Grimfrost Hird is a global organization dedicated to exploring and reconstructing Viking Age combat. The main tool for this is the Holmgang setting, where two fighters are facing off according to the old rules from the Viking Age. The historical duels were fought with sharp weapons and without armor - the Hird uses blunt weapon and all the necessary armor to stay safe (which includes a lot of non-Viking period gear - safety first!)
WHY
The main objective is to find out what techniques really worked in the small 4m x 4m ring. We do know that the fighters had extra shields with them, which indicates that the fights were aggressive and that the strikes used a lot of force. That is expected in a life and death situation that can't be escaped.
HOW
The fights are full contact in the true sense of the word, and most body parts are allowed targets.
To further simulate the setting, a points system is used where 1 scoring strike that would have incapacitated an unarmored opponent ends the round. It basically means that the opponent would have died or been severly injured. Just imagine putting a wood chopper's axe into your thigh - you'd be out of action quite quickly.
To make things more interesting for the fighters, the rounds continue until one has reached 3 points.
ABOUT THE VIDEO
The fights are aggressive, hard and fast - just as they would have been in a real fight. Scoring strikes are therefore repeated in slow motion to give some insight into what is going on.
Worth noting regarding historical accuracy when it comes to the armor: The Hird reconstructs combat - not appearence. Mail would be preferable, but lamellar armor is necessary in a full contact Holmgang setting to rigidly protect the fighters. Nobody wants to be injured badly. The exception is for experienced fighters who feel comfortabe with their defensive skills.
In this particular video we had fighters who came without their gear and had to be given what was available. Thus, there are non-period equipment visible that couldn't be hidden properly.
MORE DETAILS
Thrusts aren't used, since they can be very dangerous in this setting. In either case, we have learned that they aren't very effective. They expose too much and make the fighter to lose momentum in the close quarter life and death setting.
Wrestling is not allowed, since we believe that honor was important. The fighters came to face off in a duel with weapons - not to roll around in the mud. Also, it is dangerous to expose oneself in a take down attempt.
Polearms are not useful in a holmgang, and axes pose a real challenge with their reduced striking area. Fighters often end up in a clinch, where long cuts using the sword's edge are the only technique that work.
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