Sai Question

[Katie]

It is a shame that most places push people through the ranks. It's all about money, I suppose. The higher your rank, the more it costs to test, etc.

I spent 16 years training before I acieved black belt status. That's right....16 years. Up until the car accident took my good mobility away from me earlier this year, I practiced 5 nights a week in two different diciplines. I fought in tournaments when I HAD to...but that was never the reasoning, just a consequence of picking up Tae Kwon Do in a Dojang that required upper ranks to participate in at least one tournament a year.

Now I am slow and tired alot. I guess my time has passed in the martial arts arena. Time for the new adventures of being settled down and raising kids.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by Katie

Now I am slow and tired alot. I guess my time has passed in the martial arts arena.

Your time maybe has passed in the martial sports and tournament arena, but a martial art is much more than just gymnastics and fitness which is the least important part of the whole thing.

[Katie]

oh, sure, I know that....

I'm a much better person for the other pieces of the martial ways I was taught. (I just miss my gym time sometimes)

[KonstantinosK]

...I hear about raising children, I hear so much stuff around here and I have no idea how old is everybody...

[Katie]

its a pretty good mix...but I would say the vast majority are Late teens and early to mid 20's.

and my child rearing has yet to be determined.....it's just something I'm looking forward to in the future

[KonstantinosK]

oh ok.

I'm trying to learn some of you from here.

Well. Finally. Where can I find videos to download for practising sai?!!!

[Ecto Jedi]

Originally Posted by KonstantinosK

oh ok.

I'm trying to learn some of you from here.

Well. Finally. Where can I find videos to download for practising sai?!!!

I think the theme of the conversation has turned towards the fact that you shouldn't be learning to handle sais from some rinky-dink video.

[KonstantinosK]

Yeah true, but there is nobody here to teach sais you know...

So do you have a better option?!

[OA]

Yea, video learning can be good for some things: language, fitness/excercise, etc... I'm not sure if mastering sais would be a good one to learn from video...but i'm pretty sure there is video out there for that somewhere (there's a video on basically everything)...might can check ebay...

[Buslady]

Originally Posted by Kid A

And because most dojos are "store-front dojos", it absolutely isn't about the belts. If I finally got my black belt for the effort that almost all the other dan-bearers have to make, I would be ashamed of it.

around there maybe, but alot of them aren't here. Demura-sensei's certainly isn't a storefront.

There's this little storefront, probably the mot popular...I won't name it but it's pretty united in it's self defense....i guess..
but it's a dime a dozen, it's got the get a free gi with lessons all over it...kids go there all the time, most kids....it's the mcdonalds of the industry

well anyways...

back to the post...pint is you cannot learn a weapon without actually studying the art and having a sensei to show you what's what. you could hurt yourself going alone at it. I have 2 pair, i don't study(the fate of a busdriver, no time for my life) and i dont go playing like i know how to use them either (you guys should see the people on You tube...OMG! Idiots!) or go learn from a book or tape. (but i do know some history, what their uses are and the fact they're NOT a weapon for killing,sharp or any of that rubbish. Most for fic writing, i did research )
I recall a story of a guy who originally did the video thing, but then later took classes...the sensei had to get the guy to unlearn all the bad habits he gained by the video...i guess he was doing things wrong. The guy ended up like really high ranked and very very good at the art...not without years of training though.

[KonstantinosK]

Originally Posted by TMNTerminator

Yea, video learning can be good for some things: language, fitness/excercise, etc... I'm not sure if mastering sais would be a good one to learn from video...but i'm pretty sure there is video out there for that somewhere (there's a video on basically everything)...might can check ebay...

ebay...I forgot that!

[KonstantinosK]

...the sensei had to get the guy to unlearn all the bad habits he gained by the video...

That's...that's not good. (!)

[Ecto Jedi]

Originally Posted by KonstantinosK

That's...that's not good. (!)

No, doesn't sound like it.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by Buslady

There's this little storefront, probably the mot popular...I won't name it but it's pretty united in it's self defense....i guess..
but it's a dime a dozen, it's got the get a free gi with lessons all over it...kids go there all the time, most kids....it's the mcdonalds of the industry

Oh I never heard of such thing. That really sounds bad.

Originally Posted by Buslady

but i do know some history, what their uses are and the fact they're NOT a weapon for killing,sharp or any of that rubbish

What did you find out? As far as I know they are -naturally, as a kobudo weapon- tools primary agriculture, like for piercing holes in the earth to put seeds in. But that is just a guess, that has never been evaluated I think.
Also sai were found in the hands of ancient indian godstatues. Didn't really find out more than that.

[Buslady]

Originally Posted by Kid A

Oh I never heard of such thing. That really sounds bad.

What did you find out? As far as I know they are -naturally, as a kobudo weapon- tools primary agriculture, like for piercing holes in the earth to put seeds in. But that is just a guess, that has never been evaluated I think.
Also sai were found in the hands of ancient indian godstatues. Didn't really find out more than that.

I've heard the agriculture reference, that it poked holes in the ground for seed; invented when farmers were banned from using weapons. There was also the one that it was modeled off a lady's hairpin. And that similar designs of the sai were found all over the world, so it's not a uniquely Japanese weapon.
I'd hafta go back and look at the stuff I looked at again to remember but it was all pretty interesting. There is this kata clip, if i can find the link I'll post it. You'll love it.

Wow I found a new page that says the sai is NOT a farm tool...says china is the origins, same with 'chucks. interesting
i read chucks were originally the nose band of the horse bridle. i dunno...
*looks for more new stuff*

OMG now this is irrisponsible, lets sell them as a package deal!
http://www.martialartsmart.net/tckb18115h.html

more ramblings...

Im watching these kata...it seems there's no flow or smoothness to them, it all looks like some choppy elaborate dance with a stick (a bo kata)...it's like you see someone who's native to the art's country, like a Japanese dude performing a bo kata...it doesnt feel so rushed even though there may be some fast action, there's some style to it. I dunno...

WOOHOO! I found the clip

http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/013/002/index.html

Watch this guy, he doestn fly thru the kata like I've seen...he pauses between each move, there's nothing overly flashy but he's impressive. His movements are smooth and easy to watch. the guy is amazing.

[Ecto Jedi]

Originally Posted by Buslady

http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/013/002/index.html

Watch this guy, he doestn fly thru the kata like I've seen...he pauses between each move, there's nothing overly flashy but he's impressive. His movements are smooth and easy to watch. the guy is amazing.

Wow, that's pretty impressive. It strikes me though that you don't use the blades much, do you?

[Buslady]

Originally Posted by Ecto Jedi

Wow, that's pretty impressive. It strikes me though that you don't use the blades much, do you?

you think they're there to slice someone? they're not sharp

[Ecto Jedi]

Originally Posted by Buslady

you think they're there to slice someone? they're not sharp

Not really, no...It just struck me as odd. Why not just fight with sticks if the blade is just for show and tell?

[Buslady]

if you see them against an opponent, then you can see how they're really used. sticks dont have a catch on each side of the middle shaft to snag blades and bo...

Originally Posted by Ecto Jedi

Not really, no...It just struck me as odd. Why not just fight with sticks if the blade is just for show and tell?

[KonstantinosK]

Thank you Buslady!

You know...when I see someone "making moves" without an opponent...it's just dancing. 1-2-3, 1-2-3...I can't understand the real use of this "choreography".

I see them fighting with an...invisible guy and I really don't get it!