History
The naginata is a Japanese polearm with a curved blade, used by warrior monks and samurai on the battlefield. Over the Edo period it became the weapon taught to women of samurai families for home defence.
Old schools (koryu) still teach naginatajutsu, while modern "atarashii naginata", organised by the All Japan Naginata Federation founded in 1955, is a sport with armour, like kendo.