Combat Hopak (also Boyovyy Hopak, Boyovyi Hopak from Ukrainian Бойовий гопак ) is a

Cossack The Cossacks , es, cosaco , et, Kasakad, cazacii , fi, Kasakat, cazacii , french: cosaques , hu, kozákok, cazacii , it, cosacchi , orv, коза́ки, pl, Kozacy , pt, cossacos , ro, cazaci , russian: казаки́ or ...

martial art Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; a ...

from

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian invas ...

. It was systematised and codified in 1985 by Volodymyr Pylat (a descendant of a Cossack family from western Ukraine). It can be trained in light, semi and full contact formulae. Combat Hopak includes techniques of traditional Ukrainian folk fist fighting,

folk wrestling A folk wrestling style is any traditional style of wrestling, which may or may not be codified as a modern sport. Most cultures have developed regional forms of grappling. Europe Britain Traditionally wrestling has two main centres in Great ...

, Cossack

sabre A sabre (French: �sabʁ or saber in American English) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such as the ...

fencing Fencing is a group of three related combat sports. The three disciplines in modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre (also ''saber''); winning points are made through the weapon's contact with an opponent. A fourth discipline, ...

, and Cossack

war dance A war dance is a dance involving mock combat, usually in reference to tribal warrior societies where such dances were performed as a ritual connected with endemic warfare. Martial arts in various cultures can be performed in dance-like setti ...

s like the

Hopak Hopak ( uk, гопа́к, ) is a Ukrainian folk dance originating as a male dance among the Zaporozhian Cossacks, but later danced by couples, male soloists, and mixed groups of dancers. It is performed most often as a solitary concert dance by ...

and the

Metelytsia Metelitsa (russian: метелица), metelytsia () or miacielica ( be, мяцеліца, завейніца) is a popular folk dance from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. This dance abounds in swift changes of choreographed figures of a spinning ...

. Combat Hopak practitioners wear traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts, wide long cloth belt and

Sharavary Sharovary (''ir. sharavara'', pers. شلوار -''shalvar'') are a kind of men's pants, part of the national clothes of Ukrainian Cossacks - are free to hips, often with assembly at the waist, collected at the bottom near the ankles. Similar pan ...

. Combat Hopak fighters also wear shoes like practitioners of

Savate Savate (), also known as boxe française, savate boxing, French boxing or French footfighting, is a French kickboxing combat sport that uses the hands and feet as weapons combining elements of English boxing with graceful kicking techniques. ...

and perform kicks while wearing them.

Ukraine

In Ukraine, schools of Combat Hopak are present in most parts of country. Students of this martial art take part in tournaments in cossack free fighting,

kickboxing Kickboxing is a combat sport focused on kicking and punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, gen ...

wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...

and

MMA Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incor ...

formulas in Ukraine.

Outside Ukraine

It has schools in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into Voivodeships of Poland, sixteen voivodeships and is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union (EU), with over 38 mill ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...

, the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal: :* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...

and China. Combat Hopak team was representing the style during

Chungju Chungju (충주시) is a city in North Chungcheong province, South Korea. Uamsan is a mountain located within the outskirts of the city. The city is famous for the annual martial arts festival held in October. Also of note, former UN Secretar ...

World Martial Arts Festival in 2001. In 2019 representation of Combat Hopak toured

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

Subtypes of Combat Hopak

Combat Hopak can be trained in 4 ways: * Оздоровчий (Fitness) — as a form of gymnastics for health improvement * Фольклорно-мистецький (Theatrical) — preparations of forms for stage shows and presentations * Спортивний (Sport) — as regular contact sport for kickboxing, wrestling and MMA sport tournaments * Бойовий (Combat) — military grade hand-to-hand and weapon combat.

Systems - descendants of Combat Hopak

* Asgarda (officially formed in 2004)

In Popular Culture

* Choreography of dancers in Ruslana's entry in

Eurovision Song Contest 2004 The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 was the 49th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Istanbul, Turkey, following the country's victory at the with the song " Everyway That I Can" by Sertab Erener. Organised by the European B ...

included elements of Combat Hopak. Also video clips aired during

Eurovision Song Contest 2005 The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Kyiv, Ukraine, following the country's victory at the with the song "Wild Dances" by Ruslana. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (E ...

intermissions were including presentations of Combat Hopak by adepts of the style. * Ukrainian group

Tartak Tartak (Polish for ''sawmill'') may refer to: Places Poland * Tartak, Greater Poland Voivodeship * Tartak, Lublin Voivodeship *Tartak, Augustów County *Tartak, Siemiatycze County * Tartak, Sokółka County *Tartak, Suwałki County * Tartak, Mińs ...

video clip for their song "Nashe Lito" includes practitioners of Combat Hopak presenting technique.

References

{{Reflist Hybrid martial arts Cossack culture Historical European martial arts revival Combat sports Ukrainian martial arts