The Nidan version of the Sai Kata is more fluid and flowing than the Shodan version. It is assumed that your basic handing skills are sound so much of the focus of this Kata is on using the weapon for combat purposes. The Kata therefore makes extensive use of other non-weapon skills. This is intended to ensure you do not overlook the other weapons as your disposal simply because you hold some form of physical weapon in your hands.

You will also notice an increased focus on spinning skills and methods that allow the practitioner to move quickly and effortlessly from one sequence of movements to another. As a result this Kata has a much faster and flowing pace than the first Sai Kata.

This flowing style does not necessarily mean the Kata should always be performed at a rapid pace. Indeed, you can learn a lot by doing movements as slowly as possible. Like all Kata, practice this form at many different speeds so that you can carefully groom your movements yet alternately demonstrate the ability to rapidly flow from one activity to another.

You will find some proposed Bunkai in some of the notes. These notes are intended to suggest a purpose for the movement. You can and should consider alternate Bunkai for any movement in a Kata.

Sai Nidan Procedure

Step	Movement	Left Weapon	Right Weapon	Notes
Ichi	Begin with the standard Sai salutation.	Establish standard grip	Establish standard grip
Ni	Step R7 to form Migi Sochin Dachi F1	Issue Gedan Barai T1	Issue Age Uke T1	The blocks are delivered concurrently.
San	Step R6 to form Hidari Zenkutsu Dachi F1	Block with Morote Gedan Uke T1. The Monouchi of the right weapon should be placed over the Monouchi of the left weapon. Both weapons cross to form a V shape oriented T1.		The Tsume of both weapons should be oriented vertically.
Yon	Step forward R7 to form Migi Sochin Dachi F1	Maintain the weapon in its current location relative to your center as you shift your stance.	Strike with Migi Yokomen Uchi T1	You might consider that the left weapon has entrapped a Jo or similar weapon.
Go		Maintain the weapon position but twist it slightly CW.	Perform a wrist outturn spin and then strike with Gedan Sai Te Uchi T5.	This sequence might be used to disarm someone using a Jo or similar weapon.
Roku	Step forward R5 to form Migi Sochin Dachi F3	Press the weapon down and forward.	Convert to a standard grip and establish an effective guard position	This sequence might dislodge the weapon from the hand that was struck in the previous step.
Nana		Slightly retract the weapon and convert to a standard grip as you position the weapon in an effective guard position.	Deliver a powerful Gedan Uchi T1.	This might be used to ensure the opponent’s weapon is finally dislodged from his or her grip.
Hachi	Step forward L8 to from Hidari Sochin Dachi F3	Maintain an effective guard position.	Convert to a reverse grip as you strike with Age Uchi T3, allowing the Monouchi to momentarily come to rest in the vicinity of your right bicep.	This and the strikes in the following step might be used to strike to the face or to keep an opponent at a distance.
Ku		Maintain an effective guard position.	Perform Migi Jodan Otoshi Uchi T3, a wrist outturn spin, and then a second Migi Jodan Otoshi Uchi T3. Finally, convert to a standard grip.
Ju	Step R5 to form Migi Sochin Dachi F3	Deliver Hidari Jodan Uchi T3	Deliver Migi Jodan Uchi T3	Both strikes are concurrent with the right arm striking slightly higher than the left. You might think of this as a dual face strike.
Ju Ichi		Strike down with Hidari Gedan Otoshi Uchi T3.	Strike down with Migi Gedan Otoshi Uchi T3.	Both strikes are concurrent and might be used to lower an opponent’s guard. The strikes are normally done so that no circular movement is induced in the opponent’s arms.
Ju Ni	Step back R7 to form Hidari Zenkutsu Dachi F3	Strike inward with Hidari Jodan Uchi T3, impacting with the Tsuka Gashira.	Strike inward with Migi Jodan Uchi T3, impacting with the Tsuka Gashira.	Both strikes are done concurrently and might be thought of as Yokomen strikes.
Ju San	Step back L6 to form Migi Sochin Dachi F3.	Return the weapon to an effective guard position.	Convert to a reverse grip as you strike with Migi Jodan Otoshi Uchi (Shomen) T3.
Ju Yon	Step back R7 to form Hidari Sochin Dachi F3	Convert to a reverse grip as you strike with Hidari Jodan Otoshi Uchi (Shomen) T3.	Position the Monouchi so it rests under and behind the left arm.
Ju Go	Look T4 then step back R6 to form Migi Sochin Dachi F4.	Perform a complete cycle of the Triple Strike Weave previously practiced with the Yantok weapon, beginning on the left side.		This and the following step are performed while advancing T4 in a continuous manner.
Ju Roku	Step forward L7 to form Hidari Sochin Dachi F4.	Perform another complete cycle of the Triple Strike Weave.
Ju Nana	Step forward R6 to form Migi Zenkutsu Dachi F4	Strike with Hidari Chudan Tsuki T4	Strike with Migi Chudan Tsuki T4.	The left weapon should strike slightly higher than the right weapon.
Ju Hachi	Step forward L7 to form Hidari Sochin Dachi F4	Perform a wrist outturn spin and then strike with Hidari Seoi Otoshi Uchi.	Perform a wrist outturn spin and then strike with Migi Seoi Otoshi Uchi.	The two strikes are delivered sequentially, beginning with the right weapon.
Ju Ku	Step forward R6 into Migi Zenkutsu Dachi F4.	Press the Tsume forward to strike with Nodo Tsuki T4.	Invert the weapon as you raise it slightly and then strike down with Migi Otoshi Jodan Uchi using the Tsuka Gashira T4.
Ni Ju	Step back R8 into Hidari Sochin Dachi F4.	Convert to a standard grip and return the weapon to an effective guard position.	Invert the weapon and strike with Migi Otoshi Jodan Uchi T4 (Shomen Uchi).
Ni Ju Ichi	Deliver Migi Mae Kekomi Geri T4 then return the right leg T3 to form Hidari Sochin Dachi F6.	Maintain an effective guard position.	Convert to a standard grip and return the weapon to an effective guard position.
Ni Ju Ni	Look T8 then rotate CW without stepping to form Migi Sochin Dachi F8.	Maintain an effective guard position.	Strike with Migi Yoko Empi Uchi T8.	You are not striking with the weapon.
Ni Ju San	Shift into Migi Zenkutsu Dachi F8.	Strike with Hidari Chudan Tsuki T8	Deliver Migi Jodan Uchi T8.	Both strikes utilize the Tsuka Gashira.
Ni Ju Yon	Step forward L2 to form Hidari Sochin Dachi F8.	Return the weapon to an effective guard position after the right weapon performs its first strike.	Perform the following sequence of movements:	The Migi Ura Yokomen Uchi should be done before the left weapon moves to guard position.
			·          Convert to a standard grip
			·          Strike with Migi Ura Yokomen Uchi T8.
			·          Wrist Outturn spin.
			·          Strike with Migi Jodan Otoshi Uchi (Shomen Uchi) T8.
			·          Convert to a standard grip and return to an effective guard position.
Ni Ju Go	Deliver Hidari Mawashi Geri T8 then place the left leg forward T8 to establish Hidari Sochin Dachi F3.	Maintain an effective guard position	Maintain an effective guard position
Ni Ju Roku	Slide the right foot forward and behind the left foot (T8) to establish a temporary Hidari Juji Dachi	Maintain an effective guard position.	Maintain an effective guard position.	This transition should be done quickly.
Ni Ju Nana	Shift your weight onto your right foot then deliver Hidari Yoko Kekomi Geri T8. Following the kick step L8 to establish Migi Sochin Dachi F1.	Convert to a reverse grip as you strike with Hidari Ura Yokomen Uchi T8. Immediately convert back to a standard grip and return the weapon to an effective guard position F1.	Maintain an effective guard position that ultimately will F1.	The kick and weapon strike occur simultaneously.
Ni Ju Hachi	Shuffle R7L7 to form Migi Sochin Dachi F1 then rotate briskly CCW into Hidari Sochin Dachi F3.	Pull the weapon inward slightly with the palm facing inward.	Press the weapon forward slightly with the palm facing outward.	Possible Bunkai for this movement is an elbow break of an opponent’s extended left arm.
Ni Ju Ku	Step R1 to form Migi Zenkutsu Dachi F5.	Lower the weapon slightly and pull it inward, then strike with Hidari Chudan Tsuki T5.	Press the weapon downward to Gedan level then return the weapon to an effective guard position.	The right weapon might be used to lower the opponent’s left arm or guard.
San Ju	Step forward L3 to form Hidari Zenkutsu Dachi F5.	Convert to a reverse knife grip and stab downward with Hidari Chudan Otoshi Tsuki T5.	Maintain an effective guard position	Striking with the Saki.
San Ju Ichi	Step R6 to form Hidari Sochin Dachi F1.	Convert to a standard knife grip and bring the weapon to a middle guard position.	Maintain an effective guard position.	The left weapon is guarding using the Monouchi forward of the hand.
San Ju Ni	Deliver Migi Mikazuki Geri T1 then step R8 at the completion of the kick to form Migi Juji Dachi F3.	Change to reverse grip and maintain an effective guard position.	Convert to a reverse grip as you strike with Migi Ura Yokomen Uchi T1.	The left weapon grip change should be a trivial movement.
San Ju San	Step back L8 to form Migi Zenkutsu Dachi F1.	Convert to a standard grip and establish an effective guard position.	Convert to a standard grip then strike with Jodan Tsuki T1. Your right hand will be near your right ear and your right elbow will face forward along your center line.	The right weapon might be striking to the eyes.
San Ju Yon	Step back R6 to form Hidari Zenkutsu Dachi F1.	Perform the following sequence:	Perform the following sequence:	The strikes are interleaved, beginning with the right weapon. The right weapon is spinning vertically while the left weapon is spinning horizontally. The overhead spin might be abbreviated for speed.
		·          Convert to a reverse grip as you strike with Hidari Ura Yokomen Uchi.	·          Migi inward wrist spin.
		·          Overhead spin	·          Migi Jodan Otoshi Uchi
		·          Hidari Ura Yokomen Uchi.	·          Wrist outturn spin
			·          Migi Jodan Otoshi Uchi.
San Ju Go	Step back L2 to form Heiko Dachi F1	Perform a left wrist outturn spin then convert to a standard grip.	Perform a right wrist outturn spin then convert to a standard grip.	This is the dismount movement so may include other flourishes. Both weapons typically move simultaneously.
San Ju Roku	Perform the closing salutation and Yame.