ICELANDIC JIU-JITSU.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 23, Issue 7, 26 January 1912, Page 2

ICELANDIC JIU-JITSU.

ITS SECRETS HAVE BEEN GUARDED FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, “Up to the present time, Glima, the ancient pastime and- means of personal defence in Iceland, has been jealously guarded from all foreigners. “Indeed the only occasion when strangers 'were allowed to witness it during the whole of the last century was when it was displayed before King Christian IX. of Denmark at Thingvellir, when he visited Iceland in 1874, and even then only two‘ men took part—the present Rev. Sigurour, Ounnarsson of Stykkisholm and the Rev. Larus Halldorsson of Reykjavik. “But times change, and thus today, even in far-away Iceland, where news from the outside world is slow to creep in, we have at last recognised that no good purpose is being served by still keeping secret our ancient form of self-defence, the knowledge of which, valuable though it is in everyday Ufa, must necessarily play second Eddie in scientific warfare. . 1 j “On that account, therefore, ,to : day | I feel no qualms in divulging the secrets of this form of self-defence, which has been practised in Iceland since 1100, when my country was a republic. It was not then limited to the platform or to any special occasion, for throughout the land from the country farm to the Althing (Parliament) it was a 1 daily exercise in-which most men took part. “The essential, idea of thft Icelandic form of self-defence is to enable the weaker to hold their own with the stronger, and I am not exaggerating when I say that if she will take the trouble to learn some of .the tricks and hitches ■of Glima even a woman possessed of only ordinary strength will be able to defend herself against and overcome an opponent possessed of far greater physical strength."—“Strand Magazine,”