It was a no-nonsense way of fighting that cut out all unnecessary movements, and was tried and tested in single combat and on the battlefield, with life and death on the line. Viking battlefield wrestling was created and developed by Norse warriors who had to survive attacks from all kinds of weapons. The reason for the Viking warriors fighting prowess is found in the way they trained both with and without weapons.
On land and at sea, Vikings had the skills to survive against the various forms of warfare they encountered in their travels around the world. In the Middle East in the year 922, Muslim diplomat Ibn Fadlan wrote that he had never seen more perfect physical specimens than Viking warriors, and that they were the fiercest fighters he had ever seen. In the East, Viking warriors were admired and feared as the elite fighting force called the Varangian Guard. Throughout Europe, Vikings were admired and feared as they opened up trade routes, fought to keep them open, and carved out kingdoms. It is also the only period in history named after warriors. The Viking Age is the 300 year period of history between 790 - 1100 A.D.
