Sōhei (僧兵, "monk soldiers", "warrior monks"[1]) were Buddhist warrior monks, The naginata is the weapon most often associated with them, though in legend as well as history many warrior monks are known to have been proficient with everything from bow and arrow to tantō and wakizashi (dagger and short sword). Many fought on horseback, and many with the ō-yoroi armor of the samurai. The sōhei were also trained to use the heavy kanabō, which was a large club forged of solid iron. Although deadly, this weapon was generally used to defeat an opponent without bloodshed.