Whether on the battlefield or guarding the castle and its emperor, the samurai employed a long-range bladed weapon known as a naginata. It averaged two to three meters in length. In battle, the naginata proved to be one of the most feared weapons, since it could stab, thrust and cut from any angle. Thrusting and cutting at full speed using the naginata drains one’s power and quickly leads to fatigue. One must kiai (give a shout of encouragement) much louder when wielding a long-range weapon.

The naginata has 26 inches of striking area with 46 inches of handle.