Naginata

hi there!!

i've always felt kinda amazed any time i saw a naginata. i live in Portugal. I looked at the internet and it seems like there's no one in here that teaches it. I love aikido and i won't give up of if but i'd like to know more about and train some weapons (naginata is the first but i'd like to know how to handle sais too).

Do you think there would be any problem? I don't want to be a "jack of all trades" if you know what i mean...

I have other question: do you know about any school that can teach it in Portugal or, if you don't know any, in Europe?

Hugs

Aline Filipe

Sorry, don't know Portugal, but I think Naginata is a very interesting weapon and apparently Ueshiba did teach some Naginata work, even though he had never been properly trained in it himself (apparently he applied the aiki priciples to its use).

And, no, I can't see it interfering with your aikido

Hello Alilne!

I had a hard time finding any information myself regarding Naginata instructors in Portugal. I found an international organization that listed on in France:

http://www.geocities.com/la_fnag/naginata.html French web-site

I also know that the Bujinkan have two schools in Portugal, but I don't know for sure if they teach Naginata. Probably Sai also.

It has been recommended to me several times by many black belts to NOT cross train until I have a firm grasp on my shodan in aikido. I'm inclined to agree with that idea. Aikido is good and will help you learn ukemi as well as to protect yourself in other ways when practicing martial arts. Weapons training is fun, but how often do you find yourself walking around in the public with a naginata or sai or katana? It just doesn't happen. Learn to defend yourself with empty hands and then work your way up with the other stuff.

Aikido does use bokken, but so much of what we do is based on the sword. By the time you go to learn weapons full-time, you'll be well grounded.

BUT... if you really want to know more about those weapons, I would contact either that French school regarding naginata or the Bujinkan. From all I have read about the Bujinkan, they have a good reputation and their Soke is legitamite and well respected around the world.

Good luck to you... but keep on training!

Hi!
I'm a fellow aikidoka here in Portugal and also started having naginata lessons last september. As you correctly said there WAS no one teaching naginata here in Portugal, but now we have no less than the european champion here!

She's currently giving classes 2 times a week in Porto and monthly seminars to the students in Lisbon.
If you're still interested send me a PM.

Sai is a weapon that is traditionally associated with Okinawan karate. If you find it being taught anywhere, most likely that's where it'll be (but you probably will not be able to train without first training empty-hand in the style for some time).

John Boswell wrote: I also know that the Bujinkan have two schools in Portugal, but I don't know for sure if they teach Naginata. Probably Sai also.

Mary Malmros wrote: Sai is a weapon that is traditionally associated with Okinawan karate.

First off, I do believe there's some sort of naginata work in the Bujinkan, though I don't know how extensive it is.

But second, the Bujinkan does include some *jutte* work, which looks like a sai if you don't know the difference. (A sai has two arms, while a jutte has only one arm and is shaped a little differently.) Schools that teach the jutte aren't very common, though it is a traditional samurai weapon.