The Viking fighting style was something more than axe-hacking screams or clanging steel, it was combat choreography mixed with brute physicality and combat strategy. Perhaps one of the overlooked but intriguing facts about Viking combat is Glima, an Old Nordic combat art of wrestling by which warriors had an upper hand during individual combat.
Under Norse convention and survivability, however, Glima was something more than sport: it was conditioning oneself for war, defending one’s reputation, and hardening one’s body for Viking life.
Discover the Ancient Viking combat system, find out about the combat art called Glima, and discover how the practice has contemporary relevance.
Ancient Viking Fighting Technique and the Role for Glima
Glima or “flash” or “glimpse,” was the ancient Viking fighting style. While contemporary images of the Viking Age are more about savage raids and fierce weapons contests, it was the Glima where one learned skills for such deadly contests. It was where one learned balance, agility, timing, and command—the skills for unarmed combat as well as for combat once one was disarmed on the battlefield.
Where contemporary wrestling was about strong constructions, good postures, sporting qualities, and elegance, other than pure muscle, according to Viking wrestling history, it was Gilma was something beyond exercise. It was also the manifestation of Viking virtues such as toughness and honor.
Glima was also regularly drilled in mock combat or friendly fights, but was also used for fighter training to quickly dominate enemies. It even featured in certain schools the macabre “drowning game,” whereby one was to throw one’s foes into water and keep them submerged. The deadly hobby thus dwelt on the emphases with which the Vikings put corporeal domination over life.
Viking Martial Arts: Technique, Training, and Legacy
Viking martial arts went beyond weapons training. Glima involved three main styles:
- Lausatök (loose-grip) – focused on real-life combat situations with fewer rules.
- Hryggspenna (back-hold) – a test of strength where opponents locked arms and tried to throw each other.
- Byxtuglíma (trouser-grip wrestling) – the most common and sportsmanlike form, practiced with a firm grip on the opponent’s trousers.
Varied practice accordingly enabled Viking warriors to cope with uncertain environments. You would ordinarily anticipate just such combat practice to enable Norse dominance all over all of Europe.
Having featured in Viking fight history, Glima was passed down one generation after the other by surviving both orally and by practice by hand. Up to date, it has also survived as a cultural heritage in Iceland as well as some Scandinavian countries where matches are still conducted to keep the Viking fighting spirit alive.
From the Norse Fjords to the Present Day
Where you used to need to test your mettle by participating in bloody games on the battlefield or by the riverbeds like a Viking warrior, contemporary matches are just slightly modified. You may not discover you’re tossing someone into a fjord, but competition spirit and one-upping an enemy are intact. You can even experience it all from base, either as a strategy meeting or by trying the ultimate card games from Vegas Aces.
Though modern gamers are not quite so enthusiastic about getting practice in using axes or fighting by shorelines, mental self-discipline, strategy, and a sense of adventure just so keep us tied in with the Viking spirit.
Although the Viking fight system may have evolved, it still exists, the dojo rooms all over Scandinavia and in the mindset of anyone who admires power, strategy, and skills. Whether you learn about history or test your skills online, the Viking approach still inspires one to stand up, fight against others, and win.
FAQ
Why was Glima important for Viking warriors?
Glima instructed Viking warriors in balance, speed, and self-protection so they could excel in one-on-one combat. It was also a cultural training ground for combat.
How did Glima shape Viking combat?
Through the improvement in mental concentration accompanied by body coordination, Glima enabled fighters to dominate in all situations, with weapon or unarmed, better than rivals in either crowded or disorienting situations.
Is Glima still practiced today in Scandinavia?
Yes. The sport continues to be learned and competed in, though predominantly in Iceland, where it has national status as a traditional sport with championships.
How does Glima compare to other wrestling styles?
Unlike modern-day wrestling, Glima is more about fair play, appropriate posture, and subtle technique than brute muscle strength. It is about delicacy and balance than overpowering one’s opponent.
