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| Adam (left) trains with Sensei Patrick using sai during kobudo classes in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona. |
The Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Renmei (西洋少林流空手古武道) system incorporates many Okinawan and Modern weapons into its kobudo (古武道) system. The sai (釵) is an example of one ancient weapon that has some modern equivalents found in many garden shops. The sai is considered to be an Okinawan weapon and in Seiyo Martial Arts we have a group of six kata (形). These kata all employ a variety of blocking, striking, hooking, choking, capturing and throwing techniques and assist the Shorin-Ryu martial artist with proper application, stances and ma (timing).
Thus after one learns to use the sai, they must learn the bunkai (分解) of all techniques in the kata and learn them with full power and focus. This requires considerable expertise as it is easy to hurt one's knuckles during bunkai because of the nature of the weapon. But after considerable training, one tends to block out the pain of being struck on the knuckles. Our kata are simply numbered as Sai Shodan (釵初段形), Sai Nidan (釵二段形), Sai Sandan (釵三段形), Sai Yondan (釵四段形), Sai Godan (釵五段形) and Sai Rokudan (釵六段形).
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| The Sai - sketch by Soke Hausel |
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| Dr. Adam trains with Sensei Borea (retired air force pilot) during kobudo class. |
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| Eric Hausel, trains with sai at the University of Wyoming Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Club in Laramie. |
