Savate Synopsis

A martial art dominated by kicks that originated in France. Develops fitness, flexibility and power across a dynamic range of techniques predominatly kicking. The History below was provided by Terence Bridgeman who also has a website www.bridgemansavate.com
 

Savate History

It appears that the first rational approach to streetkicking started around the beginning of the French Revolution. It was the French Navy who developed Chausson as a gymnastic game of fencing with the feet. The term actually means ‘slipper’ and referred to the sailors espadrilles. It became a local street game about Marseille, Aubagne and Toulon.
In Paris the streetkicking became known as La Savate (pronounced Savat) after the time tested ‘old shoe’ that so often delivered the final crippling blow. It was not until the Napoleonic Wars did the English come in contact with the Chausson and the French with Boxing. French prisoners of war detained on convict hulks were often given the opportunity to fight their British captors for extra rations or privileges.
After the war boxing began to appear with the Chausson around Marseille and Toulin. But with anti-British sentiment it took nearly two decades before boxing gained acceptance in France.
Meanwhile Chausson enjoyed a growth period. As a game it had different rules but generally the kicks or paume (palm) hits were to touch the targets without causing injury. Paume was a prominent element of the early Chausson and Savate systems. The most skilful players were the ones who used reasoning to strategically take advantage of opportunities. In self defence Chausson was usually used with a knife.
In Paris the streetkicking of La Savate was used in the poorer quarters. From about the 1820s the activities started to attract the imagination of the young aristocrats. Dressed in their formal clothes they found entertainment about the music and dance halls in the poorer quarters of the city. It became the fashion to deal with disagreements of honour with some simple streetkicking. This was considered more dignified and expedient than wrestling. Used with the walking Cane, it was very effective in dealing with muggers and trouble makers.
The most famous instructor of this period was Michel Cassaux (1794-1869) who was more commonly known as Michel Pissaux. Born in the Belleville district of Paris, he systemised the streetkicking methods and named it the ‘Art of Savate’ and taught it alongside Canefencing and Paume. He attracted many personalities including the Duke of Orleans, Count Labattut, Lord Henry Seymore and artist Paul Gavarni.
His most outstanding student was Charles Lecour (1808-1894). Born in Oissery he opened a salle in 1832 in Montmartre. He was a competitive athlete who was also an expert at the Canne and Grand Baton. In 1838 he combined English boxing with French streetkicking and is acknowledged for founding ‘La Boxe Francaise’.
At first the introduction of boxing was not accepted by the conservative Savateurs.
Nevertheless La Boxe Francaise was accepted by the majority. Charles and his younger brother Hubert Lecour (1820-1871) were very successful. Hubert was instrumental in refining the kicks, punches and integrating grappling. They were noted for their gentlemanly attitudes and technical perfection.
They promoted public demonstrations suitable for the general public. Their demonstrations were often displayed to music, a concept that was later developed into a minor gymnastic kicking discipline of ‘Adresse Francaise’. Their classes included nobility, aristocrates and personalities such as Eugene Sue, Alphose Karr, Theophile Gautier and the author of The Three Musketeers, Alexander Dumas.
There were many noted instructors and one Louis Laboucher (1807-1866) developed many successful savateurs with one of his students being Giocchino Rossini, the famous Italian Opera composer. In Italy, a small following of the Laboucher method appears to have climaxed around 1870.
One of the most charismatic and competent fighters during the 1850s was Louis Vigneron (1827-1871). Born in Paris he opened a small salle in 1848. He built a reputation by teaching the military and beating challengers including wrestler Arpin the Terrible 1850 and boxer Dickson 1854. He later acquired the nickname ‘Cannonman’ by demonstrating firing a cannonball to his partner, from a heavy cannon held on his shoulders. On the 22 August 1871 with a miscalculation of powder the fatigued canon exploded and he and his partner were killed.

In 1853 the military collage ‘L’Ecole De Joinville’ was established and part of the training included La Boxe Francaise and stickfencing. This commenced a long association with the military although it is believed that Chausson was practised by the French Foreign Legion some twenty years earlier. The disciplines became cultural arts, and through adventurers, emigration and movements of the military they found their way across Europe, Africa, England, Canada and America.
One of the most important Savateurs to emerge in the second half of the 19 century was Joseph Pierre Charlemont (1830-1914). Born in L’Esdain he received his training from Louis Vigneron. He soon gained a formidable reputation by defeating numerous exponents of various combat disciplines. He consolidated a defensive and educational system, revising the military syllabus and instructing recruits from 1865-1870. In 1893 his son Charles succeeded him and Joseph wrote his famous book La Boxe Francaise which was published in 1899.
One of Josephs outstanding students was Victor Casteres (1866-1930) who opened his own salle in 1893. In London 1898 he defeated a boxer in a contest that was personally judged by the Marquis of Queensbury. He wrote a book on Savate and from his English promotions the first book in English, ‘The French Method’ was written and published by Georges D’Armoric in 1898.
Charles Charlemont (1862-1942) was an advocate of physical culture at an early age. He rose to public attention in 1897 when he defeated Ginoux a Chausson exponent in Marseille. His most famous encounter and acclaimed by the French was in 1899 when he defeated boxer Jerry Driscoll. Unfortunately the contest was held in unsatisfactory conditions and ended in a degree of controversy. Charles became a driving force in establishing the sport of La Boxe Francaise.
Pierre Vigny founded the first school in Genevea, Switzerland in 1898. Vigny was an excellent instructor and outstanding with La canne. During the early twentieth century his La canne method became the basis for Indian stickfighting as taught to the Police and Scouts.
As interest in La Box Franciase grew throughout Western Europe it became a demonstration sport at the 1924 Paris Olympics. Its success prompted a promotional tour to London and in 1927 demonstrations were held at the famous Southwark boxing stadium, "The Ring". The team created a lot of interest, but English boxers protecting their own sport labelled the kicking fit for ‘women and sissies’. This circulated about English sportsmen and destroyed its acceptance as a gentleman’s sport. Further complicating its image was its vicious reputation with the French gangsters and the streetkicking practises of the East Londoners. This adverse attitude towards kicking was nurtured throughout English speaking countries for some three decades before kicking as an athletic discipline started to gain acceptance