Combat Hopak (also Boyovyy Hopak, Boyovyi Hopak from Ukrainian Бойовий гопак ) is a Cossack martial art from Ukraine. 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, Cossack sabre fencing, and Cossack war dances like the Hopak and the Metelytsia.[1][2][3][4] Combat Hopak practitioners wear traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts, wide long cloth belt and Sharavary. Combat Hopak fighters also wear shoes like practitioners of Savate and perform kicks while wearing them.

Combat/Boyovyy Hopak
Also known asБойовий гопак, Boyovyi Hopak, Boyovyy Hopak
Focusvarious
HardnessFull contact, Semi contact, Light contact
Country of originUkraine Ukraine
Creatorunknown buti was Cossack's (systematised & codified by Volodymyr Pylant in 1985
Famous practitionersKateryna Tarnovska ( founder of Asgarda )
ParenthoodHopak and other traditional Ukrainian dances, Ukrainian folk wrestling, Ukrainian fistfighting, Cossack combat
Descendant artsAsgarda
Olympic sportNo

Ukraine edit

In Ukraine, schools of Combat Hopak are present in most parts of country.[5][6][7] Students of this martial art take part in tournaments in cossack free fighting, kickboxing, wrestling, and MMA formulas in Ukraine.

Outside Ukraine edit

 
Combat Hopak training by Olexandr Chemykos at Shanghai Hopak School

It has schools in Poland,[8][9][10] Canada,[11] the United States,[12] Germany,[13] Portugal[14] and China.[15]

Combat Hopak team was representing the style during Chungju World Martial Arts Festival in 2001.[citation needed]

In 2019 representation of Combat Hopak toured France.[16]

Subtypes of Combat Hopak edit

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 edit

In popular culture edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "ІСТОРIЯ РОЗВИТКУ ШКОЛИ БОЙОВОГО ГОПАКА Центральна Школа Бойового Гопака". hopak.org.ua. Archived from the original on 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  2. ^ "Combat Hopak: Ukraine's Martial Art Based on a Traditional Dance". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  3. ^ "Ukrainians Restore National Culture Through Ancient Cossack Dance Hopak". Worldwide News Ukraine.
  4. ^ Yuliya Pivtorak. "Ukrainian Hopak: From Dance for Entertainment to Martial Art". Cambridge University Press.
  5. ^ "Curiosities of Western Ukraine. School of combat hopak in Ternopil".
  6. ^ "Combat Hopak Makes a Comeback: Traditional Martial Arts In Ukraine".
  7. ^ "Fighting and Dancing With the Cossacks". VICE.
  8. ^ "Public Polish Television news about Combat Hopak school in Warsaw". TVP 1.
  9. ^ "TVP Rzeszów news about Combat Hopak presentation in Rzeszów". TVP Rzeszów.
  10. ^ "Ukrainian combat hopak takes off in Poland". uatoday.tv. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  11. ^ "About Us | Toronto School of Ukrainian Martial Arts". www.bhopaktoronto.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-05-08. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  12. ^ "The School of Boyovyi Hopak in Chicago". hopakchicago.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  13. ^ "Combat Hopak in Berlin". Facebook. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  14. ^ "Contact section at webpage of Central School of Combat Hopak". Central School of Combat Hopak. Archived from the original on 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  15. ^ "UKRAINIAN COMBAT HOPAK AT SHANGHAI".
  16. ^ "LE HOPAK DE COMBAT, un art martial ukrainien, présenté en France".
  17. ^ "History of Asgarda martial art (English version)". Webpage of School of Asgarda martial art. Archived from the original on 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  18. ^ "The Warrior Women of Asgarda". VICE.
  19. ^ "Asgarda, Amazons of Ukraine". Planet mag.
  20. ^ "Fight club". The Telegraph.
  21. ^ "Ukraine : des femmes qui font mâle". Le Figaro.
  22. ^ Tartak. "Nashe Lito".