Naginata is a traditional Samurai weapon used by Japanese warriors since X century. As far as battles between Samurai warriors often turned into series of single combats, naginata became quite effective weapon as it could cut and stab at the same time. As a pole weapon it became number one armor during most fierce battles.
Naginata construction:
Naginata cannot be considered a sword in its full meaning as it rather presents a sword-like blade attached to a long pole. It's actually combines the properties of the Japanese sword, spear and an ax.
Naginata is actually a long staff (e-bu) with the blade curved at the tip.
The usual collar length would reach from 5 to 7 feet and the blade would reach around 12 inches. It was forged, polished and assembled in the same manner as other Japanese swords.
Naginata in battle: The anatomy of naginata, which was equally effective in cutting and striking predefined peculiarities of the sword handling, where spear and sword fencing techniques were often combined.
This made naginata a very dangerous weapon. A warrior equipped with naginata could hit a competitor not only with the blade but with the end of the shaft and the center of the staff in different directions. Being like a tornado in a battle, a warrior with naginata could only find an equal opponent in the name of the warrior with firearm or a high-density formation of spears.
If compared with other samurai swords, naginata surely could compete with katana (popular Japanese sword) for instance. Heavier than usual katana, it was nevertheless more powerful in cutting. Besides, a warrior could use every part of the naginata either during attack or during defense.
Naginata and samurai women: During XVI century naginata was not so important for men and it was taken in use by samurai women. As often they had to live in dangerous regions they also needed weapons to fight side by side with their husbands and fathers. Some of samurai women could even be at the head of the warrior house. As well as samurai warriors, they learned archery and naginata fencing techniques, repulsing horse and foot warriors, which helped them not to let a man approach a woman in close combat, where they couldn't fight equally.
During the Sengoku period, women often were the only ones to guard their castles. It is often mentioned that there were even women troops armed with naginata. During a peace-time in Edo period, it was no longer necessary to master weapons and thus, naginata finally went into possession of women of samurai class.
Woman's role also has changed during this time: they had to stay at home, working and bringing up children. They also were mindful of the brave warriors-women, who defended their homes from invaders in older times. But now Samurai women began practicing naginata fencing not so much to prepare oneselves to the battle as to obtain perfect virtues of true Samuari wife. Since then it was expected from a bride to take naginataa along when she entered her husband's house. In rural areas, women played very important part in maintaining peace. When their husbands were away, women had to be on the guard of their house and children. Thus naginata was always on the alert to put up a fight.
Modern naginata practice: At the beginning of the Edo period naginata fencing turned into naginatajutsu -a martial art which was initially founded by men but later headed by women. Modern art of naginatajutsu and naginatado is practiced with bamboo blade and special armor, where practitioners follow certain rules. And although naginata practices are very popular now, it seems that most traditions of old Japanese sword handling are passing into nothingness.
