Naginata

[HtTKar]

Starting this Monday, I'm about to start naginata-jutsu.

I will be learning for only 2hrs, once a week, for 2 months.
I will be learning both modern and classical.
I know this is not a lot of time, and I will have to be very dedicated to absorb all that is being taught. Once I am shown the way, I'm sure I will excell.
I have found a little about naginata history, but have not found very much data on techniques. Also, I will not be getting my oak naginata until monday, so I wont even get a feel for the weapon until the first class.

In the mean time, I have decided to start studying on my own. I was wondering if anybody here has trained naginata, and if so is there any advice or pointers that you could give? I'll keep you all posted. Thanks in advance for sharing any knowledge.

[koto_ryu]

Starting this Monday, I'm about to start naginata-jutsu.

I will be learning for only 2hrs, once a week, for 2 months.
I will be learning both modern and classical.
I know this is not a lot of time, and I will have to be very dedicated to absorb all that is being taught. Once I am shown the way, I'm sure I will excell.
I have found a little about naginata history, but have not found very much data on techniques. Also, I will not be getting my oak naginata until monday, so I wont even get a feel for the weapon until the first class.

In the mean time, I have decided to start studying on my own. I was wondering if anybody here has trained naginata, and if so is there any advice or pointers that you could give? I'll keep you all posted. Thanks in advance for sharing any knowledge.

If you've done any kind of bojutsu before, you'll definitely see some similarities. They're a lot of fun and I'm sure with the mindset you have you'll absorb a good deal. Good luck, HtTKar, and have fun with it

[jubaji]

Are you a woman?

[koto_ryu]

Are you a woman?

Why, it must be Troll mating season! Now we know the secret from where all these Trolls come from Here ya go, Jubaji, she's single and looking

[jubaji]

Why, it must be Troll mating season! ]

Well, it's a woman's weapon!

[koto_ryu]

Well, it's a woman's weapon!

A naginata is a polearm-type spear, I think you might be thinking about something else.

[jubaji]

A naginata is a polearm-type spear, I think you might be thinking about something else.

No, that's the one. Do a little research.

[HtTKar]

Ninpo Sanjurokkei

http://www.angelfire.com/dragon/swords/naginata.html

http://www.aikidojournal.ubernet.net/article.php?articleID=16

Naginata was a weapon of samarai, and buddhist monks. To study kobujutsu and their ryugi, you need to study the naginata, and the other 17 below.

Bugei Juhappan.

1. Jujutsu of Kempo.
2. Kenjutsu.
3. Iaijutsu of Battojutsu
4. Kusarigamajutsu.
5. Bojutsu.
6. Sojutsu.
7. Naginatajutsu.
8. Suiren.
9. Bajutsu.
10. Kusarifundojutsu.
11. Kishajutsu.
12. Jojutsu.
13. Kyujutsu
14. Yoroi Kumiuchi.
15. Hojojutsu.
16. Juttejutsu.
17. Hojutsu.
18. Nage kenjutsu.

to be a true master you need to master all 36. The 18 Bugei Juhappan, and 18 Ninja Juhakkei.

Ninja Juhakkei.

1. Seishinteki Kyoyo
2. Taijutsu bestaande uit Dakenjutsu,
Jujutsu, Koppojutsu, Kosshijutsu.
3. Bikenjutsu.
4. Sojutsu.
5. Naginatajutsu.
6. Kusarigamajutsu.
7. Roku shaku bojutsu
8. San jaku bo en jojutsu.
9. Shurikenjutsu en senban nage.
10. Kishajutsu.
11. Intonjutsu.
12. Hokojutsu.
13. Hensojutsu.
14. Kakushi bukijutsu.
15. Ninyakujutsu.
16. Gunryaku heiho.
17. Tenmon en chimon.
18. Bisentojutsu.


To be honest, I dont even know what half of these are. I have a lot to learn and am just beginning. I'll tell you what I think about it. My first class is tonight.

[koto_ryu]

I can break most of them down for ya:

Bugei Juhappan.

1. Jujutsu of Kempo.

Basically jujitsu.

2. Kenjutsu.

Use of various types of swords.

3. Iaijutsu of Battojutsu

Fast-drawing swords.

4. Kusarigamajutsu.

Using a kusari-gama (sickle attached to weighted chain)

5. Bojutsu.

Using a bo, which I feel is silly when they combine it to make it 36 skills as this is already used in the ninja juhakkei as well.

6. Sojutsu.

Using a spear.

7. Naginatajutsu.

I wonder

8. Suiren.

Water training.

9. Bajutsu.

Horsemanship.

10. Kusarifundojutsu.

Using a kusari-fundo (weighted length of chain)

11. Kishajutsu.

Archery on horseback.

12. Jojutsu.

Using a jo (4 ft staff).

13. Kyujutsu

Archery.

14. Yoroi Kumiuchi.

Techniques for fighting in armor.

15. Hojojutsu.

"The art of tying", you basically learn how to hog-tie people and add in a noose, mean stuff.

16. Juttejutsu.

Use of a jutte (looks like half a sai, useful for trapping swords and grappling)

17. Hojutsu.

Using guns and firearms.

18. Nage kenjutsu.

I believe throwing people while holding a sword.

Ninja Juhakkei.

1. Seishinteki Kyoyo

Spiritual enlightenment, includes meditation and breathing exercises.

2. Taijutsu bestaande uit Dakenjutsu,
Jujutsu, Koppojutsu, Kosshijutsu.

Taijutsu (total body movement), which is broken down into dakentaijutsu (striking), jujutsu (grappling), koppojutsu (bone breaking), and kosshijutsu (muscle tearing)....Correct me if I'm wrong Hikage, it's 8am here and I only went to sleep at 4am

3. Bikenjutsu.

Various kata/forms.

4. Sojutsu.
5. Naginatajutsu.
6. Kusarigamajutsu.
7. Roku shaku bojutsu

This is the 6ft bo, which they already learn in the bugei ryuha. I think it's silly they say there is 36 skills but most of them overlap.

8. San jaku bo en jojutsu.

San jaku bo is a hanbo I believe (half-staff), and a jo we've already talked about.

9. Shurikenjutsu en senban nage.

Includes throwing senban shuriken ("stars"), bo shuriken, teppan shuriken, and throwing knives.

10. Kishajutsu.
11. Intonjutsu.

Escape and concealment.

12. Hokojutsu.

Stealth and movement.

13. Hensojutsu.

Disguise and impersonation.

14. Kakushi bukijutsu.

Has a number of meanings really, but it's more like psychology than anything.

15. Ninyakujutsu.
16. Gunryaku heiho.

Strategy and infiltration.

17. Tenmon en chimon.

Meteorology and geography.

18. Bisentojutsu.

Using a bisento (large bladed staff).

As for the Bujinkan 18 skills, ours varies a bit differently from those above:

Seishin teki kyoyo (spiritual refinement)
Taijutsu (unarmed combat)
Ninja ken (ninja sword)
Bojutsu (stick and staff fighting)
Shurikenjutsu (throwing blades)
Yarijutsu (spear fighting)
Naginatajutsu (halberd fighting)
Kusarigama (chain and sickle weapon)
Kayakujutsu (fire and explosives)
Hensojutsu (disguise and impersonation)
Shinobi iri (stealth and entering methods)
Bajutsu (horsemanship)
Sui ren (water training)
Bo-ryaku (strategy)
Cho ho (espionage)
Intonjutsu (escape and concealment)
Ten-mon (meteorology)
Chi-mon (geography)

[jubaji]

http://www.scnf.org/history2.html

"The introduction of firearms into Japan in the mid-17th century significantly altered battlefield strategies, and the naginata gradually became a weapon used solely by women for protection in their homes. Naginata training was also used as a means of exercise and character development. During the Edo period, a time of relative peace in feudal Japan, all Japanese women were required to master the naginata by age 18. By this time, naginata were usually ornately decorated, and were considered an essential part of a woman's dowry."

[Hikage]

....Correct me if I'm wrong Hikage, it's 8am here and I only went to sleep at 4am [/B]

Koto,
You got it... very impressive.

HtTKar,
Don't let the list intimidate you. Most of them overlap greatly. If you can do a couple, you will be able to pick up the rest of them pretty quickly. That's the nice thing about how ninjitsu is set up. Once you understand the fundamentals of movement, technique, and philosophy, you can pretty much do anything within the system.

-Hikage

[koto_ryu]

From the very same site, I got;

Despite the uncertainty surrounding its origin, it is a well-known fact that the naginata was being fully utilized in battle by the 10th century. Cavalry battles had become more important by this time, and it was difficult to repel mounted warriors simply by means of the bow, arrow, and sword. The naginata proved to be a superb weapon for close-up fighting; it's sweeping arcs of destruction were used to cut a horse's legs and kill its rider once the horse fell to the ground. During the Gempei War (1180), in which the Taira clan was pitted against the Minamoto, the naginata rose to a position of particularly high esteem. Because of its extensive use at that time, changes were made in the type of armor worn by warriors. The addition of "sune-ate", or shin guards, came into use directly because of injuries inflicted by naginata-bearing warriors.

Just because women used it as well does not mean it was never utilized by men before. Look at the kung fu practitioners that use fans, for example. The naginata evolved from a farming implement, so many martial arts that were created in order to train those not in affluent families accepted it as part of their training. The bugei juhappan has it, as well as the ninja juhakkei. These are not soley female arts either (though we did have our kunoichi ).

[jubaji]

"the naginata gradually became a weapon used solely by women"

[koto_ryu]

Yay cut and paste time:

Just because women used it as well does not mean it was never utilized by men before. Look at the kung fu practitioners that use fans, for example. The naginata evolved from a farming implement, so many martial arts that were created in order to train those not in affluent families accepted it as part of their training. The bugei juhappan has it, as well as the ninja juhakkei. These are not soley female arts either (though we did have our kunoichi ).

[jubaji]

Just because women used it as well does not mean it was never utilized by men before.

I said it is a woman's weapon, not that it was never used by men. And it is a woman's weapon. (though they have other more dangerous and fun ones! )