Savate

[fatal_fury]

I am interested in the martial art of Savate. Can anyone give me any background on it? Has anyone ever trained in it?

[TheCount]

Its basically french kickboxing or so I hear

[Another Muay Thai Guy]

Try the search feature.

http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33033&highlight=Savate
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33224&highlight=Savate
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21072&highlight=Savate
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21035&highlight=Savate
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11856&highlight=Savate
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=834&highlight=Savate

That should keep you going for a while. ;)

[savateuse]

I am interested in the martial art of Savate. Can anyone give me any background on it? Has anyone ever trained in it?

I've trained in savate for around 15 years - it's a great art with a variety of "associated disciplines" such as la canne. Pugil has a website with lots of info:
http://www.savate.net

[TheAngle]

I have seen tapes on Savate and sparred a number of opponets, who pracise Savate. Does not impress me. Unnessasary movement, too much ballet.
I thought that if it's "French Foot Fighting" they should be good kickers, it looks otherwise.
May be someone else had a diffrent experience.

[Jesh]

I can't believe I'm really doing this, but here (http://www.answers.com/savate) you go...

[savateuse]

I have seen tapes on Savate and sparred a number of opponets, who pracise Savate. Does not impress me. Unnessasary movement, too much ballet.
I thought that if it's "French Foot Fighting" they should be good kickers, it looks otherwise.
May be someone else had a diffrent experience.

Having just returned from the european savate championships, I have a totally different experience from you! I had the "pleasure" of fighting last year's world champion (an italian) and this year's french national champion, who went on to beat the italian in the european finals. Even in my weight category (52-56kg), they can produce powerful kicks and punches. They are more than "good kickers".

IMHO, it's important to distinguish the ability of the individual martial artist from the effectiveness of the art. What part of the world are you in? And who have you sparred?

[Pugil]

I have seen tapes on Savate and sparred a number of opponets, who pracise Savate. Does not impress me. Unnessasary movement, too much ballet.
I thought that if it's "French Foot Fighting" they should be good kickers, it looks otherwise.
May be someone else had a diffrent experience.

That's a rather dismissive assessment of an entire fighting system. I'm tempted to say that you obviously didn't spar with anyone any good then! Instead, however, let's delve a little deeper. You say you've "seen tapes on Savate". What tapes have you seen? You also say that you have "sparred a number of opponents". Who were they, and what format did that sparring take?

What do you mean about "Unnessasary [sic] movement" and "too much ballet"? Yes they have footwork in Savate, and in order to kick with one foot isn't it necessary to stand on the other one leg for the duration of that kick - save for jumping kicks?

Savate contains two elements: Boxe Savate (sport Savate) and Savate Defence (street Savate).

If you are interested in viewing a couple of short mpegs from the sporting version of the art, click on the following URL's:

http://www.mikemiles.com/video/syllaortiz.mpg
http://www.mikemiles.com/video/postelstevens.mpg

If anyone wants more information on Street Savate, please post and I'll point you in the right direction.

Pugil

[Pugil]

If you are interested in viewing a couple of short mpegs from the sporting version of the art, click on the following URL's:

http://www.mikemiles.com/video/syllaortiz.mpg
http://www.mikemiles.com/video/postelstevens.mpg

Pugil

Oh yes, I forgot to say, both mpegs show a Savateur fighting a kickboxer under Savate rules.

Pugil

[TheAngle]

What do you mean, when you say "fighting under Savate rules" ?

[Pugil]

What do you mean, when you say "fighting under Savate rules" ?

I mean that they weren't fighting under American Kickboxing, or Muay Thai rules. In the two examples I gave they were fighting under Savate Combat rules. That means that there were no strikes allowed to be delivered with knees, elbows or shins, and no clinching or neck wrestling (as in Muay Thai).

Fighters wear fairly hard-soled boots to deliver kicks to all parts of the body except the groin and back of head and neck. They wear gloves, very similar to Boxing gloves, except the palms are padded to assist blocking the toes and heels of the shoes. Punching is the same as in Boxing. No punches 'below the belt' (so to speak), and no punches to the back.

Did you watch the mpegs for an example of how Savateurs move?

Pugil