釵受け Sai Uke (Blocks) Drill

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This set of Basic Sai Blocks is a set of Kobudo Kihon or basics. Kobudo is the use of traditional Okinawan Weapons including the sai (metal truncheon). This set of basic sai blocks is a good place to start working with the sai. This sai blocking drill is composed of three sets of blocks. There are five low blocks, four middle blocks and three high blocks practiced on both the left and right sides.

[Note: The photos below are freeze frames from the live action practice video so they are not as perfect as if they were specifically posed photos for each move.]

Sai Uke Freeze-Frame Step-by-Step Breakdown

Sai Uke is a kobudo Sai Kihon drill which focuses on three simple sets of basic Sai blocks, including low, middle and high blocks.

They are all done on the left side first and then they are all repeated on the right side. Only the left side is shown in the below freeze frames, but both are shown in the practice video.

Start each with L step forward into a L zenkutsu-dachi, pull back to L neko-ashi-dachi for next block. Keep cycling between those two stances. Do all on the left side first and then repeat all on the right side.

Return to the yoi position between each of the three sets: low, middle, and high.

Opening Sequence

A) Kiotsuke (attention): Stand at attention in Musubi-dachi with both Sai closed in L hand.

C) Yoi (ready position): Bring Sai in front of you. Take one closed in each hand. Bring hands down to the sides and step out to L soto-hachiji-dachi (like Pinan kata).

5 Sai Low Blocks

1) Closed low block stepping forward into L zenkutsu-dachi. Keep Sai against outside of outward turned forearm.

2) Open low block, deflecting to the rear, while pulling back into L neko-ashi-dachi.

3) Double closed low blocks with palms out, backs touching, knuckles down, while stepping forward into L zenkutsu-dach. Keep Sai to the outsides.

4A) Closed outside to inside low block. Scoop in and up in an arc, while pulling back into L neko-ashi-dachi.

4B) Sweep arm in/up/out to closed chest block with Sai on the outside of forearm, palm forward.

5) Double open crossed-X low blocks, while stepping forward into L zenkutsu-dachi. Front foot/hand on top.

4 Sai Middle Blocks

6) Closed chest block while stepping forward into L zenkutsu-dachi. Keep Sai outside of forearm.

7) Closed outside chest block while pulling back into L neko-ashi-dachi. Block from outside to inside, keeping Sai on inside of forearm.

8) Open chest block while stepping forward into L zenkutsu-dachi. Flip Sai out to the open position.

9A) Draw back to neko-ashi-dachi crossing arms, lead foot/hand in front.

9B) Then sink into double inside closed chest blocks. Block from inside to outside. Keep Sai outside of forearms.

3 Sai High Blocks

10) Closed high block while stepping forward into L zenkutsu-dachi. Keep Sai outside of forearm.

11) Open high block, deflecting to the rear while pulling back into neko-ashi-dachi. Angle Sai pointing downward over the opposite side shoulder. Arm/Sai form a roof shape.

12A) Cross high, lead foot/hand forward while stepping forward into L zenkutsu-dachi.

12B) Separate into double closed high blocks.

Closing Sequence

A) Kiotsuke (attention): L step in to Musubi-dachi while taking both Sai closed in L hand.

Sai Uke (Blocks) PDF Reference Sheet

The following PDF reference sheet is a distillation of all the moves in the drill to use as reference while learning and practicing the Sai drill. It is useful to help you remember what all the moves are until they are committed to muscle memory or for review to remember them after returning to the drill if it hasn’t been practiced in a while. I had created this reference sheet when I was first learning the drill myself. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.

Download Sai Uke (Blocks) Drill PDF Reference Sheet

Sai-Blocks-07-17-22

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-Renshi Mike Scaramozzino