History of Association
Essentially, as with everything, it started with one individual who wanted to practice Naginata with others, in order to follow up on her practices in Japan. It became increasingly obvious unless someone set up a club, her practice in Naginata was likely to be lonely, solo insular affair.
Therefore, slowly it made known that a “private meeting” of likeminded friends would meet to practice Naginata at a sports venue. The London club was “born” from just a couple of people, growing slowly due to more people getting in contact. As time passed, from email contact it was obvious there was a “demand” for Naginata in Britain, as many who made enquiries, had had some knowledge of Naginata already, in various guises.
Due to the insurance ‘problems’, the club remained “a group of friends” – and people were taken on, only by recommendation, or being known to Naginata people, in the first place, perhaps through other budo. More and more people suggested advertising or going public in order to grow Naginata, but we remained in a difficult stalemate due to being unable to get insurance for a semi-contact budo (martial art) which insurers knew little about, and importantly where the criteria set, was a minimum dan grade to teach a group.
We could not “openly promote” or grow, unless we were fully insured. We continued to privately practice, otherwise it would have been easy to give up at the many obstacles thrown our way in 2005. Sheer dogmatic willpower prevailed in the face of adversity.
British people must now look forward positively and constructive to progress in their own Naginata studies, without getting drowned in the politics and bureaucratic issues of an association. Naginata budo world is small, and our association reflects this.
In setting up the British Naginata Association, we have “gone by the book” under English & Welsh law and insurance criteria, that means risk assessments, risk avoidance, full cover and liability issues assessed/addressed, and potential measures in place to avoid litigation problems, had to be tackled robustly, even for the sake of just one club and one instructor.
We appreciate individuals in the INF (and Japan) who have done their best to support on a personal level, efforts in Britain whilst we continue to sort out domestic issues. We hope this support continues.
Therefore, slowly it made known that a “private meeting” of likeminded friends would meet to practice Naginata at a sports venue. The London club was “born” from just a couple of people, growing slowly due to more people getting in contact. As time passed, from email contact it was obvious there was a “demand” for Naginata in Britain, as many who made enquiries, had had some knowledge of Naginata already, in various guises.
Due to the insurance ‘problems’, the club remained “a group of friends” – and people were taken on, only by recommendation, or being known to Naginata people, in the first place, perhaps through other budo. More and more people suggested advertising or going public in order to grow Naginata, but we remained in a difficult stalemate due to being unable to get insurance for a semi-contact budo (martial art) which insurers knew little about, and importantly where the criteria set, was a minimum dan grade to teach a group.
We could not “openly promote” or grow, unless we were fully insured. We continued to privately practice, otherwise it would have been easy to give up at the many obstacles thrown our way in 2005. Sheer dogmatic willpower prevailed in the face of adversity.
British people must now look forward positively and constructive to progress in their own Naginata studies, without getting drowned in the politics and bureaucratic issues of an association. Naginata budo world is small, and our association reflects this.
In setting up the British Naginata Association, we have “gone by the book” under English & Welsh law and insurance criteria, that means risk assessments, risk avoidance, full cover and liability issues assessed/addressed, and potential measures in place to avoid litigation problems, had to be tackled robustly, even for the sake of just one club and one instructor.
We appreciate individuals in the INF (and Japan) who have done their best to support on a personal level, efforts in Britain whilst we continue to sort out domestic issues. We hope this support continues.
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