Ulfhrafnar: Combat Training 

Before new warriors can take the field at events, they train to pass The Vikings’ battlefield safety assessment using a sword, hand axe or single-handed spear. The gallery above shows some of the components - safely defending against and controlling pole arms, following commands as part of a shieldwall, forming a boarsnout, safely tackling a berserker and finally doing some free fighting.

The test ends with a one-on-one two-minute fight against a  training thegn - an advanced warrior. The training thegn will leave openings, and the testee must demonstrate that they can land legal shots safely and with "lethal character" - shots must on a legal target area, with minimum force but deliberate contact. 

Once the initial battlefield safety assessment has been passed with a side arm (sword, hand axe or one-handed spear), warriors can train to use a two-handed spear, Dane axe, javelins or even two weapons.

When we fight as a unit in a shieldwall, warriors with different weapons collaborate to maximise fighting efficiency. You'll see a mix of long and short-range weapons, shields and pole-arms when we take the field.

During private training and as part of our one-on-one weapon displays at shows, warriors can engage in more competitive fighting - always maintaining control over their shots in terms of target area and force. The video above shows some one-on-one relaxed training, and one of our younger members preparing for their initial archery test.