This is the actual pair of sai used by Josh Pais to train for his role as Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). The metal weapons were utilized during rehearsals while practicing in New York with Robert Goodwin, a SAG-AFTRA stunt/fight choreographer and sword master for film and television.
The well-worn sai have chips from going up against metal swords. Pais used them during an extensive three-week regimen, with two weeks versus a sword, staff, and nunchaku.
Hired by stunt coordinator and martial arts choreographer Pat Johnson, Goodwin was on location for the subway fight where Raphael saves April (Judith Hoag) and the scene at the park where the purse snatchers jump over the wall.
He also mentored Leif Tilden (Donatello), Michelan Sisti (Michaelangelo), and Elias Koteas (Casey Jones). (David Forman [Leonardo] hailed from England and trained there.)
Goodwin worked as an instructor and fight director in New York theater, including Off-Broadway, between 1988 to 1992.
In the movie business, he has done everything from teaching Christian Bale martial arts choreography for Batman Begins (2005) to playing a ninja, himself, in the cult classic Miami Connection (1987).
