What area in the US are you in? There are several sepeeate federations within the States and each of them have a few dojos that teach atarashi naginata.
Alex Bennet is involved in pretty much everything with bladed weapons is what I've learned from watching like the last... all of them that I've seen so far. haha
He is amazing, probably one of the most skilled nagianta users in the world. He's a master in modern Naginata (he would ahte that word but it's ture) but he is also very skilled in Tendo Ryu, an ancient art of using naginata.
people overstate the advantage of long range weapons, yes it's true it gives you an advantage at a specific range, but if the enemy manages to get into close range, your actions and reactions are very limited, so not always are polearms and spears better on the battle field. an experienced warrior with a wakizashi can beat a long range warrior. Not to mention that there is the aspect of striking out of range which means you can reach your opponent but he cant. there is an element of fear , you dont want to get hit, you are not in peace with the idea of dying. which a Samurai or a warrior in general should be ok with. In a battle field situation a naginata would be the primary weapon because of range and effectiveness in formations and as an anti cavalry weapon. but the sword is very versatile, exactly due to it not being too long. Not trying to undermine a weapon ,they are all warrior tools and depend on the situational effectiveness .
@@kronoscamron7412 while most of what you say is true, we do need to consider the fact that the naginata was a main battlefield weapon and the katana a backup weapon full stop. Also the naginata was (as far as I heard) easier to handle effectively compared to a katana (or any sword for that matter) also this whole "I don't wanna die/get hurt" type of mindset not being in the samurai 1. samurai are humans, and not all of em act alike even when they adhere to the same culture. 2. not al japanese warriors were samurai, ashigaru were generally way less trained and equipped than samurai.
@@spenkerdetanker9067 True. Just add: "Samurai" although originally it was synonymous with "warrior" was a concept that had to do, in reality, more with a status (caste) in the Japanese society. In many cases, being a samurai did not necessarily mean that the person was a warrior (bureaucrat), just as a warrior, soldier or "bushi" was not always a samurai. There were formidable warriors who did not belong to the samurai caste (from a noble family), but were called _professional_ military. This is what "bushi" means: (武) martial/military (士) Professional/Expert. Many were samurai by name and family only, but not by martal prowess.
Looks much more fun than kendo. The fighters don't appear to be too restricted in their guards and strikes and the techniques seem to resemble the historical methods more accurately. And there's no stomping or running through like you have in kendo.
Fumikomi ( or stomping) as you called it is used in traditional Kenjutsu although the focus on that and the modern day quicker strikes come from the Hokushin Ito Ryu Kenjutsu school. Kendo is actually closer to Kenjutsu than you think because the techinques used today have the strongest connection with the aforementioned school which focused on primarily using Chudan, thrusting with Fumikomi and quick aglie cuts-as many of the founders of modern Kendo were students of this style and Jinshinkage Ryu like Takano Sasaburo and Nakuyama Hakudo. The biggest deviations from traditional Hokushin Ito Ryu style is the running through after attacks, too much focus on Tsuba Zerai, target restrictions although the primarily focused on the four Kendo targets, unnatural postures like Sansapppomori that would get you killed in a real sword fight but works in the context of sport Kendo
***** I am aware that kendo derives from kenjutsu and it is useful in its own way. Yes some parts of kendo are from kenjutsu but there are plenty of motions that aren't such as turning your back to show zanshin, the way you move and the fact that you ignore viable targets such as the chest, neck and shoulders when striking. The purpose of kendo has never been to simulate an actual sword duel but to maintain a perfect posture at all times which would be impossible in a real fight which may descend into grappling or throwing. You throw around a lot of Japanese terminology which is way over my head but it still doesn't justify the non-kenjutsu movements in kendo.
" still doesn't justify the non-kenjutsu movements" Much of the justification is to avoid serious injury. I'm sure there are other reasons I'm not aware of though. " the fact that you ignore viable targets such as the chest, neck and shoulders when striking" You can strike your opponents shoulders or neck if you want, But you're probably going to injure them and they might get angry and strike you back twice as hard. I'm fairly sure you can still thrust the chest to break their kamae but you have to follow up with a second valid attack. I'd like it if you could score on thrusts to the chests though. I agree with you there. " in a real fight which may descend into grappling or throwing" True, Those are separate martial arts now. The other thing is that Judo or Jujitsu are practiced on mats, Kendo is on a wooden floor (Often on solid gym floors outside of Japan) so again there is the issue of a serious injury if you suddenly just drop your shinai and flip your opponent on his back. "turning your back to show zanshin" You mean running past? You dont have to turn your back to show Zanshin and even if you do move past you should still turn to face your opponent once you're out of range. I'm pretty sure you can score ippon if you get a perfect men and still go into tsubazeriai after. Actually I do wish the men was redesigned so you could hit slow people in the back of the head instead of having to wait for them to turn . "The purpose of kendo has never been to simulate an actual sword duel but to maintain a perfect posture at all times" I dont think that the purpose of kendo is to learn "perfect posture" But its true that strikes have to be pretty perfect to be scored in competition, And you have to have posture after the attack that leaves you prepared to attack again. Personally I like that added difficulty, But I can understand why other people dont. Naginata also looks awesome, And I'd love to try it someday but its so hard to find a place that teaches it near me.
Naginata is the main weapon of the monk soldiers, and during the Warring States period, Japanese Buddhist temples had territories and were armed. Influential temples have vast territories and many followers, and have begun to have the same power as the landlord. Rebellion was caused in various places using believers all over Japan. Therefore, Nobunaga Oda slaughtered the temple and the monk soldiers. In addition, Naginata became a necessary skill for women who care for the landlord's wife and daughter, and became a means of self-defense.
Throughout Japanese history it was a combination of either Yari or Naginata on the battlefield male or female, no-matter where you are in the world it makes complete sense to use something with the greater reach when you get the chance, swords have always been sidearms. The idea of only women using them came from their recorded history saying that women would use the naginata to defend their homes, everyone always goes 100% one way or the other, it was a generalisation, it didn't say that only women used them. I'd prefer one over a sword if I had the space
