THE MANJI SAI

Most martial artists, especially those who are into kobudo, are familiar with the sai. Few, however, know the sai’s combat cousin, the fighting implement known as the manji sai.

Made of steel or iron, the sai has a pointed shaft that’s separated from a handle by two tines (yoku in Japanese). At the end of the handle is a pommel, which can have a variety of shapes. In contrast, the manji sai has a metal shaft that’s pointed at both ends. The handle constitutes about one-third of the length of the weapon and is marked by a tine and a hook (also called a yoku).

The name “manji sai” comes from the shape suggested by the forward-facing tine and is the name of the familiar Buddhist symbol that’s often confused with a swastika, which is actually a backward form of the manji. The manji sai is also known as the — translates as “piercing hand” but is more appropriately thought of as “piercing implement.” It refers to the weapon’s use as a piercing device. (Note, however, that some researchers use the terms manji sai and nunti sai to distinguish between two variations of the weapon.)