UK GLIMA MASTERCLASS APRIL 2020

3 DAY MASTERCLASS in SPORT LAUSTAK and COMBAT LAUSTAK

Basic through to instructor level with GRADING and CERTIFICATION from The UKGF !

The UK Glima Federation organized a Basic to Instructor level Laustak skills Masterclass hosted by Laustak Master Tyr Neilson from AVK in Norway (Vikingmartialarts.com)

IMPORTANT NOTICE

DUE TO CORONAVIRUS SITUATION, THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL A LATER DATE

UK LAUSTAK MASTERCLASS 20 - 22 SEPT

3 DAY MASTERCLASS in SPORT LAUSTAK and COMBAT LAUSTAK

UK GLIMA FEDERATION - INSTRUCTOR GRADING and CERTIFICATION

This eagerly awaited event with Laustak Master Tyr Neilson from AVK in Norway, started fast and kept up the pace throughout, covering the planned schedule of Sport Laustak, and Combat Laustak, with and without weapons.

Everyone at the seminar had fun with Sport Laustak, and because of their martial arts experience, they quickly got to grips with the basic premise of taking an opponent down, and getting away from their reach when they are on the mat.

Along with Laustak throws, takedowns, and grappling on the mat, pain techniques were a big favorite.

Everyone understood the benifits of Combat Laustak as a self defence system, and eagerly put it to the test, with striking and grappling, on the feet and on the mat, with and without weapons.

Everyone at the seminar had a ton of experience from different martial arts styles. All left their egos at the entrance and were open to Laustak principles and techniques. They sweated, worked and had fun as they earned their grading and certification from The UKGF.

“It’s fantastic that these instructors, who come from such different martial arts, are now taking Laustak out into the world. It was an honor to work with these inspiring martial artists and men. I look forward to meeting and training with you all again.” Tyr Neilsen - AVK

“Hi Tyr, I just wanted to say a massive thank you for coming and sharing your knowledge with us all here in the UK. It was an absolute pleasure to learn from you.” - Tony Davis - Total Dojo

“It was a real privilege learning Laustak from and training with you. Absoulutely loved your teaching approach and method.” - Paul Gornall - Total Dojo

“A massive thank you to Master Tyr Neilsen for taking the time to come over and share his wealth of knowledge and experience, and to Bjørn Braathen and Lars Egil Gulbrandsen for also being there to encourage and help educate.” - Steven Scott - Úlfhéðinn Glima

“What a great experience, I'm honored to have trained and graded to instructor level in the brutal martial art of Laustak.” “The course was well organized and the information delivered fantastically.” - James Simpson

“Pleasure to meet you Tyr. Awesome coaching!” - James Buchanon - Viking Fitness

“Awesome training from a truly top guy!! Thanks for your time, passion, knowledge, stories and pressups!!” - Junior Sealey

“Fantastic to meet and train with you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with such passion.” - Stuart Harris - Total Dojo

Find out more about UK Glima at their website and blog www.ukglima.co.uk

LAUSTAK HEL TRAINING WEEKEND

The Academy has a tough grading exam for students. It’s extra tough on instructors, with a two day exam taking place outdoors in the forest and hills.

Laustak instructor Bjørn Braathen was preparing to take his next grading, just weeks before going into the Norwegian military, when the Academy was contacted by a US film company who wanted to do a TV documentary about Laustak and Bjørn.

On a cold weekend in march, a film team flew to Norway to film it.

This grading, dubbed ‘Hel weekend’ had ice, snow, sunshine, a group of great students, lots of fun, and Viking martial arts training.

Day 1 had 4 hours of Sport Laustak, indoors, at the beautiful Aesir Academy, where former Norwegian Laustak Champion, John Harald Foss Fjeldbu, was on hand to help with grading.

At the end of the day, several Academy students received diplomas and belts from instructors Lars Gulbrandsen and Bjørn Braathen.

Day 2 had over 4 hours of Combat Laustak outdoors in an area of deep snow and ice. Students went through gruelling striking, grappling, wrestling and weapon techniques, then ended their grading with tough glima matches.

Bjørn’s grading was even tougher, with a punishing finale, where he had a Laustak match with every student, one after the other. with no pause!

Each student fullfilled the grading requirements and recieved their diplomas in Combat Laustak. Bjørn received his new grading level and diploma, certifying him 2nd degree Laustak Instructor.

At the end of the day, bloody, sweaty and in great humor, students made several campfires, cooked and ate tasty food, beside a frozen lake.

Bjørn has won several championships, including: - 80kg Norwegian Laustak Champion (2017, 2018), 3 X Junior Norwegian Laustak Champion (2013, 2014, 2015) and Gudvangen Laustak Champion 2017. Bjørn was also responsible for the 2018 Borre Glima Championship.

Bjørn specialized in sports at Rosthaug Videregående Skole, with Glima as his main subject. This put Laustak into the Norwegian school system for the first time.

The Academy of Viking Martial Arts wishes Bjørn all the best for his military service.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqR_DfzIPQM&ab_channel=AVKNorway

LAUSTAK SEMINAR in BERGEN

Laustak winter training camp in Bergen was an exciting weekend with lots of exercise, armed and unarmed Viking martial arts and fun. The seminar included everything from  sports Laustak intended for friendly competition, to self defence techniques against unarmed and armed assailants. 

Day 1: Sport Laustak and Combat Laustak + History of Viking combat presentation and dinner

Day 2: Sport Laustak , Combat Laustak and historical weapons

Senior Instructor Tyr Neilsen and 3 x Norwegian Junior Laustak Champion Bjørn Braathen put students through their paces with sport and combat takedown techniques, strikes, groundwork, pain techniques, and stick and knife techniques.

The Academy appreciates the warm welcome and effort from everyone involved in the training, and we would like to give a big thanks to Chris West of Bjørgvin Glima in Bergen for organizing this training camp and for providing Saturdays Viking feast.

LAUSTAK SAFETY and SECURITY WORKSHOP

Joining the Academy for this safety and security workshop was guest instructor Håkon Neil. Håkon has many years of Laustak experince as well as experience in safety and security professions. 

This 8 hour workshop included awareness, downplaying situations, single person techniques and team techniques, as well as interaction in training real-life scenarios.

Students had the possibility to learn and practice skills to help build self-confidence and keeping calm in stress situations. These simulations are challenging and demanding, and provide an excellent learning experience.  

Knowledge & Skill technique training included: Security Awareness - Safety Awareness - Identifying risks and threats - Identifying and implementing appropriate security measures - Avoiding Conflict and Reducing Personal Risk - Defusing Conflict - Conflict Management - Dealing with aggression - Staying calm when confronted with aggression - Influencing the stress level of the aggressor - Application of Communication Skills - Negotiating a way out of a situation without losing respect - Physical Intervention - Introduction to Physical Skills - Escorting Techniques - Disengagement Techniques - Emergency Procedures - Teamwork.

COMBAT LAUSTAK WINTER TRAINING BOOT CAMP

combat glima boot camp with tyr neilsen

A successful winter Combat Laustak Boot Camp weekend, with sunshine, a group of great participants, lots of fun, and tough training.

Day 1 of the boot camp started with 2 hours indoor Sport Laustak, where everyone went through landing techniques to make sure everyone could be taken down without being hurt. This was followed with takedown techniques such as basic throws and sweeps, groundwork and pain techniques.

After lunch outdoors, near a forest and mountain range, senior Academy Senior instructor Tyr Neilsen demonstrated differences and similiarities between historical Viking weapons and their modern equivalent.

With hands on instruction from Tyr, students were able to apply basic hand to hand combat Laustak techniques, with and without weapons.

Students got to grips (literally) with stick and knife attacks and defences, and quickly managed basic techniques. Within the afternoon, they were busy applying blocks, takedowns, disarming and grappling with and without training weapons.

Day 1 finished with a Viking buffet, a presentation of Viking martial arts, followed by Q and A, and a few beers.

Day 2 built on what students had worked with on day 1. After some few hours, their techniques became much sharper when attacking and defending with wooden sticks and training knives.

After a warm lunch beside a campfire, students worked on grappling, when standing and on the ground, and attacked, defended, and fought for weapons with gritty determination,

The day ended with a lot of  sweat, no tears, and great humor.  

Comments from some participants at the Combat Laustak Boot Camp:

"Combat Laustak boot camp is one of the most intense and interesting seminars I have attended."
"Amazing martial art and really motivating. Tyr worked to give us a good, hard look into what Viking Fighting means!" "Thank you for this weekend, you guys are awesome!" - Anders Jarle Johansen 

"The Combat Laustak workshop weekend was interesting and challenging. I got just as much out of the weekend as a woman without much experience. I was outside my comfort zones, but was not uncomfortable and felt a sense of belonging to the group of strong men."

"Laustak is an interesting and cool way to learn to fight or defend yourself. The way you use nature or your environment makes sense and the moves are smart and easy to understand." "Tyr is an incredibly talented and charming trainer. It is clear that his interest goes far beyond the weekend course, and that his passion for Laustak is authentic." "On the whole, this was a new, very good experience and I recommend everyone a Combat Laustak weekend!" - Anna Hoifødt 

''Combat Laustak Winter Training Boot Camp was an extremely fun weekend, full of exciting techniques for all kinds of situations, lots of great moments and a very interesting and motivating experience.'' "I would highly reccomend it for both people with or without martial arts experience'' - Lars Egil Gulbrandsen 

"A fantastic great training camp, with varying program of hand-to-hand combat and self-defense, with and without weapons." "The instructors were very competent, clever and motivating, and all honor to Tyr for a wonderful and information- rich training camp." - Anders Sandbakken

VIKING WRESTLING IS NOW IN THE NORWEGIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM !

For the first time, Norway's own style of wrestling, Laustak, is part of the Norwegian school curriculum.

Academy junior instructor Bjorn Arild Braathen, who is 3 x Junior Norwegian champion, has Laustak as his subject at Rosthaug Videregående skole.

Laustok is the name of a Norwegian traditional folk wrestling style, which has its roots in Viking Age Norway. The name comes from the Old Norse Lousatök, which means Loose-grip/Free-grip, because there is no single compulsary grip in this type of Viking wrestling.

On Monday October 7th, AVK senior instructor Tyr Neilsen and Bjørn held a demonstration of Sport Laustak for the school, followed by a Laustak workshop for school students.

Students in 2IDA were quick to get to grips with the basics of Sport Laustak. After safely managing landings and a variety of throws and takedowns, students were allowed to compete in matches.

In a safe and fun atmosphere, boys vs boys, girls vs girls, and girls vs boys matches, became exciting contests of technique, speed, strength and stamina.

The 2IDA students were eager to learn, and showed a friendly yet competetive attitude. Students and faculty have asked for a second workshop, and the Academy of Viking Martial Arts looks forward to returning to Rosthaug Videregående skole, later in the school year.