Slavic traditional martial arts

Abstract

This article discusses Slavic traditional martial arts such as hand-to-hand combat, team fight “stenka na stenku” („wall on wall”), traditional wrestling, folk games and ritual duels. The fighting traditions of the Cossacks, Russians, Ukrainians, Masovians and Kurpie are described, and their evolution and the history of development in Slavic societies analyzed. This paper examines the various functions of military culture: social, magical, entertaining and practical, as well as its role in the process of forming self-awareness and mentality of the groups described. The article is based on historical and folklore material.