Naginata Practice

April 26, 1991

Mark J. Norton


In March of 1991 I resumed study and practice of the naginata, after several years of inactivity. Previously, I had taken a few classes under Kuniko (Kanai Sensei's wife). Kuniko holds dan rank in naginata-do. After she departed the U.S. for Japan, there was little opportunity to study. Joseph Caulfield had received a great deal more training than I, and had even been tested to the rank of second kyu. When Joe expressed desire to resume practice with the naginata, I volunteered to work with him. Soon, regular practice session were established with a few other interested students, including Joe's wife Sharon.



Classically, the naginata was a weapon which was studied by most samurai in addition to the sword, spear, and bow. It is a weapon well suited to dealing with most opponents individually or in groups. Horsemen can also be dealt with using a naginata, though the yari (spear) is perhaps better suited to the task. As I understand it, the naginata was developed about the time of Kubla Khan's attempted invasion of Japan. It was intended to be more easy to weild against horses than the spear.

Here are some of the strikes I have been practicing with the naginata:


The first four kata are:

Number Uke Move Nage Move
1 Men High block

Sunate Low block


Men

2 Sunate Low block

Hasso to Men High block


Sunate

3 Do Block and flip

Men Block and flip


Men

4 Big Sunate Men