Originally frowned upon as a method of street fighting used by thieves and hoodlums, Savate is now a recognised and respected French martial art practiced around the world.

History and Philosophy

Also known as boxe francaise or “French boxing”, savate uses both hands and feet as weapons. It contains elements of Western classical boxing, as well as grappling and graceful kicking techniques.

The term savate comes from the French name for “old boot”, the heavy footwear worn and used during fights. Savate was originally looked down upon, as it was employed by unsavoury hoodlums and thieves in Paris and northern France at the turn of the 19th century.

However, Savate transformed from a despised form of street brawling to a respectable martial art during the 19th century when Michel Cassaux started a training school which taught a regulated and more civilised version of savate – no gouging or head-butting. Later Casseux’s student Charles Lecour incorporated the English art of boxing into savate to create the sport of boxe savate francaise. Boxe savate francaise grew in popularity but almost became extinct during the First World War when many top savate practitioners were killed during the conflict.

Today the art is blossoming again and has spread beyond France to much of Europe and even the United States.

Savate Training

Training is mainly concerned with sparring and preparing for full-contact competition. Only four kinds of kicks – whip kick, piston-action kick, sole kick and the sweeping kick – and three kinds of punches – the jab, cross and the hook – are allowed. Many of the kicks are used both offensively and defensively. All of savate’s kicking methods can be employed as a means to knock an opponent off-balance, making them vulnerable for follow-up strikes.

Rank is displayed using coloured patches on the boxing glove. When a practitioner attains the level of silver glove – equivalent to a black belt in karate – they rarely do more than spar in practice.