The length of a sai is based on the length of your forearm. When you hang the sai from the V of your thumb (by one of the prongs), it should extend about a half and inch to an inch beyond your elbow. If you're able to try a pair of sai at a martial arts supply store, that's how you tell if they fit. If you really want to try before you buy, honbu might have a very limited selection of sai for sale. Call them, explain that you're a Kosho Pantano student, and ask them what they have. There are four consideration when choosing a pair of sai: size, shape, finish, and weight. Size If you want to order online, you need to measure the length of your forearm, "A" in the picture below. | Custom-made weapons * Crane Mountain--custom weapons * Howard's Feed and Wax-- the best thing out there for waxing bos and other barewood weapons. |
A plus 1" is the size of your sai. In other words, J is the "size" of your sai. A + 1" = J. B + 1" = K. If you can't get sai that are exactly A + 1", try to avoid going shorter than A. But if your only choice is >A + 2", go ahead and go shorter than A. (Children, especially should avoid going too longer than A+1" or 2", as length means weight, and heavy sai get a bit much for them to handle.) A general principle for people of average or better strength is that if a sai is a little too short it's actually harder to handle than one that's a little too long. I don't know why that it, but I've found it true and so have a few other people I've talked to. |
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For off-the-rack tonfa, the size you want is roughly A plus or minus one inch. My custom tonfa are A+1". |
