Savate techniques
For the curious visitor or the dedicated student,
we have compiled a list of the legal Savate strikes and a brief description of
their form.
The extension of these single hits are the esquives,
ripostes, steps and combinations which are far too numerous to list here and
require proper practice to appreciate the subtlety. A special part of training
is to discover these techniques - and for that you will need to come to the
classroom.
En Guard
A posture that resembles a mid-step walking position. Left foot is slightly to
the front. Weight is distributed evenly between left and right, on the balls of
the feet. Forearms protect the body and the hands protect the head. Neck is
slightly dipped. Legal targets
Legal targets in Savate are both sides of the leg (excluding the knee), all of
the torso and head. The neck and groin areas are prohibited. Punches can only be
delivered to the front of body or head. Weapons
All kicks must hit with the boot (no knees or shins) and all punches must hit
with the front of the glove (no elbows). All strikes must be delivered 'with the
exclusion of force'. Fouette - whip kick
A fast roundhouse kick delivered with the toe or laces of the boot only, with
the leg at full extension. The whipping action comes from moving the lower limb
separately from the thigh or body. Direct
Punches
Jab and cross (left and right) direct punches use the front of the glove only.
The fist should hit with full arm extension, with elbows tucked in and shoulder
pressed to chin. Chasse
Frontal chasse uses the sole or heel of the shoe in a pushing action straight
forwards. The knee must be raised and the kick performed at extension. Note that
an upwards circular kick forwards is illegal in Savate. Lateral
Chasse (side kick) hits with the sole or heel, leg at full extension with the
hips rotated sideways. Bent Arm Punches
Hook and uppercut. The hook is a bent arm punch to the side of head or body,
using the front of the glove only. An uppercut strikes to the body or underside
of the chin, usually with a bent arm close to the striker's body. Reverse
kicks
The revers frontal uses the outside blade of the foot to strike the guard or
side of the head or torso. The leg extends fully to the far side of the opponent
and, with hips facing forwards, is swung in a crescent path back to its original
position. The inverse of this kick (hitting with the inside edge of the shoe) is
illegal in Savate. The revers lateral uses the
sole of the shoe in a slapping action. It is the reverse of the fouette (see
above). Starting with a straight leg the lower limb retracts to the chamber
position, hitting the target with the boot as it goes. Coup
de Pied Bas - sweep
Using the inside edge of the boot, the foot moves along the floor, gaining no
height, to strike to lower shin or the foot of the opponent. Either foot can be
used, but the front (left) foot will generally move sideways and the rear
(right) foot forwards to reach the appropriate target. The aim can be to strike
or to take the opponent's balance.
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