Hurstwic Photo Album

Viking combat practice at Higgins Armory Museum April, 2011 photos by Malgorzata Malkowska courtesy of Higgins Armory Museum	We're creating some new demo material, using fighting moves described in the Sagas of Icelanders. We're using the same approach that we used to create the fight videos seen here. In this session, we were practicing some of the moves used by fighting men in the sagas.	Avoiding an incoming attack by jumping over it (Brennu-Njáls saga ch.145), in this case, from a two-handed axe.	Taking control of an incoming axe attack with the hand (Brennu-Njáls saga ch.17), and setting it aside, allowing an unarmed man to follow up with an improvised weapon, a belt knife.
Viking Day at Higgins Armory Museum January, 2011 Viking board games photos by Malgorzata Malkowska courtesy of Higgins Armory Museum	Viking tug-of-war	family-friendly Viking combat workshops	Viking combat demonstration
Video shoot: November, 2010 Viking Combat Training at Higgins Armory Museum for American Treasures, a new show premiering on the Discovery Channel in spring, 2011. Photos courtesy of Peter Graupner	We taught Jason and Kirk, the two hosts of the show, some fundamentals of Viking combat.	We taught Jason and Kirk using the training techniques we use in the Viking combat classes we offer, and in our regular Viking practice sessions.	We played the shield bind game.
We did cutting practice against a pell...	...learning to develop power in the cut.	We did cutting practice against a pad.	We did some grappling exercises...
...a lot of different grappling exercises...	...and some grappling games.	We did the Haugbúinn drill to practice defense with the shield... and we finished with several rounds of the Klámhögg game.	We also shot a segment discussing Viking-age weapons featuring the two fabulous 9th century Viking swords on display in the museum's Great Hall.
The two hosts seemed to enjoy the work... ...Jason De León...	...and Kirk French...	...and they really got into the spirit of our Viking training.	Even the crew joined in on the drills during the breaks in the shooting, not wanting to miss out on the fun.
Viking Day, July, 2009 The Higgins Armory Museum held a full day of Viking activities, including the regular Viking combat demo... as well as games and crafts for kids, lectures on Viking topics… photos by Lauren Davis	a combat mini-demo in the Great Hall...	and a book signing by the author of Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques.	Many visitors bought or brought copies of the book to be signed.
The Sword Guild offered a workshop on Viking combat techniques. Museum guests learned a few fundamentals and then tried some of the techniques using wooden practice weapons.	The techniques were based on those taught in Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques and regularly demonstrated in our combat demonstrations.	Instructors from both the Sword Guild...	and from Hurstwic taught in the workshop.
Participants over a wide age range enjoyed the workshop.			The workshop concluded with an opportunity to participate in a shield wall.
Viking Weapons and Combat Demo at Higgins Armory Museum January, 2009		We've been researching fighting techniques for Viking axes and are pleased to be able to introduce axe combat into our demonstrations. This sequence of photographs shows the premiere of our new demonstration. photos courtesy of David Decker and used with permission	Sadly, the Higgins Museum is now closed, but we occasionally do combat demonstrations in other venues. The weapons and techniques shown here are described in more detail in the book, Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques, from Westholme Publishing. The book is once again available from your favorite bookseller. But please be aware that in the years since the book was written, our research has advanced. Some of the ideas in the book no longer represent our current thinking about how Vikings fought and used their weapons.
The combatant on the right tries to end the fight quickly with a powerful overhead attack. His opponent foils the attack by running underneath, making the long-hafted two-handed axe useless and ineffectual.			The combatant on the left parried the surprise attack coming from behind his opponent's shield, and he is about to give his opponent a very close shave.
Other weapons forms shown in the demonstration. A demonstration of an offensive use of the Viking shield.	The shield is held in a forward, aggressive position.	The combatant on the right is about to put his opponent in a shield bind, an aggressive move that effectively ends the fight. His opponent loses all control over his weapons and his body, and the combatant is free to attack any open target, including a thrust up under the ribs.	The combatant on the left has just kicked his opponent's shield out of the way, twisting up his opponent's body, and opening many possible targets for attack.
Elementary School Presentation on Viking Daily Life December, 2008	discussion of Viking ice skates and other Viking games and sports	demonstration of Viking comb and other Viking grooming aids	try-on of Viking helmet
	audience	demonstration of Viking writing tablet
Viking Sword Show and Tell following a guest presentation by Lee A. Jones and Jeffrey L. Pringle on Viking Sword Fabrication at Higgins Armory Museum. November, 2008	Museum visitors had an opportunity to closely examine historical Viking blades. Here, a 9th century blade is examined by a visitor.	A visitor examines an inlaid 9th century Viking sword pommel, which shows clear evidence of the inlay techniques detailed by Lee and Jeff.	During the presentation, which was an extension of the Hurstwic demo at the Higgins, Lee and Jeff discussed recent results in their research on fabrication techniques used by Viking-age smiths.
Presentation at Gerðuberg, Reykjavík, Iceland on Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques a new book now available from your favorite bookseller.	comparing Viking sword and shield to I.33 sword and buckler	The presentation was at the the invitation of Einherjar, a Viking group in Reykjavík. Gunnar jarl	A summary of the presentation is on Einherjar's site here.
Viking Weapons and Combat Demo at Higgins Armory Museum June, 2008 Guests in the Great Hall prior to the demonstration.	Pointing out that the head makes for a fine target.	Discussing some of the benefits of an axe in combat.	A guest takes a close look at a sword.
The same guest takes an even closer look at an axe.
Video shoot for Modern Marvels on The History Channel on Viking axe combat show aired on May 30, 2008
A test cut for Modern Marvels Viking axe against a Viking shield	The axe is buried in the shield.	The hand holding the shield would have been partially severed. The plank is split from end to end.	After one more blow, the shield is useless.
Photo shoot at Berkshire Icelandics horse farm: Vikings of all ages and Icelandic horses for a forthcoming book	Horse Diaries #1 Elska by Catherine Hapka illustrated by Ruth Sanderson now available Random House
		Finished illustrations by Ruth Sanderson based on the photos from the session used with permission
			Timeline at Higgins Armory Museum November, 2007 A young visitor asked who would win a fight between a 10th century Viking and a 18th century Harmon's Snowshoeman. We had to find out.
Viking Weekend at Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology September, 2006	photo by Bruce Crooks	photo by Bruce Crooks	Oseberg tent Information and plans for this Oseberg tent reproduction is available in the Hurstwic library.
A young Viking warrior trying on a mail shirt and coif. photo by Karl Wurst	Testing the mail against a sword cut. photo by Karl Wurst	It worked! photo by Karl Wurst	Demonstrations of Viking sword and shield fight techniques photo by Karl Wurst