No Cage Matches: Icelandic Wrestling

Wrestling is a sport universal to human beings the world over, and Iceland has a version of its own. Icelandic wrestling, called “glíma” here, has come a long way from its Viking origins. Back in the olden days, the coup de grace was to drop your opponent onto a metre-high obelisk called a “slaying stone” in the hopes of fracturing his spine. Today, glíma is a bit more civilised, and a lot more graceful. At times it can look like a dance, as it’s more about balance than it is about brute strength. Although being strong does help.

Check out these photos of the art of glíma in action. Happy Tuesday!

Link to the flickr gallery