Master one of the Greatest Martial Arts Weapons of All

Sai is perhaps most commonly known in popular culture today as the featured weapon of choice by the comic characters Raphael of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Elektra of Marvel Comics "Daredevil". It is typically characterized as an Okinawan weapon, but China has its own special version.

It is widely accepted that the sai originated from mainland Asia several thousand years ago. Some view the sai as just an antique artifact to marvel at, but the sai as a martial arts tool is far from obsolete or just an image from fan fiction. It belongs to the family of baton weapons, and this type of weapon has continued to evolve through generations to become what we commonly see today in law enforcement.

The Sai is defensive and can block all barehand and weapon attacks. The concept behind such a weapon is having a light, blunt striking object that can be wielded in many different angles, grips, and positions. A nightstick's T-shaped design allows for many flipping options, as do the double prongs of the sai. Just like the sai, baton weapons are commonly seen in law enforcement because they offer a less-lethal option to subdue others. Simply put, the intention is not to kill. This is particularly useful for crowd control and one-on-one fights.

Given the very nature of its construction, any baton weapon can still deal a fatal blow. For sai particularly, stabbing attacks are quite dangerous because of its thin design. A sai's prongs can also be quite sharp and, when aggressively applied, can be used for gouging or clawing.

Sai techniques are highly practical and can transfer to any short rod or baton. 

Common targets are the hands, wrists, arms, and sometimes legs, as they are often in the right range of the sai. As mentioned, because the primary goal of sai is not to kill, torso and head strikes are less crucial. In many cases, the sai is most important for simply disarming an opponent.

The two sai can be utilized either simultaneously or by having one immediately follow the other. A common strategy is to counterattack at the exact same time an opponent attacks, as opposed to reacting afterward. Aside from being extremely time efficient, such counterattacks are the most effective because an opponent is less likely to expect an attack while on the offensive.

When attacking, there can often be a false sense of dominance or control, especially where overconfidence is involved. This strategy also follows the saying, "When my opponent does not move, I do not move. When my opponent moves, I move first."

Of course, the quote is not to be interpreted in a literal sense, as we cannot bend the rules of time. What it does mean is that although an opponent may engage you first, you should evade and conversely engage the opponent instead, all before the first move is even completed. The sai has an added advantage with its prongs because they are often used to guide, redirect, or temporarily immobilize an opponent's weapon to create the right opportunities for follow-up attacks.