Savate
Intro:
A native French kicking style.
Origin:
France.
History:
It was developed in the last century, and its origins and relationships, if
any, to other Martial Arts are unclear. There are stories about French sailors
picking up techniques in Eastern ports, bringing them home and integrating them
with local foot fighting and fencing techniques.
"French Boxing-Savate" was founded in 1970 in France. It consists mainly
of precise striking with the hands and low foot-striking and appropriate defense-techniques.
The hand-techniques are similar to boxing. Special attention is paid to develop
elegant and soft movements.
Description:
It primarily encompasses kicking techniques somewhat similar to Tae Kwon Do
or Karate. It includes punching techiques from Western Boxing and stick
fighting techniques based on French rapier fighting. It is very stylized
and more extended than most Eastern kicking arts.
Training:
Three different forms are taught:
- Assaut: technical fighting, the opponent must not (or nearly not) be hit.
- Combat Technique: fighting with semi-contact.
- Combat Total: full-contact fight with KO allowed.
Usually together with Savate is taught "La Canne", a mostly defensive art using
wooden sticks.
(Contributor: Tobias Ratschiller)
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