Discussions about Isshinryu - Throwing the Sai

 

 Old photo of Shimpo Matoyshi throwing sai into a tree.

When Charles Murray was training at Agena back in 1972 he once visited a Goju Dojo. Prior to that class he obseerved the students taking turns throwing a sai onto a standing tree, attempting to stick the sai every time.

 

Victor Donald Smith

This goes back to something Sherman Harrill once told me, where originally the sai throw was toward the oppnents torst in Kusanku Sai, but it was changed into the ground for group safety.

 

Richard Collins

 If you did throw the sai it would eventually ruin the point of the sai.

 

Victor Donald Smith

There might have been sai for training, and other sai for use. Just a thought.

 

 

Kitsune Shin

I think the idea is to throw into someone's foot. I have interpreted that as a safe target as it is difficult for an opponent to catch and if it hits the foot, you have a better chance of getting away (karate ni sente nashi). Throwing to the head or body is viable, but might incur more risk if your opponent catches or deflects the sai. The thought of having a third sai is nice, but since they typically come in pairs, I question whether this is a likely scenario. If you only have two, throwing one at an opponent who could catch it would take your advantage to a disadvantage, right? I guess this is all speculation, but if I was going to throw one of my Sai, it would be to escape a superiorly armed opponent. The foot seems like a better target to me. Just me thinking outloud.

 

Victor Donald Smith

What was told to me the throw was originally into the body to stop them, In reality it would be risky throwing at the foot, a very small target, where the torso is much larger. But just repeating what I was told, the days are long gone when anyone will throw a sai for defense, IMO> Also sai catching is a risky business right up there with catching arrows with your teeth, it seems to me.

 

Eric Holsinger

The foot is a very difficult target to hit. You'd have to be nearly precognitive to know where an opponent's foot would be by the time the sai got there. And if you miss you just put the sai right at their feet for an easy pickup and go. Throwing it at the torso if missed at least the sai would land a few feet away. Sai aren't very easy to catch mid air. Deflecting is far more probable, and that is a pretty dangerous thing to try to do. It makes sense that the feet was used in kata practice for safety. Wrapping the index finger around the prong was done to protect the wood floors of the dojo so Okinawans clearly had a willingness to make unpractical modifications to technique to make practice easier. Also the throwing technique wouldn't need to be changed much to hit the torso which in my opinion is a far more practical target.