The Academy of Viking Martial Arts does not glamorize weapon use, but we do teach techniques to defend against, disarm and use weapons in life threatening situations.

If you ever find yourself in being attacked by someone with a weapon, the best thing to do is to get away from such a situation as fast as possible. If you can't run away, or believe that you must defend yourself and others, what then? In this situation, self-defense techniques are needed.

Hopefully, you will never be attacked or end up in such a dangerous situation, but there is violent crime in the world and attacks with weapons happen. If you are serious about learning self defense skills, join a reputable martial arts school and start training.

June 12, 2021

STICK FIGHTING by Tyr Neilsen

June 12, 2021/ AVK

Viking warriors were known for their fierce armed and unarmed combat skills. Their brutal and effective battlefield wrestling techniques, made them feared and respected by their enemies, in equal measure.

Viking battlefield wrestling evolved from the necessity to defend oneself when a weapon was lost or broken during combat. It was a vital skill that every warrior needed to know.

Each warrior understood that they could still have an advantage if they held a piece of a broken weapon, such as an axe handle, and combat techniques with axe handle or stick are devastating.

During the Viking Age, weapons made of steel were expensive and relatively rare, but all Norse hunters and farmers carried an axe, and even the poorest Northman had access to a stick.

The ability to improvise and adapt to the situation was critical to the Vikings' success in battle. In combat, every object around the warrior was a potential weapon, and Vikings needed to know how to make use of everything in their surroundings.

Viking battlefield wrestling was not just physical skill, but also a mindset, enabling warriors to be resourceful in combat, and turn a simple stick into a dangerous weapon.

In the hands of a skilled martial artist, a simple stick can be transformed into a versatile weapon, and there are techniques that can be done with a stick, such as locks, chokes and takedowns, that can’t be done with cutting weapons.

There's no standard size stick in Combat Laustak. We train with different sized sticks, which develops adaptability, enabling a Combat Laustak practitioner the ability to adjust to changing situations.

Combat Laustak stick techniques are simple, direct, and powerful. A primary goal is to hit an opponents weapon hand so they can no longer weild a weapon. Other goals include disarming and disabling.

Combat Laustak single stick techniques include using both hands on the stick, and these two-handed techniques implemented against opponent’s wrist, forearm, arm, neck, or head, are devastating.

Viking warriors needed to be quick-witted in combat, just as we do today. With the right training and mindset, even the simplest of objects can become a powerful weapon in your arsenal

Stick fighting is an integral part of Combat Laustak, and once the basic principles are taken in, they can be used for any cutting weapon.