by David D’hose
Belgian naginata has been invited to take part in the 5th Night of Martial Arts or NAMT in Lièges on April 19, 2025. This is always a good opportunity to showcase our little-known martial art, and we accepted the invitation, even though Lièges is not particularly close to Brussels. Alongside some twenty other martial arts and to the sound of taiko, we presented naginata.
Program :
Taiko – Paris Taiko group
Katori Shinto Ryu – Francois-Guillaume Nihoul
Aikido aikikai – Alex walnier
Aikido Kishinkai – Léo Tamaki
Jujutsu traditionel – Jiyuseikan Dojo
Karate wado Ryu – Nicolas Conté
Yoroi Sento – Wallonia Bugeikan
Karate Kyokushin et Kubo– Kyokushin Amay
Jujutsu – Danny Daem
Karaté shotokan – Michel Lelièvre
Kendo – Meibukan Liege
Taekwondo – Benjamin Boelhi
Karate Zendokai– Thomas Melens
Nihon Tai jistu– Xavier Duval et Christopher Pastur
Judo – Kyoryukai
iaido – Agastukan
Viet vo dao – LE Huu Dai
Hapkido – Hapkido Liège
Silat – ASA SILAT
Aikido Shudokan – Heihokan
Naginata – David D’Hose
Boxe ancienne et cane – Vincent Bourguignon
Iaido – Butokukan
Aikido Shudokan – Heihokan
The bravest members of the club set off to present naginata at this martial arts evening. We prepared the sequences in advance as we had a precise timing of 6 to 8 minutes to present our martial art, knowing that many presentations would be made before and after and that the evening was long. We agreed to present a beautiful happo buri all together, then three shikake odji, a little geiko and finally the first five katas. We rehearsed this during the course of the presentation, timing these sequences to ensure that we didn’t exceed 8 minutes.
On the day of the demonstration, we set off for Lièges with a light heart. The organizers had asked us to arrive an hour before the start of the evening, but we were well ahead of schedule and took the opportunity to have a drink in Lièges, a pretty town in the heart of Wallonia.
When the time came, we headed for the venue, which was a small theater seating just under 200. For the evening, the decorations had a Japanese feel, with bonsais and Japanese armor. We changed in the dressing rooms like performers, which was quite original, and moved up to fourth after the Katori Shinto Ryu. Our demonstrations went well, but it was clear that it was the armor fights that were the most successful 🙂
After chatting with other practitioners and watching demonstrations, we had a good ramen to finish off this wonderful evening before heading home.
I recommend that you take every opportunity to present naginata, which is still little-known.