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SAI
Originally the Sai were used as a tool by Okinawa peasants to measure the distance between seeds in a crop. The Sai was poked into the ground and because of the forked shape it would leave three holes.
When it was poked again, the farmer would line up the first and last hole and thus have an evenly
spaced crop. After months and years of poking with this tool and flipping, resting, etc. a person could become
quite proficient in putting the small point of this karate weapon exactly where he wanted
it
As a weapon, Kokondo incorporates
the Sai as an extension to the empty hand techniques. It
is used in striking to augment the tsuki (punch), as protection against blocking other weapons, and when executed properly,
will deliver a devastating strike by flipping the tip out to the attacker.
Tonfa
Like the other Okinawan kobudo weapons, the tonfa was used as a working tool, before being a weapon. The tonfa was an
arm of a millstone for preparing grain, which could easily be removed.
The main part of the tonfa, the shaft, consists
of a large hardwood body, about 50 to 60 centimetres in length, and a smaller cylindrical grip secured at a 90 degrees angle
to the shaft, about 15 centimetres from one end.
Kokondo uses the tonfa as an extension to the empty hand techniques.
It can be used for striking, blocking, and to control the attacker with pressure point and joint
locks.
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