ODESA, MARCH 15th, 2013, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE ― The grand opening of the Ukrainian Championship in French boxing has started today, in Odesa, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

The opening ceremony was held today, March 15, in the sports complex “Ldinka”.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Secretary of the Odesa City Council Oleg Bryndak, President of Ukrainian Federation of Savate French Boxing Gennady Volovikov, representatives of the deputies of the Odesa City Council.

III Championship in Savate French boxing among cadets, juniors and adults takes place in Odesa through 14 ― 17 March.

The competition is attended by about 100 athletes from different regions of Ukraine.

INFORMATION: Savate is a traditional French martial art which uses the hands and feet as weapons combining elements of western boxing with graceful kicking techniques. Only foot kicks are allowed unlike some systems such as Muay Thai, and Silat which allow the use of the knees or shins. “Savate” is a French word for “old shoe”. Savate is perhaps the only style of kickboxing in which the fighters habitually wear shoes. A male practitioner of savate is called a savateur while a female is called a savateuse.