Practical Martial Arts Association

I do not have much information on this school.  As with many naginata schools the performers are very old women.  The application here is interesting as the use of the chain mimics the manrikigusari (or some styles thereof) with a wrap and tension approach. Lever from bind to grapple. The sword is wrapped from the bind using tension like a manriki. Note the wrap and tension. Blocking/binding with the chain. Entering with the bind of the chain. Body entanglement. Blocking with the kama. Sweep down from the bind at the weakness. Grapple. The demonstration from which these stills are taken:

A reasonably long chain for a flail type means the weight is sometimes held in the off-hand in kamae. In his work, Amdur comments that some parts of the Kusarigama of this school have been reconstructed. Kamae with weight on the ground. Missing and hitting the ground. Blocking with the kama. Kamae with weight in off hand. Weight avoided by naginata changing sides of body against downwards hits. Demonstration from which these stills are taken:

Katori Shinto Ryu: Warrior Tradition  was published by Koryu Books back in 2009.  You can probably tell from this blog I am a big fan of the main line of the Katori style. Otake has been one of the most dynamic and respected teachers of Japanese martial arts for a long time.  This work, in Japanese and English, outlines the Katori styles history, describes important facets of the art, gives some very interesting details and gives a pictorial summary of a large portion of the kata syllabus. The black & white photos are clear.  The book also goes into some of the more 'esoteric' facets of the tradition. The book is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Japanese martial arts or weapon based martial arts - an invaluable resource.

A long discourse on the halberd is best left for some other time, however there is a tendency to lump all polearms together.  It is important to note that the spear is entirely different from a glaive in terms of its use. The use of the spear in the fashion of a quarterstaff or glaive is essentially the unorthodox method of the employment of a spear.  The orthodox use of the spear is to thrust down the centre. It is a common tactic to attack the spear by beating, binding or levering it off the centre.  Therefore chopping with the spear in the fashion of a glaive is not the ideal use of the weapon - this method becomes useful in a symmetrical engagement (with another spear) or when the centre has been lost but should be considered the unorthodox. The glaive, on the other hand, is not best used as a spear - there are many examples of its use as such but in this case, the spear-like use of the glaive is unorthodox. As my prefered Japanese example is the Katori style I have i...

-Naginatajutsu (use of the halberd against the long sword) --Omote no Naginatajutsu 4 forms ---Itsutsu no Naginata ---Nanatsu no Naginata ---Kasumi no Naginata ---Hakka no Naginata -- Gokui Shichijo no Naginata 3 forms ---Enpi no Naginata ---Tonbo no Naginata ---Ryuko no Naginata