Iceland review - 2013, Page 27

ICELAND REVIEW 25
ZEN WARRIOR
Only 24, gunnar’s been quick about mak-
ing his mark. Starting Mixed Martial
Arts and Brazilian Ju Jitsu at 16, he has
won 11 consecutive international com-
petitions and remains unbeaten. Already this year, gunnar has
been awarded the title of 2012 Nordic Breakthrough Fighter
of the Year by Nordic MMA news site MMA Viking, Iceland’s
gaming giant CCP became his sponsor and he beat the older
and more experienced Jorge Santiago at Wembley Stadium in
London. gunnar is currently taking time out to recover from
a knee injury.
MA: You’ve trained in New York, Manchester, Dublin and
Reykjavík. What impact have these very different cultural places
had on your training?
GN: Every single person has a different energy in personality
and training, and it’s about learning how to deal with these
different energies wherever you go, whether it’s in Hawaii or
Dublin or Manchester.
MA: You’ve said you believe, “you need to have a clear and
relaxed mind in order to let your game flow and be creative” and
that when you fight, “you’re not thinking of anything.” How do
you train this mental, emotional part of yourself?
GN: When you first start to learn how to fight there is a lot
of fear involved, this is only natural and gives you focus. The
focus however cannot be on fear, or it will tear you apart. Your
focus is on what you’re doing from moment to moment and
to inspire your beliefs, your visions and your dreams. With time
this feeling of fear stops being fear and turns into a different
feeling, an awareness that you have created to be useful, a pure
focus.
MA:How did you reach that awareness?
GN: I’ve always liked to think and I’ve always been very aware.
You might just call it meditation, to slow down your mind and
try to create a map in your head.
MA: You use a ‘rear naked choke’ when you’re competing—which
sounds pretty violent to me—and yet are known for your control
and calm and have said, “I want people to see the good in me.”
Where does this come from? Do you have a family trait of gentle
giants?
PHOTO BY PÁll STEfÁnSSon
GN: No (laughs), my parents have been together for many years
and there’s always been a lot of care in my family. They know
their right from wrong and doing good is always number one.
I’m more like my mum, quiet and slower, but I’m also similar
to my dad as we are to the point and don’t tiptoe around things.
MA:You say it’s important for you to be playful. As a boy you
used to spend a great deal of time playing outside. What forms does
playing now take for you—are you still climbing trees?
GN: I just bought a bicycle and in the summer [my friends
and I] jump from the ships into the sea. In general I just like to
be outside. Sometimes we take a road trip in Iceland and I really
like camping as well.
MA: Can you tell me a little about your grandfather? I understand
he’s a great influence in your life.
GN: My grandparents live up north in Ólafsfjörður and have a
fish farm there. I spent a lot of time there when I was young, it
was a privilege because they live in a different kind of way than
most people in the city, and there’s a different kind of energy—
even more with my grandfather because he’s so easy going. He’s
very good at doing things and likes to have a project. He also
worked as a teacher for a while and when he’s teaching some-
body, he’ll let you make mistakes. He’ll show you the basics but
not everything and he understands that you’ll figure out how
to do it which is perfect for me as I like to figure things out in
my own way. I think we’re similar in this respect and we’re both
easy going.
MA: He sounds like a practical man and part of what you do when
you’re fighting is with your hands as well.
GN: Yes, and just being able to get lost in something and
absorbed in an activity, yes, we’re similar.
MA: Finally, can you tell me a little about your current goals?
GN: My main goals are everyday goals; I like to focus on what
I’m doing and how I do it, be open, sceptical and practical. And
to practice. I have dreams as well, that take me all around the
world all the time. I know I’ll be a martial artist all my life. 