The primary purpose of this [Kata is to provide a practice vehicle for Sai handling. There is a good deal of focus on dynamically changing the grip on the weapon and employing these changed grips for immediate effect. While Bunkai is a relevant concern as well, the primary intent of this Kata is to help hone and improve Sai skills. Once you have mastered the fundamental skills in this Kata then it is time to consider various Bunkai and how you might employ or adapt a given movement in varying circumstances.

Sai Shodan Kata Procedure

Step	Movement	Left Weapon	Right Weapon	Notes
Ichi	Begin with the standard Sai salutation.	Establish standard grip	Establish standard grip
Ni	Step R7 into Migi Zenkutsu Dachi.	Hidari Age Uke T1	Migi Jodan Tsuka Gashira Tsuki
San		Soto Tate Kensei T5	Convert to reverse grip and briskly deliver Migi Kao Uchi T1.
Yon		Invert the weapon and pull the Tsuka to set position with the Monouchi pointed upward.	Strike with Migi Gedan Uchi T1
Go	Pull the right leg back to establish Heiko Dachi F1	Convert to reverse grip and strike with Hidari Chudan Saki Tsuki T1	Concurrent with the opposite weapon strike with Migi Chudan Saki Tsuki T1.
Roku	Step R6 to form Migi Zenkutsu Dachi F4	Strike with Hidari Jodan Uchi T4	Strike with Migi Gedan Uchi T4.
Nana	Step L7 into Hidari Zenkutsu Dachi F4	Strike with Hidari Chudan Saki Tsuki T4	Strike with Migi Chudan Saki Tsuki T4.
Hachi	Step forward slightly to form Hidari Han Zenkutsu Dachi F4	Change to a standard grip and strike with Hidari Jodan Tsuka Tsuki T4	Change to a standard grip and strike with Migi Jodan Tsuka Tsuki T4.
Ku	Step forward R6 into Migi Sochin Dachi F4	Convert to a reverse grip and strike with Hidari Seoi Tate Uchi T4.	Convert to a reverse grip and strike with Migi Seoi Tate Uchi T4
Ju	Shift back into Migi Kokutsu Dachi F4	Perform a wrist outturn spin concluding with Hidari Seoi Tate Uchi T4	Perform a wrist outturn spin concluding with Migi Seoi Tate Uchi T4.
Ju Ichi	Slide forward into Migi Han Zenkutsu Dachi F4	Hidari Tsume Nodo Tsuki	Migi Tsume Nodo Tsuki
Ju Ni	Step L7 to establish Hidari Zenkutsu Dachi	Hidari Sai Empi Uchi	Migi
Ju San	Step R4 into Heiko Dachi	Morote Gedan Juji Uke T4 with the right weapon on top.
Ju Yon	Step R6L2 to establish Migi Sochin Dachi F7	Maintain left weapon position as Hidari Gedan Kensei	Retract the weapon slightly and then deliver Migi Chudan Tsuki T7.
Ju Go	Step L2R8L8 as you walk, via Juji Dachi T8. Complete the movement by settling into Hidari Sochin Dachi F8.	Moves forward CCW, striking with Jodan Mawashi Uchi, then moves under the right arm, and then strikes again with Hidari Ura Yokomen Uchi T8.	Moves forward CCW, strike with Jodan Uchi, then moves over left arm and then strike again with Migi Sai Empi Uchi T8.	Both arms move simultaneously with the left arm slightly ahead of the right arm. Both arms are moving in similar circular directions. The left weapon strikes first.
Ju Roku	Step R3 to establish Hidari Sochin Dachi F2.	Convert to standard grip and deliver Hidari Ura Chudan Uke T2.	Convert to standard grip and deliver Migi Ura Chudan Uke T2.	Blocks are delivered concurrently as Morote Ura Chudan Uke.
Ju Nana		Leave weapon in current position.	Strike with horizontal Jodan Monouchi Uchi T8.
Ju Hachi	Step R5 to establish Migi Sochin Dachi F8	Strike with Hidari Jodan Monouchi Uchi T8.	Convert to a reverse knife grip and strike with Chudan Monouchi Tsuki T8.	The right hand is effectively stabbing with the Monouchi.
Ju Ku	Step R4 to establish Hidari Sochin Dachi F5	Convert to a standard grip and place the weapon in guard position.	Strike with Migi Chudan Tsuki T7.	The Migi Chudan Tsuki is directed at someone coming from your right side.
Ni Ju	Step slightly L1 to form Migi Han Zenkutsu Dachi F7	Strike with Hidari Jodan Tsuki T7.	Convert to a reverse grip and strike with Chudan Tsuki T7.
Ni Ju Ichi	Step R4 to form Migi Zenkutsu Dachi F7	Return the weapon to guard position.	Convert to a standard grip and strike with Migi Jodan Tsuki T7.
Ni Ju Ni	Step L3 to from Kiba Dachi F1	Deliver Hidari Gedan Barai T1.	Deliver Migi Gedan Barai T1.	The two blocks are done concurrently.
Ni Ju San		Retract the weapon and strike with Hidari Chudan Tsuki T1	Retract the weapon and strike with Migi Chudan Tsuki T1	The two strikes are done concurrently.
Ni Ju Yon	Step R7 to form Migi Zenkutsu Dachi F1	Raise the weapon then strike down with Hidari Otoshi Seoi Tsuki T1.	Raise the weapon then strike down with Migi Otoshi Seoi Tsuki T1.	Pull both elbows inward as you strike with both weapons concurrently.
Ni Ju Go	Slide the left foot T1 to establish Migi Han Zenkutsu Dachi F1.	Convert to a reverse grip and strike with Hidari Gedan Tsuki T1.	Convert to a reverse grip and strike with Migi Seoi Uchi T1.	Both strikes are delivered concurrently.
Ni Ju Roku	Step L8 to establish Hidari Zenkutsu Dachi F3	Convert to a standard grip and place the weapon in an effective guard position.	Strike with Yokomen Uchi, but do not return the strike, allowing the weapon to continue until it circles around and behind your head.
Ni Ju Nana	Step R5 to form Migi Zenkutsu Dachi F3		Strike with Migi Hiza Uchi T3 and return the weapon to an effective guard position
Ni Ju Hachi	Step back R4 to establish Heiko Dachi F3	Convert to a reverse grip with a vertical overhand motion then perform a series of three or more wrist outturn spins.	Convert to a reverse grip with a vertical overhand motion and then perform a series of three or more wrist outturn spins.	Begin with the left weapon first. The spins should be interleaved such that one weapon is striking forward as the other is moving back.
Ni Ju Ku	Step back R6 to create Hidari Kokutsu Dachi F1	Convert to a standard grip and issue a Hidari Age Uke T1.	Convert to a standard grip and issue a Migi Gedan Barai T7	Both blocks occur concurrently.
San Ju	Step forward R1 to form Heiko Dachi F1	Deliver Hidari Chudan Tsuki T1	Deliver Migi Chudan Tsuki T1	Both strikes occur concurrently
San Ju Ichi	Perform the closing salutation and Yame