Costa Rica will host the first World Championship of Glima outside Scandinavia, becoming the headquarters of this ancient martial art of Viking origin.
The competitions will take place on November 8 and 9 on the beaches of Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas, and will be open to the public for free.
This discipline, which has similarities with judo, requires competitors to fight hand-to-hand until they knock down the opponent and subdue them.
The championship will be historic, not only because it is based outside of Scandinavia, but also because it will include, for the first time, women’s categories with weight divisions: light and heavy.
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According to Andrés Fontana, organizer of the event, Costa Rica was chosen after the Scandinavian glima master visited the country in 2019 and was impressed with the level of the Costa Rican athletes.
“In Scandinavia they had a problem with the place where the World Cup and the festival take place, so when the teacher came in 2019 he was really surprised with the level of Costa Rica and said that they would choose a venue that was strong,” Fontana explained.
The tournament will have competitors from Norway, Sweden, Italy, the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile and Costa Rica, with our country being the one that will have the largest number of qualifiers, with 27 athletes.
Where are the academies located: Saint Joseph: Lomas de Ayarco, San Antonio de Desamparados, Escazú. Heredia: Belén. Alajuela: Center. Puntarenas: Monteverde. Guanacaste: Tilarán.
Glima has been present in Costa Rica for 24 years and, unlike other martial arts, it is practiced on natural surfaces such as grass or sand, without the use of tatami mats or rings.
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Competitors also do not wear traditional uniforms: men participate shirtless and women wear a rashguard (lycra-type shirt). Regarding its format, there are no delete keys; Each competitor must face all those registered in their category, and the champion is the one who wins the most fights.
Glima is divided into two branches: competitive, which will be held in Costa Rica, and self-defense, which allows a wider range of techniques, including kicks, holds and chokes.
Roberto Fontana, 48, one of the Ticos fighters, said he has trained most of his life and that reaching the world championship is a dream.
“It is something that I have prepared for in my life, an achievement within my martial career and also within personal improvement, I have worked hard,” said the competitor in the -70 kilo category.
Silvia Rojas Salgado, who will compete in the +70 kilos category, also expressed her pride in representing Costa Rica.
“It is a challenge to enter, one has to fight, put psychological, physical and emotional challenges and demand oneself in that way. The first fight is to win over myself, to overcome my fears, with the burdens. That is the first fight that must be won,” he said.
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Alonso Cordero, from the +100 kilo category, stated that being in the World Cup is a unique opportunity, which must be taken advantage of.
“Being chosen for such a responsibility is incredible, it is the fruit of the efforts of the teachers, of the organizers, to bring the event. It really is a dream and I hope that more people are motivated to practice it.”
The Glima World Cup in Costa Rica not only marks a milestone for this discipline, being the first event of its kind outside Scandinavia, but also opens a unique opportunity for the country to demonstrate its potential in the world of martial arts.
With a mix of tradition, strength and honor, participants are ready to make history and show the Costa Rican fighting spirit within the framework of this ancient Viking practice.
