blocks, parries, strikes, and captures against attackers from all directions and height levels. Use of the point, knuckle and central bar is emphasized, as well as rapid grip changes for multiple strikes and blocks.

The sai's utility as a weapon is reflected in its distinctive shape. It is primarily used as a striking weapon for short jabs into the solar plexus but it also has many defensive techniques.

There are several different ways of wielding the sai, which give it the versatility to be used both lethally and non-lethally. One way to hold it is by gripping the handle with all of the fingers and pinching the thumb against the joint between the handle bar and the shaft. This allows one to manipulate the sai so that it can be pressed against the forearm and also help avoid getting the thumb caught in the handle when blocking an attack. The change is made by putting pressure on the thumbs and rotating the sai around until it is facing backwards and the index finger is aligned with the handle.

The knuckle end is good for concentrating the force of a punch, while the long shaft can be wielded to thrust at enemies, to serve as a protection for a blow to the forearm, or to stab as one would use a common dagger. In practice, some prefer to keep the index finger extended in alignment with the center shaft regardless of whether the knuckle end or the middle prong is exposed. The finger may be straight or slightly curled. Used in this way, the other fingers are kept on the main shaft, with the thumb supporting the handle.

The grips described above leverage the versatility of this implement as both an offensive and a defensive weapon. Both grips facilitate flipping between the point and the knuckle being exposed while the sai is held in strong grip positions."

The metal construction of the sai makes it an excellent defensive weapon against the Japanese samurai sword, or a long range weapon such as the bo. Additionally, the sai can be used as a thrown weapon, with a lethal range of about 20-30 feet. Throwing the sai is typically used against an opponent with a long range weapon.

One of the main things I want to point out with this rant is that the sai is not a bladed weapon. I repeat, it is not bladed. If it were, the wielder would cut his hands and fingers to ribbons while manipulating it. In addition, the saki which is the tip or point of the sai is usually blunt and not pointed. Because the tip is blunt, it is not a weapon that can be used to 'pin' a subjects wrists to a rock wall, although the imagery is very sexy. It was traditionally used to pin an enemy's foot to the sandy Okinawan ground.

Sorry for the rant folks, some things just drive me crazy, one of which is factual correctness. Raph's weapons don't have to have blades or a pointy tip to be dangerous as hell, and considering how much power he could put into driving a sai into a person, we're talking skewer city.

And yes, he could trap a katana in the prong (or wing) of his sai and snap that puppy in half. In a one on one fight with an enemy, he wouldn't bother. He'd just launch his weapon and drop that sucker where he stood. Just sayin'.