With one swift motion and a clean cut opening mail has never been easier

Each time I do one of these blog posts I learn a lot about the origin of our wide variety of products, and learning about the Sai Sword was no different.

History

Historically the Sai sword is said to be China's contribution to a "poor farmer's weapon," created as a three-pronged tool, with the longest prong in the centre, used to dig, and to cut and collect agriculture.

Later becoming a logical choice for a defensive weapon, and being imported to Japan in the 1400s by the peasants of Okinawa, the Sai swords were abused as the Okinawan Feudal Lords became skilled at using common agricultural tools as self-defense weapons, which was later integrated into their secret martial arts training. In ancient Japan, a variation of the Sai, known as a Jutte, was often used by feudal police in order to disarm and control criminals. The Jutte was used as a single weapon, often referred to as the sword breaker, effective for trapping enemy swords and weapons, with the ability to snap a sword blade.

Mythology

The Sai sword has been depicted in many mythological stories such as Buddhism and Hinduism. It is typically seen as a weapon of power and prestige.

In Budddhism, the sword, referred to by the Sanskrit term, meaning "the hard or mighty one," was said to symbolize impenetrableness, and indestructible state of Enlightenment of Buddha; the Tibetan version means "indestructible hardness or brilliance like a diamond," which cannot be cut or broken--a symbol of Varjayana Buddhism.

In Hindusim, the Sai sword is depicted as the chief weapon by the Vedic 'King of Gods,' Indra. The weapon was said to have been created from the bones of the great Rishi Dadhichi, who was decapitated by Indra in sacrifice. His skull bones gave Indra the most powerful of weapons, with which he defeated many enemy Demons.

Martial Arts

The Sai sword was also adopted in to different forms of martial arts, typically seen as a training tool in Japanese Jujitsu. Useful for trapping and blocking enemy attacks, the blade or truncheon part of the Sai sword, the hilt, is also used as a method to strike the opponent. Developed in Asia, the Sai sword is also associated with Karate and Okinawan Kobudo.

With all this amazing history it's hard not to get lost in the facts, and with so many stories and version of the Sai sword, its kind of hard not to want one of these letter openers as well.

We have a wide variety of sword letter openers on our website, but the Elektra Mini Sai sword letter opener really stands out. It makes opening envelopes a lot easier. It's created exactly like the weapon used by Jennifer Garner in the action-packed film "Elecktra;" and lets face it, it also makes opening mail way cooler.

Whether you are a knight at the round table, or a super-hero daredevil, we've got a sword letter opener for all types of swordsman or woman. Visit our website now to get yours!

For more information on Sai Sword techniques, visit http://www.blackbeltwiki.com/sai-techniques.