Helen Nakano, with shiai naginata, leading a class in warm-up exercises. (All photos by P. Switzer)

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Helen Nakano began her study of Atarashi Naginata in Osaka, Japan, in 1966. She has been teaching in the United States since 1973 and co-founded the United States Naginata Federation in 1974. In 1993 Nakano Sensei became the furst practitioner outside Japan to obtain the teaching rank of Renshi. As Chief Instructor for the Southern California Naginata Federation, she was integral in the production of two videos, "Naginata, Ancient Form--Modern Motion" and "Naginata, Link to the Past."

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What follows are some of the recollections and philosophy of Helen Nakano sensei as related to author Paul Riley over the past six years of their association.

On her introduction to Atarashii Naginata:

Nakano: My husband was a member of the U.S. Kendo Team in 1966 and we were attending a kendo practice at Osaka Castle in Osaka, Japan. I recall several naginata teachers approached me and asked me to try their form. My first lesson was with the eminent sensei Chiyoko Tokunaga, Sachiko Wada, and Yoko Yamao. I could not believe how incredibly fortunate I was to have my first lesson under their tutelage.

I remember being dressed in keikogi (practice outfit), obi (wide belt), and hakama (wide breeches). The importance of the obi was stressed, for it not only keeps the keikogi in place but is essential in keeping the body properly upright. For more than 90 minutes they had me repeat a basic men (head) cut. The more cuts I made, the more focused I became. Out of hundreds of cuts, I still remember the one single cut that left me exhilarated. At the same instant the sensei said, "That's it!"

A road less traveled:

The naginata is a traditional weapon, deceptively simple in construction, infinitely complex in application. And totally archaic for self-defense.

However, the true martial practitioner comprehends that form itself, any form, is simply the outward manifestation of a peaceful and controlled interior. We study a form and its history to gain insight, to accept the past for what it really was and not what some dress it up to have been. The naginata is archaic and esoteric, but the lessons we learn in its study are quite enlightening and applicable. After thirty years of research and practice, I look around and see that my path, though not paved yet, is beginning to widen.

Training:

I have learned many lessons in my time and believe it my obligation to share what I have learned. It is in the sharing that I continue to become aware. The relationship between student and teacher is complex, at best. It is based on trust, integrity, and honesty. As a teacher, I find it is my duty to watch out for the soul as well as the consciousness. To cultivate the body and mind at the same rate, so that no one part becomes greater in possibility than another; to see that the student grows in ability not because of pressure and competition, but in spite of it.

And as a student myself, my responsibility is to give my fullest attention to those who would impart something of themselves to bring evolution and well-being to my existence. There are, and can be, no shortcuts in true martial art training. Correct and substantive training takes a lifetime of self-application and guidance. But we have become too complex a global society, and as such we have become slothful and uncaring of the individual. We need to work on this, and return to the promotion of intelligent relations. We need to regain the poise that comes through listening and observation, and reapply that wisdom to better ourselves, and our methods of instruction.

At what cost growth?

This may well be the double-edged sword of the martial disciplines. We at once eschew the bellicose and egotistical parts of our essence for a greater awareness and yet, consciously or unconsciously, embrace those very same traits in the interest of aggrandizing a form. Our venue should consistently translate to "the mastering of perceived boundaries through instruction and support," not "rivalry." We need to admit that rivalry begets egoism, and it's the insinuation of this divisive characteristic that begins the process of disintegrating open and constructive communication. Where there should be harmony and concerted effort to realize a common objective; manipulation and circumnavigation stand instead. This posturing for recognition and control may, ultimately, lead and organization to division or dissolution. Either way the students absorb the toll.

Nakano sensei uses the datotsu-bo to sharpen a student's reflexes and ability to recognize target areas.

Internally, it places them at risk. Covertly requiring each to decide where to place loyalty and advocacy, in lieu of shaping their devotion to the form, and history as a whole. This "blind eye" facilitates ill-feeling and distrust and encourages isolationism along with the perception of inferiority and superiority. We need to dispatch the caste prejudice and embrace, respectfully, the ideas and positions obtained through years of study, honor, dedication and application. Innovation and commercialization should not become so important that the ideology and character of a form is diluted or lost.

A final observation:

Most Westerners, being goal oriented, lack the patience required to seek out and master their inner selves. This type of individual may regard naginata training as outwardly obsolete. And to the undisciplined, there appears to be no practical application; no instant gratification for aggressive tendencies; no obvious springboard to self-splendor. They have lost sight of the truer meaning of budo. For to seek out an art only for its power and capacity to triumph over others is to corrupt the Way."

Our practice seeks to preserve the spirit and skills of the ancients, while conveying the importance of the Zen philosophy of self-mastery. To train in kata and shiai takes time and energy, but the lessons learned and the friendships fashioned are true and lasting. Advancement becomes not just a term but a lifestyle, attainable by anyone who will put forth the effort.

Ethics and the ideals of honesty, integrity, and humility are not unique to any one style, form or culture, they are within us all.

Anyone interested in naginata may write to Helen Nakano at
PO Box 11195, Torrance, California 90510-9998.

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