Savate has been referred to as boxe française, french kickboxing and french foot fighting. It’s a traditional French martial art which combines elements of western boxing together with a variety of kicking techniques. Savate uses the fighters hands and feet as weapons and it’s the only form of kickboxing where fighters actually wear shoes. Below is a brief video that goes over 5 of the most basic moves of Savate.
Video Transcription
The word Savate translates literally as “old shoe”. And today, it’s the only competitive kickboxing sport in the world where contestants where boots. In a Savate match, Savatours use powerful combinations of kicks and punches to attack their opponent. Most referees try to stop bouts before the fighter is knocked unconscious. But, the speed at which these guys move can make this almost impossible.
Fouetté – One of Savate’s earliest kicks is the Fouetté Whip kick. First, the hips pivot on the front leg forming a solid whip handle. Then, the back legs knee is bent upwards and projected towards the center line of the opponent. At the last second, the foot is snapped over the knee and into your opponents head. This roundhouse kick is designed for maximum impact to the head. It doesn’t just carry enough for to break an opponents nose, it can drive the nose bone back up into the brain.
Chasse Bas – Another powerful Savate kick is the Chasse Bas. To execute, the fighter raises his leg and then pistons his foot into the lower leg of his opponent, hitting him with the hardest part of his boot, the heel. This impact won’t just knock an opponent down; the force is enough to permanently damage his knee cap.
Pointe Au Foie / Directe Visage – Combo attacks play a vital role in Savate. One effective combo is the Pointe Au Foie / Directe Visage. You use your fist to draw your opponent off-balance, then as he lowers his guard; you fire the point of your foot between his 9th and 10th rib.
Back Leg Sweep – Mastering the leg sweep is crucial. The key to setting up the sweep is the aggressive punches. These get your opponent moving backwards, and as he does, you step behind him hooking the top part of your foot against the back of his ankle. Then, another punch or hard push while the leg sweeps from behind, and down he goes.
Directe Fouette Directe – Another effective combo in Savate is the jab-kick-cross or Directe Fouette Directe. Cocking his arm like a pistol, the fighter drives the hardest bones in the hand, the knuckles, straight into his opponents face. The fighter then drives the tip of his toe into his opponents mid-section. The opponent still reeling, a powerful cross to the weakest point of the skull, the temple, delivering up to 2,000 pounds of force.
The Whip Kick, the Chasse Bas, the Pointe Au Foie, the Leg Sweep, and the Jab-Kick-Cross Combo. These are the moves of the Savate human weapon.
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