Contents

1 History

1.1 Origins

1.2 Pre-Modern Japan

1.3 Modern Japan

2 Koryu Naginata

2.1 Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū

2.2 Suiō-ryū

2.3 Other traditions

3 Atarashii Naginata

3.1 The practice

3.2 Equipment

3.3 Philosophical aspects

3.4 Gradings

4 Naginata in other countries

4.1 Australia

4.2 Brazil

4.2.1 Atarashii Naginata

4.2.2 Koryu Naginata

4.3 Canada

5 World Naginata Championships

6 European Naginata Championships

7 References

8 External links

History

Origins

The naginata originates from development of the Japanese spear called hoko yari of the later
1st millennium AD.[1][2] It has been suggested that it developed along the same lines as
Okinawan kobudō weapons as a modified farming tool. Others say that creative samurai in
need of a longer weapon attached a sword to a pole. Perhaps the simplest explanation is the
natural development of polearms. Polearms are intended as mass weapons, to be used not
just by individual warriors, but by formations of soldiers together on field battles and not for
dueling. When fighting in close order, two-handed cut-and-thrust weapons, such as halberds
and glaives, are much more efficient than mere spears or swords because of their versatility
compared to spears and longer reach compared to swords. Fighting in massed formation does
not require similar individual weapon-handling skills as required by a skilled swordsman.
Naginata are almost identical in appearance to both the glaive and the guan dao, and it is most
likely result of parallel evolution.

Pre-Modern Japan

Female students perform Naginatajutsu at an autumn sports festival of Hamamatsu Municipal

Senior High School in 1911

The oldest account of naginata is in the Kojiki and battle paintings by Tengyo no ran, in 980 CE
(Heian Period).[3] The naginata was a weapon widely used mainly by the Onna-musha, warrior
women, by the Sôhei 僧兵, the warrior monks,[3][4] and the Yamabushi 山伏,[5] the mountain
monks.

In the early history of its use, the naginata was primarily used against cavalry, as its length kept
the wielder a safe distance from horses and their riders.[citation needed]

Its popularity occurred around the year 1000 AD. In the centuries that followed, Naginata's
popularity went through ups and downs, as tactics used in battle evolved.

The importance of naginata for samurai can be attested by the relatively large number of styles
of bujutsu that have incorporated it in their curriculum, to name a few: Suio Ryu, Katori Shinto
Ryu, Tendo Ryu, Toda-ha Buko ryu and the Yoshin ryu.

During the Tokugawa period (1603–1868), the naginata was transformed into a status symbol
to distinguish women of samurai families, as well as being the primary means for a woman to
defend her home while her husband was away in times of war. This period also saw the
propagation of the naginata as a feminine art and the weapon serving as more of a symbol of
devotion to a woman's family.[citation needed]

Modern Japan

With the end of the Samurai era and the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japan was modernized and
many of the old practices fell into disuse. During the Showa Period, Naginata became part of
the physical education school curriculum for girls.[6] The practice at this time was called
Naginata-do 薙刀道 (lit. "way of the naginata").
After Japan's defeat in World War II, the practice was remodeled, resulting in two Naginata
practices: and Naginata Koryu (Classic Naginata) and Atarashi Naginata (New Naginata).

Despite the differences, the two ways of practicing Naginata share many things in common. In
both, the practice is systematized according to a tradition of strokes, cuts and movements of
the left and right in various directions, promoting training with an emphasis on the form and
beauty of the movement.

Koryu Naginata

Naginata is found as part of the curriculum of several styles of Kobudô. Many koryū ryūha,
such as the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, Maniwa-nen-ryu, Jikishinkage-ryu
Naginatajutsu, Tendō-ryū and Hokushin Ittō-ryū include naginatajutsu in their curriculum, as
do arts such as Shidare Yanagi-ryū and budo organizations such as the Bujinkan. The practice
and grading system varies from style to style, as well as the use or not of protectors for the
practice of combat.

Some of the most common known styles that incorporate naginata in their curriculum are:

Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū

Main article: Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu is the oldest style of Koryu,[7] and Japan's only tradition
recognized as Bunkasai, or Japanese cultural treasure. The characteristics of this school are
dynamic techniques and long katas, with movements such as jumps, turns with the body and
ascending and descending cuts used in alternation.

The Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu has seven kata with naginata, divided into two sets.

Suiō-ryū

Main article: Suiō-ryū

Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo is one of the most complete styles, with several weapons in its curriculum.
The Naginata occupies an important highlight, having been incorporated by the founder of the
style, Mima Yochizaemon Kagenobu (1577–1665), who learned to use this weapon with the
sohei monks during the Musha shugyo (warrior pilgrimage) that he made in the first part of
your life.[8]
Naginata katas are divided into three sets: Naginata against sword, Naginata against Naginata
and solo forms in which techniques used on battlefields to slaughter horses are practiced.