“GLIMA.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 17, 26 April 1911, Page 42

“GLIMA.”

The wonders of the secret sport of Iceland and how to learn this hitherto jealously-guarded art ot self- ». defence, which beats Ju-jitsu.

Bi)

Johannes Josefsson,

the World's Glima ” Champion.

UtUN<» recent years public inft . tere«t in any and every really J valuable form of self-defence X— S has increased very largely, and on that account it will be a matter of the greatest surprise to me if“ the true merits of “Glima/* the particular form of eelfdefence that has actually been prac-

tised in Iceland for nearly one thousand years, do not, when once knowji. become generally recognised, ior. as has been pjoved on countless- occasions, it is at once the simplest aiul yet Avithal the most efficacious of all exercises..: But up to the present time the ancient pastime of my countrymen Iras-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 'ljhingvellir. when he visited Iceland -iiL 1874. ‘and even then only two men took’part—the present Rev. Sigurour Giinnarssori, of Stykkisholm, and the Rev. Larus Ilalldorsson, of Reykjavik. But times change, and thus to-day, 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 selfdefence, the knowledge of which, valuable though it is in everyday life, must necessarily play “second fiddle’* in scientific warfare. 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 IBM), when -my 'country ’waii a Republic. It *vas not thvii Ihuited br the platform nor ' to any special'occasion, for throughout the land, from the country 'farm 4o ‘ * the Althing ( Parliament), it was a daily exercise in which most men took part. ’ . The essential idea of this h«elandic' form of self defence l is to enable tjje weaker to hold their own with the stronger, and I am not exaggerating when I say that, if she will take (.he trouble to learn some of- the tricks and ••hitches” of Glinui. 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. » Tn recent years, too, the perfection to which Glima has been brought has proved it to be, in a high degree, an

exercise which gives health and endurance to the body, and which also acts as a real source of refreshment to the mind, while, at the same time, sharpening the courage, smartness, and intellect of those who take part in it. I would mention that most of the grips are formed by the aid of the feet and legs, so that, even should an exponent of

Glima have his or her hands tied, a capable resisteiK-e can still be made, no matter from which side the attacker may decide to start operations. It would be easy to write, at considerable length about the history of this wonderful form of self-defence, for

the story of how, little by little, new holds and hitches have been thought out to enable its exponents to be prepared for emergencies is full of interest. Still, in the space allowed to me, I could not do sufficient justice to the subject, so that I will content myself by explaining various tricks which are likely to prove most useful in everyday life. Even in these civilised days the hooligan and larrikin is far from “a back number,” as cases so frequently reported in the. Press clearly prove, but I would dare swear that these amiably-inclined “gen-. tiemen” would speedily have cause to. regret their temerity if they were- to. attempt an assault on an opponent conversant with Glima. • • Perhaps the most common form of

attack is with the flats, and, generally speaking, a man possessed of some knowledge of how to box must inevitably have a. great pull over an opponent who lias never learnt how to use his fists. I will, therefore, explain how an attack with the fists can be easily warded off,

and also how the attacker can be reduced to a state of lamb-like passivity, even though his strength may be far greater than that of the opponent he has attacked. For the sake of example, let us say that he leads off with the left, as shown in the accompanying illustration (Fig. 1). As he strikes out, all that it is necessary to do is to throw yourself down on your left hand, at the same time throwing the right foot across his right leg jiist above the knee, and quickly ' gripping your left foot behind and over the opponent’s right, when,- by pressing - your right foot back and your left foot forward, you have - him in such a position that you can throw him to the ground (Fig.

2), and, by exerting pressure, keep him there until he has decided that further attack would be, to put it mildly, a most indiscreet undertaking. On paper, no doubt, this explanation might not eeem clear, but if you will practice the hold for a minute or t>wo with any opponent, you will be able to prove its lvalue at once. But 1 do not think 1 need give any clearer example, of the merits of this trick than 'by saying shat, although I am not a boxer myself, I am, nevertheless; prepared to challenge even the champion of the world, and to throw him to the ground before he can make any real use of his fistic ability.

And now let me explain how, even ■with your hands tied, if you possess any knowledge of Glima, you can overcome any attacker with the greatest ease in the world. Firstly, let us suppose that the attack comes from behind. Realising that your hands are tied, an attacker may try to completely overcome you by trying to throw you backwards (Fig. ,3). To do this the laws of balance coinpel him to. grip the upper part of your body, and he will probably seize you by .the head and chest, as by this means ho gets a more powerful leverage than by any qther. As,.therefore, he grasps you under the chin and tries to force your bead back, lean quickly forward, and unless he leaves go, the attacker will be

thrown completely over your shoulders, landing in the position as shown in Fig. 4), when he is dearly al your mercy, for if lie does not drop his hold he must inevitably break his own neck, a form of self-execution which even the most evilminded hooligan is not likely to greatly enjoy. When unarmed, to be attacked by an opponent with a knife is a happening

which even Mark Tapley would assuredly not have found particularly cheering. However, auch an attack can be rendered completely ineffective, as follows. Jrf4. us suppose that the attacker strikes out with his knife in the right hand. As he does so the attacked must move slightly to the left, so that the arm comes over his shoulder (Fig. 5). He must then turn quickly to the right, at the same time twisting his left leg round the attacker’s right, as shown in Fig. 6, and also pulling the attacker’s right arm across his chest, when the former will find himself in a position from which he cannot possibly extricate himself, for, by putting on even slight pressure, his apponent can either break his arm or leg with the greatest of ease. Maybe, explaining what can be done, I must seem lather a blood-thirsty person. As a matter of fact, however, 1 should like to say that 1 am the most peacefully inclined individual in the world. Still to show how Glima can be made of real value in everyday life in the case of attack it is necessary to point out the unenviable position any opponent must find himself in if he struggles against a Glima “hold.” An excellent means of throwing an

opponent off his balance is known in the Icelandic fbrin'of 'self-tTefenoe as the “inverted hitch.” This is performed ; with either right foot on right (Fig. 7) or left on left, by hooking the foot slantwise round an’opponent’s heel, the attacker’s knee beiiVslightly forward and his opponent's,slightly inward, so that the foot is Ibcked ih the position shown in the illustration;. The attacker then draws his foot smartly to one side, and with his hands he keeps his opponent, from jumping, for it is important to keep him down, otherwise the trick can oe frustrated. Another valuable trick for unbalancing ah opponent- is the: “leg trick.” This is performed by placing the right foot on the. opponent’s left (Fig. 18), or vice versa, so that the inner part oT.tlie foot

touches the outer part of the foot. Th* feet are then drawn from him, and the hands used to complete the fall. I would mention, by the way, that the last twrt tricks 1 have described will be founJ particularly effective should the reader . .encounter some individual in a crowd ol elsewhere, who shows some inclination to assert his position in an unpleasant manucr Uy jostling or otherwise using undue pressure. Yes, the “leg trick” and “inverted hitch” will be found invaluable replies to jostler's idiosyncrasies. An opponent possessed of “firearms’? and unamiable imlinalions is never a' particularly pleasant person to meet? Still; at close quarters it is possible to; deprive him of much of his advantage if you will ict quickly, an I act as follows, l.'et. .us suppose that he is trying to ex* Tort; in nie.;. ofc tire, jtt+fihudu'j ol some wish by levelling a revolver at your

head, and threatening “your money or your life” unless you consent to do he dictates. As he raises the revolver step quickly back, at the same time lean* ing backwards, and with your right f<»ot kick up his wrist in such a way that his aim is completely “put out of joivt,* m that, whether he tires or not.

the shot must inevitably miss its destination (Fig. 9). 1 do not pretend, of course, th it this trick is in any way infallible, for an opponent with firearms and his fiEg?r on the trigger must netessarily be possessed of an enormous advantage over an unarmed adversary. At

the same time, with sufficient practice, the simple device 1 have explained can be performed so rapidly that, while the arm is being raised to fire, the foot acts more quickly ami reaches the wrist before the revolver is in the requisite position to make an effective shot. I Another extremely useful way of dis*' arming an opponent —if only you are quick enough—is shown in Fig. 10. As the attacker levels his revolver at his adversary’s head, the latter quickly bends down and grasps his opponent’s yight wrist with his left hand and the latter’s left with his right hand, the while forcing his left wrist back. With his right leg he then encircles the attavker’s left in such a way that he can easily throw him backwards, when, by gripping the wrist of the hand in which he holds the revolver, and by pressing the thumb <»n the back of the armed hand and gripping his palm with the other fingers. an opponent is inevitably forced to drop the revolver. Try this grip on .anyone you like, no matter how strong he lie. ami you will find it extraordinarily effective.

A trick I would earnestly commend to ladies is known in Glima as the “zigzag trick” (Fig. 11). By this manoeuvre even a child can throw a strong man to tire ground with lightning rapidity, ami in my native country 1 have of Un sc.u

a little Icelander bring about the overthrow of a man who, in a hand-to-hand struggle, would probably have defeated her “with two fingers.” The requisite position in which to bring this trick into play can be understood at once by glancing at the illustration. The “zigzag trick" is "laid” by placing the right foot

round an opponent’s right leg, when, by quickly gripping him by the wrists and swinging him slightly to the left, he will find himself on his back in a fraction of a second. The value of this trick is derived entirely from the laws of balance, and, if practised a few times, ladies will find it particularly useful as a means of subjugating someone much stronger than themselves. The "gentle hooligan” who relies upon a knife or dagger to bring about an opponent’s downfall can be subdued as follows. As he strikes downwards with his knife (Fig. 12) the person attacked bends slightly backwards, at the same time gripping the right wrist with the left hand and his right ankle with ths right hand from the outside, when, by pressing the leg upwards, as shown in the illustration, an opponent, no matter how strong he may be, can be thrown backwards to the ground. I quite realise that “the hypercritical reader,” who, maybe, has never even heard of Glima, will probably scoff at the tricks 1 have explained, by reason of the fact that in cold, hard print they probably sound far from easy of accomplishment. I would hasten to say, therefore, that every Glima trick explained in this article will be found perfectly simple after a little practice. After all, it is on practice, and practice alone, that each and every form of selfAlefence depends for its real vlue in times of stress; and when 1 point out that a really clever exponent of Glima is more than a master for an adept at any other form of self-defence, I am merely giving this Icelandic pastime the credit to which it is entitled. In conclusion, I would lay special stress on the necessity of each trick being performed sharply and decisively.

Had space permitted I could have explained many other tricks which might possibly have come in useful at some time or another. If, however, my readers will be content to thoroughly master the various “ self-defence ” exercises set forth in this article, they will find that they are armed with a stock-in-trade of defensive tactics which will assuredly serve them in good stead should necessity to bring them into play arise. No special gymnasium is required in which to practise Glima tricks; any or-dinary-sized apartment will serve the purpose; in fact, a plot of level ground anywhere furnishes an excellent school, providing there are no stones. I would mention, too, that no carpet is required, and the tricks may be practiced in ordinary clothes, though, until they become fairly expert I would counsel beginners not to wear too heavily-soled boots or shoes. Soft shoes, or the stockinged feet, are best when commencing to practice Gilma tricks as, speed being so essential to their successful accomplishment, unnecessarily hard knocks are sometimes given when heavy foot-gear is worn.