Kyan No Sai is not a traditional Isshin-ryu kata. I have however seen master Shimabuku perform this kata on 8mm film, so it does have Isshin-ryu roots. Some of the techniques in this kata found their way into Kusanku-No-Sai. It is required kata for the AOKK student and is an excellent introduction to the weapon for beginning students.
Note: Remember the sai is an extension of the hand, and the weapon protects us we do not protect the weapon.
Pattern:
Most elementary kata have a distinct pattern. This kata is performed in a “T’ pattern.
Step-1. Bow
Bow in the traditional Isshin-ryu manner with both sai inserted into your obi. (belt)
Series-1
Step-2. Bilateral strikes to the attacker’s jaw line.
Reach across your body and pull the left sai with the right hand and hold it head high.
Reach across your body and pull the right sai with the left hand and hold it head high.
Note: This is technique is similar to Iai the art of drawing the sword. This is a first response to an attack. The faster you pull a strike with the weapon the more likely you will survive the encounter.
Step-3. Retreat and low block.
Step back CCW into Kiba-dachi or Horse-Riding Stance by pivoting on the right leg and moving left leg.
Twin low block
Note: Sometimes a retreat is a good idea. Moving backwards creates distance and can take the sting out of an attack. It also gives you time to prepare your counterattack.
Note: The sai block the attack while the body is moving backwards. The sai position is important. Notice how the sai protect the forearms.
Note: Even though your body is turned sideways your head is looking forwards.
Note: Stepping backwards hides the body’s centerline targets and gives the attacker a limited target area. This technique is especially effective against pokes and thrusts.
Step-4. Turn back to the forwards position into a left foot forward Seisan Dachi:
Horizontal strike left.
Step-5. Step forward into a right Seisan Dachi
Horizontal strike right.
Step-6. Step forward into left Seisan Dachi:
Horizontal strike left.
Step-7. Shuffle step forward into Left Foot Forwards Seisan Dachi.
Left: low block
Right: vertical punch
Left: vertical punch
Series-2
Step-8.Turn 180˚ into Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi:
Right: Horizontal Strike
Note: Bring the right sai in front of your body CCW around behind the neck and strike left with prongs vertical
Step-9. Step forward into a Left Foot Forward Seisan Dachi:
Left: Horizontal Strike
Step-10. Step forward into a Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi:
Right: Horizontal Strike
Step-11. Shuffle step forward in Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Right: Low Block
Left: Vertical Punch
Right: Vertical Punch
Series-3
Step-12. Pivot 90˚ CCW into Left Foot Forward Seisan Dachi Stance.
Left: High block
Step-13. Step into a Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi:
Right: Vertical Punch
Right: Outside Horizontal Middle block
Right: Inside Diagonal Strike across the body to the left.
Right: Outside Diagonal Strike right
Note: The Outside Diagonal Block defects a blow outside your body.
Note: The Inside Diagonal Block pushes the attackers’ blow across your body and outside your shoulders.
Step-14. Shuffle Step Forward Maintaining the Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Right: Low Block
Left: Vertical Punch
Right: Vertical Punch
Step-15. Shuffle step Forward Maintaining the Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Right: High Block
Step-16. Step Forward into a Left Foot Forwards Seisan Dachi:
Left: Middle Vertical Punch.
Left: Outside Horizontal Middle Block
Left: Inside Diagonal Strike across the body
Left: Outside Diagonal Strike
Step-17. Shuffle Step Forward Maintaining the Left Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Left: Low Block
Right: Vertical Punch
Left: Vertical Punch
Step-18. Shuffle Step Forward Maintaining the Left Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Left: High Block
Step-19. Step Forward into a Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi:
Right: Middle Vertical punch.
Right: Outside Horizontal Middle block
Right: Inside Diagonal Strike left
Right: Outside Diagonal Strike right
Step-20. Shuffle Step Forward Maintaining the Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Right: Low Block
Left: Vertical Punch
Right: Vertical Punch
Sreies-4
Step-21. Turn 180˚ into a Left Foot Forwards Seisan Dachi
Left: High Block
Note: The kata changes direction on this technique. You turn into the high block.
Step-22. Step Forward into a Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi:
Right: Vertical Middle Punch
Right: Outside Horizontal Middle block
Right: Inside Diagonal Strike across your body.
Right: Outside Diagonal Strike right
Step-23. Shuffle Step Forward Maintaining the Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Right: Low Block
Left: Vertical Punch
Right: Vertical Punch
Step-24. Shuffle Step Forward Maintaining the Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Right: High Block
Step-25. Step Forward into a Left Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Left: Vertical Punch
Left: Outside Horizontal Middle block
Left: Inside Diagonal Strike across your body
Left: Outside Diagonal Strike right
Step-26. Shuffle Step Forward Maintaining the Left Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Left: Low Block
Right: Vertical Punch
Left: Vertical Punch
Step-27. Shuffle Step Forward Maintaining the Left Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Left: High Block
Step-28. Step Forward into a Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Outside Horizontal Middle block
Inside Diagonal Strike left
Outside Diagonal Strike right
Step-29. Shuffle Step Forward in Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Low block right
Vertical punch left.
Vertical punch right.
Step-30. Step Back with the right leg and look over the right shoulder
Stack both of the sai on left hip
Step-31. Turn CCW into a Right Seisan Dachi in Direction the Kata Began
Right: Overhand Strike
Step-32. Step backwards with right leg CW into a horse stance:
Left: Outside block [Facing the same direction the kata began]
Step-33. Step forward CCW with the Right Leg into a Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Right: Thrust Punch with Prongs Vertical
Right: Roll the right sai over and down on the attacker’s wrist.
Step-34. Shuffle Forwards Remaining in Seisan Dachi
Right: Pull the sai backwards to your hip. [Still pointing forwards.]
Left: Punch using the butt of the sai. Hook the adversary’s weapon with the prongs of the sai and pull him/her forwards breaking their balance.
Right: Thrust the point of the sai forwards into your opponent’s soft tissue area.
Right: Low block moving the opponent’s weapon away from your body.
Step-35. Step Forward into a Right Foot Forward Seisan Dachi
Left: Thrust Punch with Prongs Vertical
Left: Roll the right sai over and down on the attacker’s wrist.
Step-36. Step Forwards into a Left Foot Forwards Seisan Dachi
Left: Pull the sai backwards to your hip. [Still pointing forwards.]
Right: Punch using the butt of the sai. Hook the adversary’s weapon with the prongs of the sai and pull him/her forwards breaking their balance.
Left: Thrust the point of the sai forwards into your opponent’s soft tissue area.
Left: Low block moving the opponent’s weapon away from your body.
Step-37. Shuffle Forward remain in Left Foot Forwards Seisan Dachi:
Right: Punch using the butt of the sai.
Left: Using the butt of the sai.
Step-38. Step Backwards with the Left Leg into Ready Position: