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Naginata
Naginata なぎなた, 薙刀 Founder: Unknown
When Naginata was founded: 712 C.E
Place of Origin: Japan
Basic Tenets: Naginata today is an art form that teaches etiquette, respect, patience, self-confidence, and self-control. The practice of naginata nurtures stamina, beauty and grace of movement, and the building of character through discipline and concentration. Moreover, it prepares individuals to deal with the rigors of life, and in establishing a moral code based on chivalry and honor. A naginata consists of a wood shaft or pole with a curved blade on the end.
 Reason: Naginata is a Japanese martial art form for men, women, and children. It was a powerful weapon against horsemen and foot soldiers alike. The naginata's length and weight made it an efficient weapon against the sword, and its circular execution made it one of the most graceful and fluid of classical Japanese combat systems.
There are two types of naginata; the classical naginata, and the modern naginata also known as atarashi naginata in Japaneese. The classical one has no competition it is basically kata which is coreographed before and preformed at high speeds. While the modern naginata has yearly competitions, teams, and physical-education like training.  There are three blades in naginata as shown in the picture above. The top wooden one is used in kata practice, while the second one is used for the contemporary competition naginata. The last one is a steel naginata with a live blade used only in battle. Pictures:  Video: Source: |
