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 Povzunets (Cossack dance centered around crawling and squat position movements) 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.
| Also known as | Бойовий гопак, Boyovyi Hopak, Boyovyy Hopak |
|---|---|
| Focus | various |
| Hardness | Full contact, Semi contact, Light contact |
| Country of origin |  Ukraine |
| Creator | systematised & codified by Volodymyr Pylant in 1985 |
| Famous practitioners | Kateryna Tarnovska (founder of Asgarda) |
| Parenthood | Hopak and other traditional Ukrainian dances, Ukrainian folk wrestling, Ukrainian fistfighting, Cossack combat |
| Descendant arts | Asgarda |
| Olympic sport | No |
Ukraine
editIn 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
editIt has schools in Poland,[8][9][10] Canada,[11] the United States,[12] Germany,[13] Portugal.[14]
Combat Hopak team was representing the style during Chungju World Martial Arts Festival in 2001.[citation needed]
Subtypes of Combat Hopak
editCombat 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
editIn popular culture
edit- Choreography of dancers in Ruslana's entry in Eurovision Song Contest 2004 included elements of Combat Hopak. Also video clips aired during Eurovision Song Contest 2005 intermissions were including presentations of Combat Hopak by adepts of the style.[citation needed]
- Ukrainian group Tartak video clip for their song "Nashe Lito" includes practitioners of Combat Hopak presenting technique.[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "ІСТОРIЯ РОЗВИТКУ ШКОЛИ БОЙОВОГО ГОПАКА Центральна Школа Бойового Гопака". hopak.org.ua. Archived from the original on 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
- ^ "Combat Hopak: Ukraine's Martial Art Based on a Traditional Dance". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
- ^ "Ukrainians Restore National Culture Through Ancient Cossack Dance Hopak". Worldwide News Ukraine.
- ^ Yuliya Pivtorak. "Ukrainian Hopak: From Dance for Entertainment to Martial Art". Cambridge University Press.
- ^ "Curiosities of Western Ukraine. School of combat hopak in Ternopil".
- ^ "Combat Hopak Makes a Comeback: Traditional Martial Arts In Ukraine".
- ^ "Fighting and Dancing With the Cossacks". VICE.
- ^ "Public Polish Television news about Combat Hopak school in Warsaw". TVP 1.
- ^ "TVP Rzeszów news about Combat Hopak presentation in Rzeszów". TVP Rzeszów.
- ^ "Ukrainian combat hopak takes off in Poland". uatoday.tv. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ^ "About Us | Toronto School of Ukrainian Martial Arts". www.bhopaktoronto.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-05-08. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ^ "The School of Boyovyi Hopak in Chicago". hopakchicago.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ^ "Combat Hopak in Berlin". Facebook. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "LE HOPAK DE COMBAT, un art martial ukrainien, présenté en France".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The Warrior Women of Asgarda". VICE.
- ^ "Asgarda, Amazons of Ukraine". Planet mag.
- ^ "Fight club". The Telegraph.
- ^ "Ukraine : des femmes qui font mâle". Le Figaro.
- ^ Tartak. "Nashe Lito".