Naginata, Tankendo, Jukendo, Jodo

The Naginata is unique in Japanese martial arts in that it has been kept alive primarily by women. It is a tradition dating back many centuries to the wife of the Samurai who would stay home to safeguard the family. The deadly slashing and thrusting of the Naginata evokes the battlefields of 12th century Japan, as Sensei Wataru Suzuki says “The Naginata was used to mow down horses and cavalry soldiers so slashing attacks to the shins is a characteristic of Naginata”