Learn to fight like a Norse god
Published: Mon, 05/02/16
There is a story in the Norse Mythology which relates to Frey, son of Njord and brother of the beautiful Freya. Frey surreptitiously caught a glimpse of a delightful Joten (ice giant) maiden, daughter of the giant Gymir, and fell hopelessly in love with her. Despite Frey’s reputation as a great warrior he believed himself powerless to woo the object of his desire. At Odin’s instigation Frey’s servant Skirnir was persuaded to visit the maiden on Frey’s behalf. A mission the young man was only prepared to undertake once he had taken possession of Frey’s sword. A weapon so fine that it would fight by itself in the right hands.
Frey willingly gave up his prized possession. A meeting with the object of his desire was arranged and Frey had to travel to Jotenheim effectively unarmed. Gymir’s daughter may have agreed to a tryst with a Vanir but other members of her family had violent objections to a mixed race relationship. The maiden’s brother Beli confronted Frey in the latter stages of the would be lover’s journey, combat followed and the Joten was slain by Frey who was armed only with a stag’s antler.
The matter was discussed much later as recorded in Snorri’s Gylfaginning. Gangleri, questioning three of the Aseir, suggests that Frey must have been at a disadvantage without his sword. The reply comes that it didn’t really make much difference in this case and Frey could as easily have defeated the giant with his fist.
This story suggests to me that Frey was not dependent upon a particular weapon, however well designed and artfully forged, because he understood the generic principles of combat. Thus, it did not really matter if Frey had a sword, an antler or simply his bare hands, with a fundamental understanding of principle he could always find a way to defeat an enemy regardless of the actual equipment or resources at his disposal.
Ivar Hafskjold has always said when teaching Stav that there are no techniques, no specific weapons, just training drills to teach principles and the human body, with or without a simple stick of any length. Once the principle is genuinely understood then any weapon can be used effectively.
On the first weekend of June in Crewkerne we are going to explore this concept in detail. Two days of training, two instructors, me and Fox Walters and four weapons, two generic forms, tein/dagger and cudgel and two specific types, the Fairbairn-Sykes commando knife and the tomahawk. You will learn the generic principle of using close quarter weapons and then how to apply this principle to actual historical weapons.
Crewkerne on the 4th and 5th of June at Somerset Stav Martial Arts. Full details at http://www.stavcamp.org/index.html
regards
Graham
PS If you would like to learn from Ivar Hafskjold directly there will be a rare opportunity to train with the heir to the Hafskjold-stav tradition on the 23rd to 25th of September http://www.stavcamp.org/ih.html