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Naginatajutsu (長刀術 or 薙刀術, Naginatajutsu) is the Japanese martial art of wielding the
naginata. This is a weapon resembling the medieval European glaive, often used in combination with a tanto or dagger. Most naginata practiced today is in a modernized form, a gendai budō called naginatadō or atarashii naginata (new naginata), in which competitions also are held.
Debated origins: Multiple theories concerning the weapon's exact origins are in debate. It has been suggested that it developed along the same lines as kobudo weapons as a modified farming tool. Another theory states that it is the result of the Japanese refining a Chinese halberd that bears a similar appearance. Others say that a creative samurai in need of a longer weapon attached a sword to a pole.
History: 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. During the Tokugawa period (1603-1868), the naginata was transformed into a symbol of status for female samurai, as well as being the primary means for a woman to defend her home while her husband was away at 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. Many koryū ryūha, such as the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, include naginatajutsu in their curriculum.
Modern sport: Today, naginatajutsu is most often practiced in the form of a sport called either the "way of the naginata" (長刀道, naginatadō), or "new naginata" (新しい長刀, atarashii naginata?), which are governed by the All Japan Naginata Federation. It is most common for these sports to be practiced by women at the collegiate level. |
