#backhold wrestling

[fotoflingscotland]

Backhold Wrestling by FotoFling Scotland Via Flickr: Loch Lomond Highland Games 2013

[seanmacaoidh]

Ready to wrestle at the highland games in Glasgow

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Glima: the Viking Martial Arts

Glima is a Scandinavian martial arts system used by the fearless Vikings.

In order to survive or win a battle, Viking warriors were expected to master a fight with and without weapons. Strength wasn’t the only way to dominate your opponent even though the Vikings were famous for their strength and brute force. To advance their combat skills and dominate the battlefield causing a Viking age they developed a traditional and quite ancient martial art system which they implemented into their other fighting skills. This martial arts system called Glima was practiced by men and women of all ages.

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 mighty God Thor was defeated by an old woman, but she was skilled in the martial art of Glima.

But Thor was also familiar with Glima. Glima was so important for Viking society that their most popular god, Thor, was also the god of wrestling.

The word Glima in Old Norse means glimpse or flash. The name tells it all and that is to destroy your opponent in a glimpse of a second.

Due to 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 Icelandic medieval book of laws known as Grágás (Gray Goose Laws), which refers to a collection of earlier Norwegian laws, there were rules for wrestling.

The Vikings were mostly farmers and animal breeders but they plundered when times got tough. They did this in order to survive. This technique was invented by the people and it spread variously when the Viking age struck. Women and men were implementing it in their raids and had an element of surprise to their opponents. This was a type of wrestling and it was considered a sport, they even implemented it in their gods.

Because Glima was used everywhere around the Viking culture it became a tradition. Children from the age of 6 -7 years old started training this technique and mastered it until they reached the age where they could fight. In some ways then Viking society was much more martial than one had realised before.

This ancient martial art system is divided into two categories known as Combat Glima and Sport Glima.

Combat Glima - Lausatok (Løse-tak) was used in mainly used by Viking warriors for self-defense and combat.

Combat Glima and the martial art style includes throws, blows, kicks, chokes, locks, pain techniques, and weapon techniques. Many expert consider combat Glima to be comparable with the best complete martial arts systems from around the world.

Sport Glima was in ancient times practiced by men, women and children. It was a popular and most 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.

The most popular style in Iceland and Sweden is Brokartök. It’s Iceland’s national sport.

Brokatok is the most widespread among the types of glima in Iceland.  Brokatok is more focussed on strength. The two wrestlers wear a special belt around their  waist, they also have belts on their thighs and on each leg.

Hyrgspenna or  backhold wrestling is similar to other types of wrestling. Hyrgspenna is more  of a  test of strength. In this type of glima, the participants take hold of  each other’s body, and whoever touches the ground with any part of the body  except the feet, will lose.

Lausatok, which is also called loose-grip or  free-grip, is quite aggressive compared to the other types of glima. All kinds of wrestling  techniques are allowed.

Glima was a demonstration sport at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games.

The tradition of Glima has been kept alive and the sport  is still very popular in Scandinavia.

[avishabilis]

A pic I took of one of the spectators at a 2010 traditional backhold wrestling match in Blair Atholl, Scotland.

[jamiericbass]

Loch Lomond Highland Games 2018

[regulatorsc]

#Folkwrestling

Backhold Wrestling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fjow7H2Lbg 

[mike13mt]

Backhold Wrestling by FotoFling

[ozarkbear]

Prepping for moot, cleaned out and rebuilt the altar, looking to having friends and family join for some backhold wrestling and deadlift comp before ritual. #Beornings #Beorningstribe #arctolatry #bearcult https://www.instagram.com/p/B1zcEnxnOaQ/?igshid=1cctzvn6a2sqn

[fadingfartconnoisseur]

A Road Trip to the Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon

At the end of August, I found myself back in Scotland for my third visit to this beautiful country and lucky for me, this trip coincided with two things I had been wanting to experience for a while: one was seeing the glens covered in purple heather and the other was attending the Highland Games!

I attended my first ever Highlands Games a few summers back in Fredericton, Canada, and that was a lot of fun. They had a ceilidh, Gaelic lessons, Highlands dancing, as well as a slew of athletic events including the famed caber toss where a massive pole (tree trunk!) is tossed end over end. I had been wanting to attend the ‘real thing’ ever since, and this summer was my chance!

After spending a few days in Glasgow, it was finally time for the big event, so Sam and I hopped in our rental car and set out towards our destination. Next stop: the Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon!

The town of Dunoon is located on the west shore of the upper Firth of Clyde in Argyll and Bute, and we were treated to some pretty amazing landscapes on the drive over. Technically, we could have just taken a ferry across and cut our travel time, but we wanted lochs, we wanted forests, and we wanted winding roads to soak in the beauty of nature, so we were more than glad to tack on a few extra kilometres.

Our route took us west out of Glasgow and then north along the shores of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Loch Lomond is the largest loch in Scotland and probably the most famous after Loch Ness, so we pulled over to stretch our legs and take some photos – unfortunately, there was no sighting of Nessie’s cousin!

From there we continued through Arrochar, over the Rest and Be Thankful lookout point, along Loch Fyne, through Strachur, and down the shores of Loch Eck before arriving in Dunoon…in the middle of a torrential downpour!

As there was little chance of sightseeing considering the weather, we grabbed a quick bite of dinner in town, and then continued on to the nearby town of Innellan where we would be spending the night.

Staying at a cozy AirBnB in a mansion

Now I feel like I say this a lot, but we ended up at one of the coolest little AirBnBs ever!

We had a room in a merchant’s mansion from the 1850s, our bedroom had views overlooking the water, and there was a beautiful Golden Retriever willing to accept all the pets and belly rubs in the world. We also had an amazing host who was a classical musician, so we actually ended up spending part of the evening together chatting in his dining room and having tea and biscuits (as you do!), which was really cool.

Lately, Sam and I have been staying in AirBnBs where we have the whole space to ourselves, so it was nice having a host for a change and to hear about life in this little corner of Scotland.

Also, that night I had one of the best sleeps of my life. I think it was the combination of that cool late-summer air, the fluffiest duvet and pillows, and the tranquillity of the town, all combined to offer an amazing night’s rest.

Going to the Cowal Highland Gathering

The following morning we got up bright and early and drove from Innellan to Dunoon. It was a short 15-minute drive and we arrived just as they were setting up for the Cowal Games.

This is the largest of all the Highland Games in the world attracting over 3,000 competitors and 20,000 spectators from around the world, so it was pretty cool to be in attendance!

Having only had a quick cup of tea before we ran out the door, we wandered over to the food truck area inside the grounds. Here we saw some Scottish classics listed on the menu, so we had to dig in.

It may have been way too early for lunch, but I ordered myself a plate of beef stovies (a potato mash with onions, vegetables, and different meats) and Sam got himself some haggis with neeps and tatties (sheep’s pluck with turnips and potatoes on the side). It was my first time trying beef stovies and I really enjoyed it – hearty, filling and perfect to kick start a busy day.

And then, it was time for some games!

So what can you expect from the games?

The games were broken down into 4 main categories, and even though we were only there for a day, we still managed to see a bit of everything.

Highland Dancing – The Cowal Highland Gathering hosted the Scottish and World Championships, so there were lots of international dancers – some even from Canada! We watched part of the competition but the dance that really caught my eye was the Scottish Sword Dance. This is a victory dance meaning that if the Scots won in battle, they would dance over their enemies weapons to celebrate a return home to their wives and families.

Piping – This category was split into pipe bands and solo piping. The solo piping had taken place the previous day, but we got to watch the bands compete in the Cowal Pipe Band Championship. Apparently, at the very end of the event, all of the pipe bands get together and salute the Chieftain to the tune of ‘Highland Laddie’. We missed this but I can only imagine what 1,000+ pipers playing in unison sounds like!

Wrestling – This event is focused on Scottish backhold wrestling which has been practiced since the 8th century and was also part of the earliest Highland Games! This form of wrestling involves wrestlers gripping each other around the waist, the right hand under the opponent’s left arm and the chin resting on the opposite right shoulder. If the wrestler breaks his hold or touches the ground with any part of his body except his feet, he loses.

Heavy Athletics – Now this is what I was most looking forward to! The heavy athletics are an amazing display of human strength and a celebration of a tradition that has been passed down over the centuries. It usually features the following events:

Caber toss: Where competitors toss a caber so that it turns end over end.

Stone put: Similar to throwing a shot put, except instead of a steel shot, they use a large stone.

Scottish hammer throw: A round metal ball attached to a hammer is whirled and then thrown over the shoulder.

Weight throw: A combination of two events where light and heavy weights with a chain attached to a handle are thrown.

Weight over the bar: The athlete has to throw a weight with a handle over their head and over a bar.

Sheaf toss: Where a bundle of straw (the sheaf) wrapped in a burlap bag is tossed vertically with a pitchfork over a raised bar.

Phewww! I’m just exhausted thinking of the strength required to compete in these events. I’ll just let the next few photos do the talking.

And aside from all of these competitions, there’s actually quite a bit more to do at the games! There was also a Ceilidh tent showcasing some homegrown talent, food trucks where you could tuck into local cuisine, numerous games and workshops for children, as well as other events taking place across town like the street parade and fireworks display, a classic cars showcase, and numerous races.

All in all, plenty to keep busy!

A scenic drive back to Glasgow

We had to leave Dunoon in the late afternoon to go back to Glasgow and catch our flight, so we didn’t get to watch the closing ceremony for the Cowal Highland Gathering, but we did have a beautiful drive back.

Since we had improved weather this time, we actually managed to make a few stops, first at Benmore after we spotted a field full of sheep (yes, we are those tourists!), and then at the Rest And Be Thankful lookout point because with a name like that, you can’t help but obey!

A few tips for the Cowal Games

Now a few tips to keep in mind in case you find yourself attending the Highland Games next year:

The Cowal Highland Gathering is held annually in the town of Dunoon on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute on the last weekend in August.

You’re going to be spending the whole day outdoors, so it’s a good idea to dress for unpredictable Scottish weather. Keep in mind that the grounds get very muddy by the end of the day. I wore rain boots, a rain jacket, a scarf and toque (it was surprisingly chilly for August!), and I also kept my umbrella handy and had to pull it out a few times.

Locals bring their own tents and lawn chairs (a clever move!) so something to consider if you’re planning on sticking around all day.

The Cowal Games are a popular event so it’s a good idea to book your accommodations well in advance. If you want to snag a good parking spot near the grounds, it’s also a good idea to arrive early before the games begin!

Tickets for the Cowal Games can be purchased at the ticketing booth just outside the grounds, or you can just get them online to avoid the long lines.

Have you ever attended the Highland Games? 
Where and what was it like?

via Travel Blogs http://ift.tt/2gLpvDH

[fotoflingscotland]

Backhold Wrestling by FotoFling Scotland Via Flickr: Cowal Gathering 2019

[seanmacaoidh]

Some old historical shots of backhold wrestling

[jamiericbass]

The 2018 Bridge of Allan Highland Games

[mike13mt]

Paul Craig & Max Frayne by FotoFling

[ozarkbear]

Had a chance to to sit down and think about moot this past weekend, I stood up and spoke up for a worthless fuck and said he might prove to be worth something someday to Beornings. @deadman_kickboxing you've just made the worst choice. + + + Had a friend come up from Southern Illinois, to spend time with us at moot. Was good to see him and I can't wait to have him back, maybe next time @barbarian_k1ng will join us in some backhold wrestling. + + + I was gifted A Gada from our guest. I gifted him with one of my favourites. This one feels like it's swinging so very slow while I'm under it even though it looks like it's moving the same speed. + + + #Beornings #tribalism #berserker #gada #militantmaceculture https://www.instagram.com/p/BylxWEUnFob/?igshid=1w2ead0imz0h6

[scottishwrestlingbond]

Photo: A few of the award winners at the Angus Backhold Wrestling Competition held at Carnoustie Leisure Centre, Carnoustie on 19th March 2016

A full selection of photos with results details are available here

[fotoflingscotland]

Cameron Horne: Scottish Backhold Wrestler by FotoFling Scotland

Click link to view full album of shots https://www.flickr.com/photos/fotos_by_findlay/albums/72177720301189042