A Japanese martial art and modern sport practised with a long polearm tipped by a curved single-edged blade.
Origin and rules
The naginata was carried by Japanese foot soldiers and warrior monks from the 12th century and later became associated with samurai women. Modern competitive naginata was established by the All Japan Naginata Federation in 1955.
How it plays
Atarashii naginata, the modern sport form, has two events. Engi is a paired demonstration of set forms judged on technique. Shiai is full-contact sparring in bogu armour, with points awarded for clean strikes to head, throat, wrist, torso, and shin.
Competition
The International Naginata Federation World Championships are held every four years. Japan dominates the sport, with Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United States providing leading challengers. Naginata is not on the Olympic programme.
Find more sports by letter
Naginata starts with N and ends with A. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Naginata":