Naginatajutsu
Officially Naginatajutsu / Atarashii Naginata (薙刀術 — 'Art of the Glaive')
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MARTIAL ART using the NAGINATA — a POLE WEAPON with a curved single-edged blade at the end of a 2-2.5 m wooden shaft (essentially a JAPANESE GLAIVE). Originated ~10th c CE for use by warrior monks (SŌHEI) + samurai; became particularly associated with SAMURAI WOMEN (ONNA-BUGEISHA) who defended homes during battles. Modern ATARASHII NAGINATA (New Naginata, codified 1955) is the sport form, practiced with bamboo-blade weapon; competitors wear bogu armor + spar for points on legal target zones. Governed by ALL JAPAN NAGINATA FEDERATION.
What is Naginatajutsu?
NAGINATAJUTSU (薙刀術, 'ART OF THE NAGINATA/GLAIVE') is the TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MARTIAL ART using the NAGINATA — a POLE WEAPON consisting of a CURVED SINGLE-EDGED BLADE (~30-60 cm long) mounted on a WOODEN SHAFT (~2-2.5 m long); essentially the Japanese equivalent of the European GLAIVE or Chinese GUANDAO. HISTORY: Emerged in the HEIAN + KAMAKURA periods (10th-13th c CE) initially as a battlefield weapon of the SŌHEI (WARRIOR MONKS) of BUDDHIST TEMPLES + LATER adopted by SAMURAI. The reach + sweeping cuts of the naginata made it especially effective against CAVALRY. STRONGLY ASSOCIATED with SAMURAI WOMEN (ONNA-BUGEISHA — 'women warriors'): during the SENGOKU period (15th-17th c), samurai wives were expected to defend their homes with the naginata while their husbands went to war; the weapon's reach helped smaller-statured women hold off armored attackers. Famous historical women warriors: TOMOE GOZEN (12th c), NAKANO TAKEKO (led naginata-wielding women's unit at Battle of Aizu 1868). After Meiji Restoration (1868), naginata became a WOMEN'S CULTURAL + PHYSICAL EDUCATION discipline in Japanese girls' schools + remains PREDOMINANTLY FEMALE-PARTICIPATED today (~90% women). MODERN ATARASHII NAGINATA (新しいなぎなた — 'New Naginata') was codified in 1955 by ALL JAPAN NAGINATA FEDERATION (ZEN NIHON NAGINATA RENMEI) as a SPORT form suitable for post-war Japan's physical education programs. EQUIPMENT: (1) SHIAI-YŌ NAGINATA — competition weapon with a REPLACEABLE BAMBOO 'BLADE' (~60 cm) attached to a wooden shaft (~2.1 m total length for adults). (2) BŌGU ARMOR — like kendo's bogu but with additional shin protection (SUNE-ATE): MEN (head/face mask), DO (chest), KOTE (gloves), TARE (waist), SUNE-ATE (shin guards). (3) HAKAMA + KEIKOGI + OBI — traditional attire. TARGET ZONES: MEN (head), KOTE (wrists), DO (torso/chest), TSUKI (throat thrust — advanced only), SUNE (shins — UNIQUE TO NAGINATA, not in kendo). COMPETITION FORMAT: 2-person sparring bouts (SHIAI) — 3-minute rounds; win by 2 clean scored strikes (IPPON) or judges' decision. Also KATA competition (10 SEITEI NAGINATA KATA for grading). KATA include SEITEI NAGINATA KATA (10 modern standardized forms) + TENDO-RYU + JIKISHINKAGE-RYU koryu (traditional schools). RANKS: KYU 6→1 → DAN 1→8. Master titles: RENSHI, KYOSHI, HANSHI. GOVERNING: ALL JAPAN NAGINATA FEDERATION (AJNF, 1955); INTERNATIONAL NAGINATA FEDERATION (INF, 1990); WORLD NAGINATA CHAMPIONSHIPS held every 4 years since 1995. Practiced across Japan (~40,000 registered) + growing globally (Europe strong, US + Canada + Brazil + Australia). Distinguished from HALBERD or POLEARMS by its DISTINCTIVE CURVED-BLADE + LONG-SHAFT balance + specifically-Japanese kata traditions.
Quick facts
Category
Combat Sports
Type
Individual
Players
2–2
Duration
~3 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Naginata dojo or bogu-safe wooden floor
Country of origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Estimated origin
10th-13th c CE (Heian/Kamakura periods); modern Atarashii Naginata codified 1955
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Score clean strikes on legal bogu targets; win 2 ippon or judges' decision.
Rules
Basic rules
Legal target zones: Men, Kote, Do, Tsuki, Sune
Shin-strike (sune) unique vs kendo.
Both cutting + thrusting techniques allowed
Blade + tip both weapons.
Weapon length ~2.1m advantage — controls range
Distinctive naginata reach.
3-min bouts; 2 ippon to win or judges' decision
Standard shiai format.
Bogu armor mandatory + sune-ate shin guards
Safety requirement.
Ranks Kyu 6→1 → Dan 1→8 → master titles
Progression system.
Scoring
Judged ippon (clean valid strike + proper form + zanshin); best of 2 ippon wins.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Men (head strike) ippon | 1 ippon |
| Do (torso strike) ippon | 1 ippon |
| Kote (wrist strike) ippon | 1 ippon |
| Sune (shin strike) ippon — naginata-specific | 1 ippon |
| Tsuki (throat thrust) ippon — advanced only | 1 ippon |
| 2 ippon wins bout; otherwise judges' hantei | Bout won |
Win condition · First to 2 ippon or judges' decision at time.
Playing area
Called
Naginata dojo or bogu-safe wooden floor
Dimensions
Standard 9-11m square shiai (competition) area
Wooden dojo floor; kendo-like standardized layout.
Equipment
Shiai-yō Naginata (bamboo blade + wooden shaft, ~2.1m)
Competition weapon
Bogu armor (Men, Do, Kote, Tare, Sune-ate)
Includes shin guards unique to naginata
Hakama + Keikogi + Obi
Traditional attire
Kata naginata (solid wood or metal blade for kata practice)
For non-sparring forms
Strategies
Use length advantage — control opponent's approach
Range game.
Sune (shin) strikes exploit naginata-specific advantage
No kendo counterpart.
Sweeping cuts to open kote or men strikes
Combo setups.
Master both cut + thrust techniques
Blade + tip.
Terminology
- Naginata (薙刀)
- 'Reaping blade' — the polearm.
- Atarashii Naginata
- 'New Naginata' — modern sport form since 1955.
- Onna-Bugeisha
- Samurai women warriors — historically wielded naginata.
- Sōhei
- Buddhist warrior monks — original users.
- Sune-ate
- Shin protectors (naginata-specific bogu addition).
- Sune
- Shin — unique target zone.
- Shiai / Kata
- Sparring / solo forms.
- Zanshin
- Continuing awareness after strike.
Major competitions
All-Japan Naginata Championship
annual · Japan · since 1963
World Naginata Championship (INF)
quadrennial · Global (rotating) · since 1995
European Naginata Championship
biennial · Europe · since 1993
Where it is played
Governing bodies
All Japan Naginata Federation (AJNF, 全日本なぎなた連盟)
Founded 1955 · Tokyo, Japan
International Naginata Federation (INF)
Founded 1990 · Tokyo
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Tomoe Gozen (12th c) — Legendary onna-bugeisha naginata warrior
- Nakano Takeko (1847-1868) — Led naginata unit at Battle of Aizu
- Modern AJNF Hanshi 8-Dan masters
- World Championship medalists from Japan, France, Netherlands, USA
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Join AJNF-affiliated naginata dojo
Global network.
- 2
Learn basic strikes + kata + bogu use
1-2 years foundation.
intermediate
- 1
Progress Kyu → Dan ranks; compete in regional taikai
Structured pathway.
advanced
- 1
Dan 4-8 + World Naginata Championships representation + Hanshi title
Lifetime pursuit.
Frequently asked
What is Naginatajutsu?+
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MARTIAL ART using the NAGINATA — a POLE WEAPON with a curved single-edged blade at the end of a 2-2.5 m wooden shaft (essentially a JAPANESE GLAIVE). Originated ~10th c CE for use by warrior monks (SŌHEI) + samurai; became particularly associated with SAMURAI WOMEN (ONNA-BUGEISHA) who defended homes during battles. Modern ATARASHII NAGINATA (New Naginata, codified 1955) is the sport form, practiced with bamboo-blade weapon; competitors wear bogu armor + spar for points on legal target zones including UNIQUE SUNE (shin) strikes. Governed by ALL JAPAN NAGINATA FEDERATION. Predominantly female-participated (~90%).
Why is Naginata associated with women warriors?+
During the SENGOKU period (15th-17th c Japan), samurai men were away at war for years; their WIVES + DAUGHTERS were expected to DEFEND THE HOME from attackers. The naginata's LONG REACH (2m+) allowed smaller-statured women to hold off armored male attackers at a distance — a KEY EQUALIZER. Famous ONNA-BUGEISHA (women warriors) like TOMOE GOZEN + NAKANO TAKEKO wielded naginata in battle. After Meiji era, naginata became a WOMEN'S CULTURAL DISCIPLINE + PHYSICAL EDUCATION subject in Japanese girls' schools. Today ~90% of naginata practitioners are women, though the sport is fully mixed-gender + inclusive.
Sources & provenance
- All Japan Naginata Federation— AJNF
- Wikipedia — Naginatajutsu— Wikipedia