Naginata (なぎなた/長刀/薙刀) is a pole 
weapon usually used by 
Japanese samurai which in recent times has become strongly associated with 
women. It consists of a wood shaft with a curved blade fashioned onto the end. Usually, it also had a sword-like guard (
tsuba) between the blade and shaft. Most naginata practise today is in a modernised form, a 
gendai budo called 
Atarashii naginata in which competitions also are held. Naginata is also practised within the 
Bujinkan and in some 
koryu schools.
See also: Bo-jutsu[?] budo yari martial arts
 
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