Ultimate swordfighting - GATKA

ariel · 24th November 2006, 06:31 PM

I do not doubt the fighting abilities of Ukrainian Cossacks (Zaporozhskaya Sech), and fully appreciate the originality of the Ukrainian culture including "hopak". However, the facts are incontrovertible: there was never a specialized Slavic martial arts system in the sense of Japanese, Chinese, Filippine, or Indian. Ivan Poddubny was a superb professional wrestler, a World Champion, and Ukrainians are right to be proud of him. However, he was a Greco-Roman wrestler, and not a practitioner of a (mythical) "Ukrainian" style.
One can ask a question why the martial arts systems employing legs and feet for striking all come from Asia ( with the possible exception of Capoeira), but that would be another discussion. Even French boxing owes its origins to Asian techniques brought from the Far East.
Enthusiasm is good, but one should stay within the realm of factual knowledge. Each culture has something unique and no culture should claim universal coverage. This is the beauty and the greatness of the human race. Germany produced the best composers in the world, but never had a major painter. Good enough for me.

24th November 2006, 06:31 PM	#10
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I do not doubt the fighting abilities of Ukrainian Cossacks (Zaporozhskaya Sech), and fully appreciate the originality of the Ukrainian culture including "hopak". However, the facts are incontrovertible: there was never a specialized Slavic martial arts system in the sense of Japanese, Chinese, Filippine, or Indian. Ivan Poddubny was a superb professional wrestler, a World Champion, and Ukrainians are right to be proud of him. However, he was a Greco-Roman wrestler, and not a practitioner of a (mythical) "Ukrainian" style. One can ask a question why the martial arts systems employing legs and feet for striking all come from Asia ( with the possible exception of Capoeira), but that would be another discussion. Even French boxing owes its origins to Asian techniques brought from the Far East. Enthusiasm is good, but one should stay within the realm of factual knowledge. Each culture has something unique and no culture should claim universal coverage. This is the beauty and the greatness of the human race. Germany produced the best composers in the world, but never had a major painter. Good enough for me.