The Kyiv branch of the All-Ukrainian Martial Arts Association “Combat Self-Defense ISO” is actively working on the development of martial arts and the engagement of young people in sports. After resuming its activities in July 2023 under the leadership of Serhii Kozenko, the Kyiv division has consistently demonstrated high performance, expanded its training directions, and strengthened partnerships with state institutions.
Leadership and structure of the branch
The Kyiv branch has a strong leadership team consisting of experienced coaches and active athletes of international level:
- Serhii KOZENKO – Head of the Kyiv branch, Head Coach of the National Team of Ukraine, Honored Coach of Ukraine, International Master of Sports.
- Dmytro ODYNOKYI – First Deputy for cooperation with veterans and security agencies, International Master of Sports, combat veteran, coach, and international category judge.
- Serhii MAZHARA – Deputy for information policy, International Master of Sports.
- Yaroslav TKACHENKO – Digital Technology Secretary, Honored Master of Sports of Ukraine, international category judge.
The management team combines sports expertise, organizational skills, and professionalism, ensuring the dynamic development of the branch.
Sports disciplines and scale of activity
The Kyiv branch includes 67 sports clubs and two youth sports schools (DYUSSH), where more than 2,000 athletes of different ages train regularly.
Main training directions:
- free-box (classic boxing)
- thai-box combat (Muay Thai)
- K-1 combat and low combat
- mix-combat
- wrestling
The mission of the branch is to make sports as accessible as possible for children, youth, and veterans.
Sports achievements of 2025
The Kyiv division is among the most successful in Ukraine:
- Team victories at the Ukrainian Championships in three types of contact.
- 70 medals, including 42 gold, at the European Championship in Italy.
- 42 medals at the World Championship in the United Kingdom.
- The Kyiv regional team includes 320 athletes who consistently demonstrate a high level of preparation.
The individual breakthrough of the year — Yaroslav TKACHENKO, who received the title of Honored Master of Sports of Ukraine and achieved victories at the European Championship and twice at the World Championship.
Coaching staff of Kyiv
The best coaches of the capital coordinate the work of the team in their respective disciplines:
- free-box – Timur Akhundov (International Master of Sports)
- mix-combat – Oleksandr Kononov (Honored Coach of Ukraine)
- thai-box combat – Vitalii Shevelyuk (International Master of Sports)
- K-1 combat – Maksym Masliuk (Master of Sports of Ukraine)
- wrestling – Oleksandr Kryvobok (Master of Sports of Ukraine)
- low combat – Dmytro Borysiuk (Master of Sports of Ukraine)
The professional approach of the coaching team enables Kyiv athletes to show consistently strong results at national and international tournaments.
Judging panel
Kyiv has 33 certified judges who are regularly engaged in national and international competitions. The judging panel is headed by Yaroslav TKACHENKO, an international category judge.
The branch systematically conducts seminars and certifications to improve the level of officiating.
Work with veterans and security agencies
The Kyiv branch actively cooperates with:
- National Police of Ukraine
- State Border Guard Service
- Security Service of Ukraine
- National Academy of Internal Affairs
- Sports Society “Dynamo” of Ukraine
Free training sessions are held for future law enforcement officers, cadets, and war veterans. In 2025, two major championships were organized in cooperation with “Dynamo,” bringing together more than 800 participants.
Plans for the future
On December 13, the final conference of the Kyiv branch will take place, where the following will be discussed:
- approval of new priority work directions
- summary of sports results
- awarding the best athletes and coaches of the year
The branch continues to scale up, expand its network of clubs, and actively engage youth in sports.
