Naginata

**Conde Koma** · Posted On: 11/16/2010 10:00pm

Holy ****, this looks fun as hell.

http://www.naginata.org/usnf/usnf.html
http://www.naginata.org/ncnf/ncnf.html

the closest ones to me are in el cerrito and san jose, neither of which is particularly accessible on a regular basis. this is definitely on my list though.

**futabachan** · Posted On: 11/17/2010 11:35am

Originally Posted by Conde Koma

Holy ****, this looks fun as hell.

http://www.naginata.org/usnf/usnf.html
http://www.naginata.org/ncnf/ncnf.html

the closest ones to me are in el cerrito and san jose, neither of which is particularly accessible on a regular basis. this is definitely on my list though.

"Fun as hell" is an apt description:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8J_IkuUbak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUkfdUSyCpQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxVEPIUC4Uo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUcVVZlho68
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKYNnPcs23s

I train with the sensei from the El Cerrito dojo (who supports the San Jose group as well, AFAIK) when she's in this part of the country, and she's very much worth seeking out if you're anywhere even remotely in range of her. And even if you're not.

If you can make it up to El Cerrito at least some of the time, it might be possible to get a local study group going; that's how most of the naginata groups in North America, including ours, got their start. We started from a few students who attended seminars and traveled to visit sensei periodically, and now have a critical mass of about half a dozen dan-ranked students who can teach beginners and lead regular class, with periodic supervision when we see sensei.

And I'm totally jealous that you're anywhere close to Tanaka-sensei. I have to drive six hours each way just to get feedback from anyone senior to me.

**Conde Koma** · Posted On: 11/17/2010 2:55pm

is there a directory for anyone that might have a study group closer to oakland? i take the subway pretty much everywhere, so heading up to el cerrito might only be possible if she's got a seminar or something going.

**RaiNnyX4** · Posted On: 11/18/2010 7:08am

Originally Posted by judoist

BTW, were there men's or women's divisions, or was there any cross over (any guys matched up with girls)? Or divisions of any kind (age, weight, height)?

There were no divisions whatsoever. Though, tsuki strikes were forbidden against the High School competitors.

Basically, there weren't enough people to warrant different divisions. There were only five men total (4 adults, one student) out of 32 and there were only 2 adult women out of the rest. The High School kids would've had at most 3 years of training so there wasn't really much need to separate them by skill level either.

We did give first place trophies to both the best man and woman however.

**futabachan** · Posted On: 11/18/2010 8:04am

Originally Posted by Conde Koma

is there a directory for anyone that might have a study group closer to oakland? i take the subway pretty much everywhere, so heading up to el cerrito might only be possible if she's got a seminar or something going.

Oakland, eh? I'm fairly sure that there is someone living over that way, but I can't remember who it is. I'll make inquiries; perhaps you could car pool.

**futabachan** · Posted On: 11/18/2010 8:08am

Originally Posted by RaiNnyX4

There were no divisions whatsoever. Though, tsuki strikes were forbidden against the High School competitors.

That's really interesting; I was under the impression that naginata competition in Japan was rigidly split between men and women. We did split our tournament that way, with a pool half the size, and that let us run it round robin rather than as a ladder... but part of the goal of our tournament was to help select Team Canada for next year's World Championships, so we needed separate men's and women's results.

No tsuki against the HS kids makes sense. Was tsuki also barred from (and/or against) dangai?

**RaiNnyX4** · Posted On: 11/18/2010 8:58am

Originally Posted by futabachan

That's really interesting; I was under the impression that naginata competition in Japan was rigidly split between men and women. We did split our tournament that way, with a pool half the size, and that let us run it round robin rather than as a ladder... but part of the goal of our tournament was to help select Team Canada for next year's World Championships, so we needed separate men's and women's results.

No tsuki against the HS kids makes sense. Was tsuki also barred from (and/or against) dangai?

I'm sure at the important tournaments, where there are enough competitors, the competition is split up appropriately. But seeing as there were only two clubs present and just five men total, it really wouldn't have made much sense to split it up. I actually went to watch a tournament earlier in the year where there were three clubs present and it was again unisex. But they gave first place to a man and a woman there too.

From what I was told, the main goal of this tournament was just to get in as many matches as you could for experience. Hence, the marathon round robin style.

Tsuki was only barred from use against the High School students. It was fair game for adults of all ranks.

**judoist** · Posted On: 11/19/2010 4:57pm

Thanks for the info, RaiNnyX4.

Futabachan, as far as I know, Naginata is taught mostly to women in Japan. In fact, I heard a while back that boys in Japanese high schools are taught Kendo, while girls study Naginata.

I also believe that Judo is offered to both sexes alongside the two mentioned weapons arts.