This style, actually named after the weapon it implements (the naginata), became the official weapon art of Buddhist monks in the eighth century. It has become associated with women, and in modern Japan it is studied by more women than men. The naginata is a long staff roughly the same length as the user, but it can sometimes be constructed to a length of more than seven feet for experienced fighters. It consists of an oval wooden shaft with a curved blade fashioned onto the end.

Naginatas were often used by soldiers to create space on the battlefield. They had considerable advantages over a sword. For one, their reach was longer, and this was necessary to keep the naginata's wielder out of reach. The long shaft offered more leverage in comparison to the hilt of the katana (Japanese backsword), enabling the naginata to cut more efficiently. The amount of area a skilled naginata wielder could effectively cover can seem staggering. One fighter utilizing a single 5-foot naginata could conceivably cover almost 400 square feet at any time during battle, which makes him or her very efficient at taking on multiple enemies from multiple directions.

The practice of Naginata-Jutsu nurtures stamina, character, and the beauty and grace of movement through discipline and concentration.