Increasing the popularity of national belt wrestling in the world, gave impulse to the revival of historical, national and cultural traditions in countries where developing national wrestling. It forces professionals in the field of physical culture and sports to work on improving the methodology of training in wrestling, increasing the level of development of physical qualities, improving the methodology of formation of motor skills and abilities inherent in this type of belt wrestling. Ukrainian national belt wrestling was acknowledged as a sport in Ukraine in 2003, the Ukrainian Federation of Ukrainian Belt Wrestling has 14 regional centers that develop Ukrainian belt wrestling. In 2020, an international federation of Ukrainian belt wrestling was founded, which included 15 states from different continents of the world that began to cultivate Ukrainian belt wrestling. The aim of the study: to increase the level of special physical skills of athletes to prepare for Ukrainian belt wrestling at the stage of the highest international competitions. Research methods: theoretical (analysis of scientific-methodical, normative-legal and historical literature), empirical (pedagogical observation, testing of the level of physical skills, medical and biological research methods), mathematical methods of research processing. Conclusions. Studies indicate a positive effect of training regimens on the development of speed and strength endurance on the body of athletes and special physical performance. VCL indicators of the experimental group increased by 13.7%, in special physical performance the highest results were observed for the indicator that characterizes the technical readiness of athletes - the speed of throws, which increased in the experimental group by 22.5%, control group 5.8%. Speed endurance (running 4x24 m) increased by 16.3% in the experimental group and 3.9% in the control group.

This article reveals the origins of military-patriotic education of Ukrainian youth, ranging from ancient tribes to the cradle of the Ukrainian state - Kievan Rus. Understanding the traditions of the ancient Ukrainians, we will be able to better understand the transformation of the present society from faceless masses to a warlike nation that defends its borders. For many centuries, the location of Ukraine has stimulated the Ukrainian people to educate not only a cultural, knowledgeable, religious nation, but also a well-trained, physically prepared, militant nation.

The popularity of belt wrestling forces domestic and foreign experts to reconsider the methods of organizing and conducting the training process on the types of belt wrestling, look for new ways to increase the level of special physical fitness of athletes, quality of study and improvement of technical and tactical actions in the training process, level of competitiveness. Therefore, increasing the level of special physical fitness of athletes at different stages of sports training is accompanied by the promotion of belt wrestling. Ukrainian belt wrestling is also gaining considerable popularity, both in Ukraine and in the world. International and European federations of Ukrainian belt wrestling has been established, and world and European championships are being held. The All-Ukrainian Federation of Ukrainian Belt Wrestling has 14 regional centers that develop Ukrainian belt wrestling among all age groups. The aim of the study: the formation of special physical fitness of athletes in the Ukrainian belt wrestling at the stage of specialized basic training. Research methods: analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature sources, psychophysiological research methods, pedagogical research methods, mathematical methods of scientific research data processing. Conclusions. As a result of the study it can be argued that increasing the share of acrobatic exercises and flexibility exercises in the preparatory part of the training session on Ukrainian wrestling on belts helped to improve the performance of special physical fitness of athletes and their functional status. As a result of the study, the special physical fitness of athletes in the experimental group improved by 19.2%, the highest results of special physical training were established by indicators: partner's throwing speed of 16.5%; running speed around the head 19%; flexibility of 25.6%.