Glima is the Icelandic name given to a wrestling sport which originated in the Viking Age
and survived to the present day in Iceland.
There are a number of wrestling styles that survive from the middle ages in various parts of Europe, including some of Viking origin or that survive in areas of Viking settlement in Northern Europe. Most notable of these today are the "Backhold" styles such as Cumberland & Westmoorland wrestling practiced in North Western England and similar styles practiced in parts of Scotland as part of the Highland Games and the "Trousers Grip" style as practiced in Iceland.
Before the match starts the wrestlers shake hands to show that the match is to be a friendly meeting and that no ill will will be held by either party, either during or after the match no matter the result.
In the trousers grip style the participants take a fixed grip, originally on each others trousers although in modern Icelandic Glima competition a belt is used which incorporates a waist belt and straps around the wrestler's thighs. The wreslers grip each other's belts with their right hands and the outside of each other's thighs with their left hands as shown in the following picture...
The low grip emphasises technique and skill making raw upper body strength less important than in other styles. Before the match starts the wrestlers start to move in a clockwise circle so that their centre of balance is in constant motion, giving oportunities for the application of techniques (brögð or "tricks") and further reducing the importance of brute strength. The wrestlers maintain an upright stance, it is considered cowardly to lower the centre of balance and stand with the back bent forward.
The following sequence of pictures shows a Glima trick from start to end...
A throw is considered successful if the fallen wrestler touches the ground with any part of the body above the knee, above the elbow, on the torso, head or buttock or puts both hands down behind him. It is forbidden to fall on top of your oppenent when you have just thrown him or to pull your opponent down on top of you. If both participants fall at the same time it is called a brother fall and the match resumes.
There are a number of different techniques possible in Glima, ranging from heel hook techniques and sweeps performed against the opponent's lower leg, feet and ankles, to hip throws where the opponent is lifted and thrown over the wrestler's hip. Each technique also has a counter-technique which can be used to avoid the throw.
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