Glima – Ancient Martial Art Practiced By The Vikings Is Still Popular Today
Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Viking warriors were expected to master a fight with and without weapons to survive or win a battle.
A Viking warrior had to be able to fight with or without weapons. Image credit: Viking Martial Art Academy
It led to the development of a martial arts system called Glima that men and women of all ages practiced. The tradition of Glima has been kept alive, and the sport is still prevalent in Scandinavia.
Glima Was Practiced By Vikings And Norse Gods
Glima is mentioned in Old Norse texts. In the Prose Edda, in the book of Gylfaginning, one can read how the Norse God Thor took his journey to Utgards-Loki and was defeated in a wrestling match by the female jötunn Elli (Old Norse "Elli" means "old age")
It might seem odd that an older woman defeated the mighty God Thor, but she was skilled in the martial art of Glima.
But Thor was also familiar with Glima. Glima was so crucial for Viking society that their most popular god, Thor, was also the god of wrestling.
A depiction of Elli wrestling Thor (1919) by Robert Engels.
The word Glima in Old Norse means glimpse or flash.
Due to a lack of historical written records, it's difficult to determine when Glima became a popular ancient martial art.
What is known is that according to the Jónsbók law book from 1325 AD, original Norwegian settlers in Iceland brought Viking wrestling and the Glima combat systems with them to the island.
Glima is also mentioned in the medieval Icelandic book of laws known as Grágás (Gray Goose Laws), which refers to a collection of earlier Norwegian laws; there were wrestling rules.
The Difference Between Combat Glima And Sport Glima
This ancient martial art system is divided into two categories known as Combat Glima and Sport Glima.
Combat Glima: Viking warriors mainly used Lausatok (Løse-tak) for self-defense and combat.
Ancient Glima Art: Illustration: THOR WRESTLES ELLI by LORENZ FRØLICH
It is still possible to learn combat Glima, and the martial art style includes throws, blows, kicks, chokes, locks, pain techniques, and weapon techniques. Many experts consider combat Glima comparable with the best complete martial arts systems worldwide.
Men, women, and children in ancient times practiced Sport Glima. It was a popular and widespread sport in the Viking Age.
Sport Glima consists of several Scandinavian wrestling styles, such as Lausatok (free-grip glima), Hryggspenna (back-hold glima) and Brokartok (trouser-grip glima). Sport Glima has complex rules, with competitors divided into several classes based on strength and skill.
Glima is still practiced today. Image credit: Academy of Viking Martial Art
The most popular style in Iceland and Sweden is Brokartök. It's Iceland's national sport.
Scientists specializing in experimental archaeology studied ancient Viking battle techniques and discovered a new Viking fighting style. The study's results revealed that Vikings used their shields much more than previously thought.
Vikings had very sophisticated ships called longships. The longship's strength, maneuverability, and speed gave the Vikings vital advantages. The Vikings were skilled navigators with excellent knowledge of Europe's coasts and carefully planned their raids.
But more than longships and navigation skills is needed to win a battle. Vikings' combat techniques were based on martial arts such as Glima.
Updated on December 6, 2023
Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
2nd Century Inscription Unearthed At Forum Of Ancient City Of Philippopolis, Bulgaria
Archaeology | Oct 21, 2019
-
‘Chac Mool’ – Intriguing Life-Size Figure Carved In Single Stone
Featured Stories | Mar 5, 2016
-
Two Rare Funerary Busts Rescued From Destruction In Palmyra – Restored In Italy
Archaeology | Feb 25, 2017
-
Cro-Magnon Man Invented First Indoor Lighting – An Unusual But Effective Oil Lamp
Ancient History Facts | Jan 22, 2019
-
Ancient Greeks In Ukraine: 2000-Year-Old Settlement With Previously Unknown Structures – Localized By Polish Archaeologists
Archaeology | Nov 15, 2015
-
‘Euros Of Prehistory’ Were Currency Of People From The Early Bronze Age Of Central Europe
Artifacts | Jan 21, 2021
-
A Sensational Bronze Age Grave Of 20-Year-Old Elite Woman Found In Town Of Mány, Hungary
Archaeology | Aug 8, 2022
-
Mysterious Utah: Prehistoric Ancient Petroglyphs Of Santa Clara River Reserve
Civilizations | Oct 2, 2018
-
Colossus of Ramesess II At Karnak Temples Is Undergoing Restoration
Archaeology | Feb 24, 2017
-
On This Day In History: Charlemagne King Of The Franks And Emperor Of The Holy Roman Empire Born – On April 2, 742
News | Apr 2, 2017
-
Monks Mound In Ancient Cahokia Was Not What Scientists Previously Thought – New Study
Archaeology | Jul 21, 2022
-
Illness And Death Of The Edward Of Woodstock ‘Black Prince’ Changed The Course Of English History
Archaeology | Dec 21, 2022
-
Huge Ancient Underground Stone Circle Discovered Inside Cornwall Neolithic Henge
Archaeology | May 21, 2022
-
Hedeby: Prestigious Trading Center And One Of The Largest Baltic Sea Ports In Viking Age
Featured Stories | Jun 18, 2016
-
3.6 Million-Year-Old Rare Skeleton Of Human Ancestor Revealed By Researchers In South Africa
Archaeology | Dec 7, 2017
-
Magnetic Fields Used To Explore Doggerland And Other Prehistoric Submerged Sites
Archaeology | Mar 10, 2023
-
Ancient Jaintia Kingdom And The Garden Of Monoliths And Dolmens
Featured Stories | Nov 8, 2016
-
Magnificent Interior Of The Djoser Pyramid Revealed In Stunning Images And Video
News | Mar 14, 2020
-
First Solid Scientific Evidence That Vikings Brought Animals To Britain
Archaeology | Feb 1, 2023
-
Mystery Of The Lost Biblical Kadesh Where Moses Was Punished By God
Biblical Mysteries | Oct 17, 2017