History Main / SaiGuy

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16684194080.75802900 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.

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[[quoteright:250:[[ComicBook/{{Elektra}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/elektra_say_guy.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:250:Elektra sai-zing up her target.]]
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-> ''"I was dropping the Foot like flies with my sais!"''
-->-- '''Raphael''', ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'', "[[Recap/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012S1E22PulverizerReturns The Pulverizer Returns!]]"

The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sai_(weapon) sai]] was originally [[GardeningVarietyWeapon an agricultural tool]], but then became an ImprovisedWeapon [[StockNinjaWeaponry often associated with]] {{Ninja}}.

In real life, sai are very rarely actually bladed weapons, and are primarily blunt batons used in defense in order to disarm and/or break blades. In fiction, however, the middle prong (or all three) is usually sharpened into a makeshift dagger. (''Sometimes'' TruthInTelevision, but not normal practice.) Unusually, DualWielding a pair of sai ''is'' TruthInTelevision. The common depiction of turning them into a punch-dagger type weapon with the middle prong held between the middle and ring finger decidedly is ''not'' TruthInTelevision, as it would be an absurdly useless way to wield a sai.

Website/TheOtherWiki has more details on the historical use of the sai [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sai_%28weapon%29 here.]]


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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Sun-Sun's [[EmpathicWeapon zanpakutou]], though she never uses them in combat. They do contribute to her Chinese-inspired character design.
* ''Manga/{{Gamaran}} Shura'': after losing his arm to Iori, [[PsychoForHire Raio]] returns to the fray with three-pronged sai-like weapon he calls "Vajra" embedded in his wrist, meant to be a defensive weapon to attack enemies who escapes his primary weapon, the [[WhipSword urumi]] "Shiva".
* In ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'', one of Freya's Valkyries [[note]] the only official weapon users in Ragnarok[[/note]] uses them. They don't help much against [[ImplausibleFencingPowers Shigure]].
* Kayura in ''Anime/RoninWarriors'' wields a pair with extendable middle blades halfway between swords and daggers, depending on the shot.
* The main weapon of the Ryukyu-born Mugen in ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'' is a sai with a double-edged blade instead of a middle prong.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ComicBook/{{Elektra}}'s WeaponOfChoice in the ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'' comics. And to prove they're dangerous, [[Film/{{Elektra}} movie portrayer]] Creator/JenniferGarner confessed she cut her leg with one on the set.
** In [[ComicBook/DaredevilChipZdarsky Chip Zdarsky's run]], Elektra takes Matt's place as Daredevil while he [[spoiler:serves out a prison sentence]]. Reflecting her respect for Matt's code against killing, Elektra's new sai are blunt weapons, making them more accurate to real life sai.
%%* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' sometimes uses these.
%%* One of the preferred weapons of Zaran the Weapons Master in the MarvelUniverse.
* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': Raphael's WeaponOfChoice in almost every version is a pair of sai. ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'' is the first where he uses them as intended, as a grappling/disarming weapon, rather then as a stabbing dagger.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/CityCops'' have Creator/CynthiaRothrock's FBI agent fighting various Yakuza mooks with twin sais, before defeating the katana-wielding Yakuza leader by locking his lade with her sais and knocking him out as he tries retrieving it.
* In both ''{{Film/Daredevil}}'' and the ill-regarded spin-off ''{{Film/Elektra}}'', Elektra makes frequent use of a pair of them, befitting their status as her comic-book WeaponOfChoice. In a behind-the scenes interview on the DVD release, Creator/MichaelClarkeDuncan talked enthusiastically about watching Creator/JenniferGarner practising relentlessly with them between takes.
* ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'': Neo used his powers to pull two sais off the wall and fight with them during his battle with the Merovingian's minions. He ends up using them to pin one of his assailants to the wall.
* ''Film/TheMummyReturns'': A {{Flashback}} has a duel between two women DualWielding these, which doesn't make sense as sais originated from Asia, not Egypt. And, more specifically, sai were a rice-agricultural implement, and the Nile has always been primarily wheat territory.
* ''Film/ShaolinDaredevils'': The main villain of the film, General Han, uses twin sai in his battle against the Daredevils in the film's climax.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/DeadliestWarrior'': The Yakuza used sais as one of their close-combat weapons. In the fight simulation, the Yakuza leader carries a pair alongside his Walther P38 pistol, and is able to stand his ground against two knife-wielding Mafia members.
%%* [[Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger Mele]] / [[Series/PowerRangersJungleFury Camille]].
* In ''Series/Supergirl2015'', the villain Rhea owns a pair of sais with kryptonite blades.
* Ace Killer famously wields a two-pronged Sai in his debut episode in ''Series/UltramanAce'', but for some reason, never wielded it again in any of his subsequent appearances outside video games.
* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'''s sidekick Gabrielle makes a point of fighting principally with a pair of Sai, starting in Season 5 and lasting until the end of the show. The exclusivity of the weapon to Gabrielle made them all the more cool.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* ''Podcast/RedPandaAdventures'': Japanese-Canadian superhero the Grey Fox uses sai as her weapon of choice and it's strongly implied that she isn't shy about using them with deadly force. When she's recruited into the Danger Federation, a collection of Canadian Superheroes defending the homefront during World War II, this clashes with the Red Panda's preference towards ThouShaltNotKill. However, because the Grey Fox is his wife the Flying Squirrel's best friend and she wanted her on the team, the Red Panda equips her with what the Grey Fox names Stingers. They're described as the same size and weight as her sai, but pack an electric punch she can use to take down opponents non-lethally.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/AdventureQuestWorlds'' also uses them as daggers, the one kind of weapon that can be dual-wielded. They're quite popular with Ninjas.
%%* Used by Vetkin in ''VideoGame/BattleRealms''.
* Wang Yi from ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors 7'': XL, though they are called "Trishula". They are held in a reverse grip, always used in pairs and are short-ranged but fast.
* The WarriorPrincess heroine from ''VideoGame/AnEgyptianTale'' use twin sais as her default weapon, as well as having the ability to throw sais as a ranged attack.
* ''VideoGame/GuildWars'', starting with ''Factions'', has sais as a type of dagger for the Assassin profession.
* Monsoon from ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' wields a pair of sais called "Dystopia." This fits his {{Ninja}}-like fighting style.
* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'':
** In all of her appearances in the franchise, Mileena fights using a pair of sai. They are a way to set her apart from her PaletteSwap counterparts, Kitana and Jade, who favor the CombatHandFan and staff, respectively.
** ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance'' introduced Li Mei, a female Outworld martial artist who used sai. Tellingly, Mileena was absent from the roster in this game and Li Mei ditched the sai in favor of a sword when Mileena returned in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'', once again wielding the sai as her signature weapons.
** ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'': Mileena is absent from the initial version of ''Mortal Kombat 11'', [[TheBusCameBack only becoming DLC]] in ''Ultimate'', but sai do still make an appearance as one of the three pieces of gear used by Kitana, alongside her mask and fan. There is also a Modifier that can occur in the Towers of Time, Mileena's Favorite, which involves sai being thrown across the fightline.
* ''VideoGame/NinjaShadowOfDarkness'', fitting its theme, has the Sai as a weapon available for the titular ninja. It's short in range, but can land faster hits compared to katanas or heavy axes.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
%%* Mitzi of ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' favors sais.
* Moé the ninja girl from ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' Her three brothers use a [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles sword, nunchucks, and bo staff]] respectively.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Mai from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has a collapsible dagger shaped like a sai, although she never gets the chance to strike anyone with it.
%%* Cobrax of the Nindjas in ''WesternAnimation/{{Mixels}}'' wields a pair.
* The Guardian in ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' has a pair of sai in his arsenal, and is good enough to match a spear-wielding Jack with them.
* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles:'' This is Raphael's WeaponOfChoice. In one case, he [[ImprobableAimingSkills launches one]] at the cord of a washing machine to unplug it.
%%* A Sai ''Gal'' is Cheshire from ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice''.
[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Real Life]]
%%* Creator/ChrisColfer. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZl1QBOW5X0 True story.]]
%%[[/folder]]

%%* Monsoon from ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance''.

* The WarriorPrincess heroine from ''VideoGame/AnEgyptianTale'' use twin sais as her default weapon, as well as having the ability to throw sais as a ranged attack.

Wiki/TheOtherWiki has more details on the historical use of the sai [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sai_%28weapon%29 here.]]

** ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'': Mileena's [[PutOnABus not in the initial version]] of ''Mortal Kombat 11'', [[TheBusCameBack only becoming DLC]] in ''Ultimate'', but sai do still make an appearance as one of the three pieces of gear used by Kitana, alongside her mask and fan. There is also a Modifier that can occur in the Towers of Time, Mileena's Favorite, which involves sai being thrown across the fightline.

** In all of her appearances in the franchise, Mileena fights using a pair of sai. They are a way to set her apart from her PaletteSwap counterparts, Kitana and Jade, who favor the CombatHandFan and MartialArtsStaff, respectively.

** In all of her appearances in the franchise, Mileena fights using a pair of sai. They are a way to set her apart from her PaletteSwap counterparts, Kitana and Jade, who favor the CombatHandFan and SimpleStaff, respectively.

%%* ''Series/DeadliestWarrior'': The Yakuza used Sais as a weapon.

* The Guardian in ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' has a pair of sai in his arsenal, and is good enough to match a spear-wielding Jack with it.