Entering U of T at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was incredibly stressful. I wasn’t just moving out of my home and into a student residence away from my family — I was leaving behind my high school friends and the community I had built, only to come to a new, academically rigorous institution. You know the story.

U of T has a reputation for being a lonely place. The Varsity has previously reported on the school’s association with loneliness and you’ve likely seen a range of posts online warning prospective students about the isolation they might experience at U of T. 

In many ways, this was my experience too when I first arrived. Then, when I entered my second year, I finally had the chance to attend the UTSG club fair. It was here that I first discovered Naginata, a martial art that quickly became my way of connecting with others and carving out my own space within the larger university community.

What is Naginata?

Naginata is a traditional Japanese martial art that involves using a long spear — the naginata — to strike opponents and perform choreographed routines. The martial art dates back to around the seventh century in Japan, but gradually fell out of practice by the 1500s.

According to the All Japan Naginata Federation, “By the Edo period, when the naginata was hardly ever used in combat, it became the representative weapon of samurai women. They would engage in training in order to polish the virtues of Harmony, Order, Chastity and Moderation. The training would also develop the etiquette, style and personalities of the trainees.” 

Naginata became closely associated with women, with many practitioners in Japan being women. However, the federation emphasizes that today “Naginata can be enjoyed by men or women, from the youngest preschooler to the oldest senior citizen.”

During the Meiji Restoration — a nineteenth-century period in Japan when imperial rule was restored, leading to rapid industrialization and Westernization — martial arts like Naginata became less a symbol of status and culture and more a technique to be trained. 

Naginata practice is divided into two types: engi and shiai. Engi are non-contact forms that demonstrate techniques — referred to as waza — of slashing and blocking. On the other hand, shiai is full-contact sparring, where practitioners engage in direct competition. In both forms, the focus is not merely on defeating your opponent, but on “etiquette, form, and respect for others while helping the practitioner to improve balance, concentration, coordination, strength and spirit” — as described by the U of T Naginata Club (UTNC).

While many martial arts emphasize strength and skill, Naginata focuses on developing one’s technique and collaborating with others. Taylor Haw — co-captain of the UTNC and a fourth-year student studying art history as well as history and philosophy of science and technology — highlighted in an email to The Varsity that Naginata “has allowed [her] to accept failure or imperfection.” 

“I have become more comfortable with not being good at something after only learning it once and being kinder to myself,” she said. “I’ve come to enjoy the learning process more than striving for proficiency immediately.” 

Community building

UTSG’s club fair introduced me to the U of T Naginata Club. The trial session — hosted in the Hart House Gymnasium — introduced me to the sport, the UTNC members, and the wider Naginata community. 

Emma Cheung — co-captain of the UTNC and a third-year student pursuing a bachelor’s of information — joined for similar reasons. In an email to The Varsity, she shared that she “developed strong leadership and social skills from constantly going to practice.” 

“I’ve also had great experiences from being a member of UTNC [that] I wouldn’t otherwise have had,” she said. “The skills I’ve learned help make my university experience feel meaningful, while the experiences have given me amazing memories that let me enjoy my undergraduate journey that much more.”

My time with the UTNC has taught me to value communication and camaraderie in sports. The process of improving alongside my teammates has been incredibly valuable. To truly progress in the sport, you must learn to trust the feedback from your teammates and instructors. Naginata is known for its blunt, open feedback, but this honesty stems from a genuine desire for each member to reach their full potential. 

Tomas Almonte, UTNC’s current instructor and one of the club’s first members, shared in an email to The Varsity that he stayed with the sport because “the people I’ve met and the experiences shared over the years were unique and memorable and helped me develop into the person I am today. The positive experiences I enjoyed as a student largely contribute to why I continue to stay and help new members enjoy and find their own place within the community.”

Naginata as a sport is incredibly difficult to practice alone. Engi requires two people — an attacker, called a shikake, and a defender, called an ooji — while shiai requires a competitor. In both forms, you need a partner you can trust to give proper feedback. In Canadian dojos — schools of martial arts — it’s common to practice with every member, regardless of skill, rank, or dojo affiliation. This fosters a strong sense of community among practitioners. 

U of T is a large school with an incredibly diverse community and a wealth of resources. While this can lead to isolation, it also brings great opportunities; few schools can boast such a wide range of clubs and communities. 

Now that I’m graduating, I’ve made plans to venture away from my community again. However, I don’t think I’ll forget the lessons I’ve learned and the memories I made as a part of UTNC. It’s important to remember that the communities you find never truly leave you, these experiences and lessons become a part of who you are.