The naginata is a pole arm weapon. They were originally used by the samurai , as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei (warrior monks). Later, however, naginata become the iconic weapon for the onna-bugeisha-archetype(a type of female warrior) belonging to the Japanese nobility.
We practice Atarashi Naginata. It is a martial arts discipline using a naginata with wood shaft and a bamboo “blade”. Practice of naginata is more than mastery of the weapon; respect, discipline and proper state of mind are just as important as physical development.
