Savate - Modern Sport and Effective Combat Art

Introduction and Summary

Savate is a form of kickboxing originating in France , and has a known history stretching back to the 18^th Century.  It was originally for self defence; as time passed it has evolved into a vigorous and exciting sport combining English hand based boxing punching techniques with powerful kicking methods.  All terms used in Savate are in French.

Savate has emerged as a popular fighting art and is now practiced in forty-two countries and four continents by both men and women.  In 2003 the French Federation issued 30,000 Savate licenses.  The benefits of training in Savate are: it improves general fitness, mobility, flexibility, control, confidence and balance, whilst being a fast, dynamic, fun & social activity.  It is a complete mind and body workout.

The governing body for Savate in the UK is The Great Britain Savate Federation (GBSF, Patron Baron J. Shortt), which is linked to the Federation Internationale de Savate.

In 1992 there were only six national federations recognised by the FIS, there are now “31 affiliated members”

History of Savate

According to Michel Delahaye, in his book La Boxe Françoise (Ergo Press, April 1989), the French style of fighting with the hands and feet, known as Boxe Françoise (French Boxing), was assimilated by Charles Lecour (1808-94), the son of a French baker, in 1832. Prior to that time, a method of fighting existed in old Paris where the combatants kicked one another with their everyday shoes on. The common name for a street shoe at that time was 'savate' (pronounced sa-vat), which simply meant 'old shoe'. The name savate, therefore, became associated with this particular method of street-fighting.

Those early street brawls did not stop at kicking however, as gouging, wrestling and head butting are also said to have taken place. The first person to make an attempt to systematise savate was Michel Casseux (aka) Pisseux (1794-1869), who opened the first 'official' Salle (training establishment) in 1825. Unfortunately, savate was still recognised by many as a style of street-fighting, and therefore, initially only attracted those of dubious means and character.

At the same time, another foot-fighting system existed in and around the old southern dockyards of France , and on board sailing ships. This, sailors and dock-workers, style of fighting was known as jeu marseillais (sport Marseille). A comparison of the two kick-fighting methods shows that the kicks used in jeu marseillais were often aimed and delivered much higher than in savate, and the hands were commonly used for support and balance. This included placing the hand, or hands, on the floor, or grabbing hold of any convenient handrail or object, whilst lashing out with the feet.

Towards the end of the 1820's, and perhaps in an attempt to change the general public's perception of these fighting arts, the name Chausson (a sailor's deck shoe) began to be used.

A critical turning point for the French kicking styles was reached in 1830 (although some records suggest a later date), after Charles Lecour, a one time pupil of Michel Casseux, was said to have suffered defeat at the hands of an English bareknuckle pugilist named Owen Swift. The traditional 'good old English method of deciding a quarrel' had always been to punch one another with bare knuckles, and the English despised the French method of using the feet for kicking, considering it to be unmanly, foreign and cowardly. As French fighters had, until that time, really only used their hands for blocking, parrying and slapping, it became immediately obvious that they were at a distinct disadvantage when fighting at close range against skilled fist-fighters. Lecour recognised these limitations and undertook English boxing lessons from another English pugilist named Jack Adams. After a period of two years, Lecour assimilated the French kicking methods and combined them with English boxing to create la boxe francaise.

At a time when old English boxing (pugilism) was going into decline, la boxe francaise was becoming more and more established. Due to the efforts of one man in particular, Joseph Charlemont (1839 - 1914), the French kick-boxing art reached it's pinnacle of recognition, respectability and social acceptance towards the end of the 1800's, drawing interest from all members of French society, including the nobility.

By then, the French were claiming their system to be superior to la boxe anglaise, and they made several attempts over the years to prove their case by organising a number of contests. The English, on the other hand, viewed such contests as a bit of a novelty (like boxing versus wrestling bouts today) and did not really give them any degree of credibility.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the French arranged a contest to supposedly decide 'once and for all' which system was superior. They chose their very top man, Charles Charlemont (1862 - 1942), son of Joseph Charlemont. His opponent was Jerry Driscoll, an ex-champion boxer in the Royal Navy. The fight took place on 28th October 1899 and became a shambles from the start. In round one Driscoll protested loudly that Charlemont had bit him. There was an immediate uproar and the match failed to restart for several minutes. When it did, both fighters clinched several times and for some reason the match was interrupted again. The French referee, Monsieur Clercrampal, said that he didn't want to go on! Eventually they persuaded him to do so - he immediately counted the first round as two!

The fight eventually ended in round eight, with Driscoll clutching his groin. According to the well known English referee, Bernard John Angle of the National Sporting Club, in his book 'My Sporting Memories' London, 1925, "Driscoll did not know what he was taking on" when he agreed "to meet the Frenchman at his own game..." Angle also said that, "The contest ended in Jerry being counted out to a blow in the groin from the Frenchman's knee." He further alleged that "the timekeeper saved Charlemont several times." After the fight Driscoll bore no grudges, considering the blow to have been "an accident." the French, of course, claimed victory to their man by stoppage, following a round-kick (fouette median) to Driscoll's stomach.

Although now claiming the superiority of their system, Charlemont later refused "utterly and categorically" the challenge laid down by the very much younger Al McCoy (1894 - 1966), the American middleweight champion, stating that he (Charlemont) was then a "teacher, not a fighter".

La boxe francaise later had the distinction of going on to be the demonstration sport in the 1924 Paris-based Olympic Games. Sadly, the first and second World Wars accounted for many of the top professeurs and practitioners. As a result, la boxe francaise verged on extinction for a number of years. Fortunately, the art has made a slow but steady recovery in recent years.  In addition to France , there are currently groups in the Britain , and around the world, who are attempting to promote this effective and fascinating fighting art. Nowadays the system is known as boxe francaise - savate or, more simply, as Savate.

History of Savate - courtesy of Ollie Batts

Techniques of Savate for Self Defence

Modern Savate, adapted for self defence, is now called “Savate Defence” and is an eclectic self defence form drawing techniques from old Savate and from other Martial Arts, such as Jujitsu.

The original Savate was for street self defence and contains many effective techniques.  Techniques of Savate for self defence are too numerous to mention in a short article such as this.  They include many techniques that are banned in competition since they cause too much damage.  Short range “stamping” kicks (whilst wearing heavy boots/shoes!) into the shins, and knees were used as well as head butts, gouging, grappling take downs (e.g. Parisian “lutte”) and the other severe techniques of “all in fighting”.

Techniques of Sport Savate

There are two forms of Sport Savate:

• Assaut – controlled contact with all techniques
• Combat – all punches and kicks delivered with full power

Clothing worn can be a leotard, which is required for competition but many wear Tracksuit “bottoms”, shorts or jogging trousers and a Tee shirt for the normal “evening” practices.  Soft soled training shoes.(plimsoles, trainers, boating shoes etc.) are worn.  A breast protector is advised for women, gum shields, shin guards and groin protectors are also often worn.

Kicks score more points than punches. 

Bouts take the form of “rounds” as in boxing and last for two or three minutes for a set number of rounds such as five.

The modern rules of Sport Savate, for competition, allow the following techniques:

Permitted Punches (from Boxing)

• Jab (lead hand)
• Cross (rear hand)
• Hook (bent arm, delivered level with the shoulder)
• Upper Cut

Permitted Kicks

• Fouette (similar to the round house kick of Karate), high, medium or low.  Delivered with the tip or “pique”of the shoe clad foot or with the top of the shoe (instep)
• Chasse (thrust  kick), high, medium or low.  There are two forms: “Chasse Lateral” (similar to the side thrust kick of Karate); “Chasse Frontal” (similar to the front thrust kick of Karate).  The striking area being the heel of the foot.
• Revers (sole of the shoe makes contact), side or front (similar to a crescent kick)
• Coup de pied bas (sweeping kick).  A kick with the inside edge of the foot into the shins in a sweeping motion.

Jumping or reverse (spinning) kicking forms are also permitted.  Elbow or knee strikes are banned, as is grappling.  All hand blows are with the gloved fist (boxing gloves).  All kicks must be correctly chambered.

NB:  The front or rear leg “snap kick”, impacting with the toe, and ”back fist” punches are  not permitted.

Acknowledgements:

Much appreciation to Ollie Batts of the Cambridge Academy of Martial Arts, for permission to use an edited, and summarized version, of his article on Savate history. Ollie Batts original article on Savate history may be read here: http://www.cambridgemartialarts.freeserve.co.uk/history.htm

Thanks also to Martin Ross for permission to use material from the website  www.savate-uk.com

The Author of this article, also expresses his thanks to the Instructors and Members of Spectrum Savate, Guildford UK especially Martin Ross, Richard Muggeridge, Charles and Richard Howse for much helpful advice and instruction of an old Martial Artist in his declining years.  Any errors in this article are this Author’s alone.