The naginata is the characteristic Japanese polearm used from the 11th century forward and consisted of a katana quality blade
attached to a wooden staff. Like other Japanese blades, the naginata was crafted of the highest quality materials and
workmanship. The blade, which varied from two to four feet in length, was edged on the convex side for slashing and pointed at
the tip for thrusts. The blade tang (portion which fits into the staff) was sometimes as long as the blade itself; thus, it was nearly
impossible to break the blade off the staff. The naginata developed from an agricultural implement but evolved into a weapon
style of its own. Japanese warriors studied naginatajutsu (the art of the curved blade), a martial art devoted exclusively to the
employment of the naginata in combat. In the hands of an expert, the naginata was one of the fiercest polearms in history.