Training Tips

On this page you will find a series of clips and pictures designed to help current students learn new Savate moves and technique. We regularly publish new tips and videos so keep checking back.

For those not training with us it is a chance to see what Savate encompasses and what the style looks like. For the real thing, you will have to come to the classes.

Tip1 (23/10/05)

Tip2 (31/10/05)

Tip3 (06/11/05)

Tip4 (13/11/05)

Tip5 (21/11/05)

Tip6 (28/11/05)

Tip7 (05/12/05)

Tip8 (12/12/05) - New

Tip 1

From the European Assaut Championships held in Clichy, Paris, Sep/Oct 05. James Southwood against the French and European 76-82kg Champion, Jean-Paul Gomis. The sequence is as follows:

Front leg feint, moving into front leg fouette tournant haut, followed by front leg revers lateral haut.

gomis_southwood1.wmv - 525kb

The trick behind the sequence is in the accurate placement of the left foot after the initial feint, ensuring good range for the fouette. The follow-up kick (revers lateral) is optional but effective.

Note the remarque given by the referee for the level of force employed during the combination. For optimum effect, this move must be delivered without incurring such a notice.

Tip 2

This time, a two-kick combination, again from the recent European Assaut Championships. Southwood (GB) vs Monseur (Belgium) in the heats of the 76-82kg competition.

Rear leg revers lateral tournant, followed quickly by fouette haut on the same leg.

southwood_monseur1.wmv - 480kb

The move can be effective because it enables an attack to both sides of the guard. Here, the revers disturbed the guard enough for the second kick to score.

Note the counter attack (fouette) to the low line in response.

Tip 3

From a non-contact demonstration given in Bristol on 29 Oct 05. James demonstrates a double revers frontal.

Right hand cross, rear leg revers frontal, followed by a second rear leg revers frontal, tournant.

double_revers.wmv - 487kb

To keep balance for both kicks and return to correct stance without extra stepping, ensure that the support foot turns at the right time. The foot rotation should be simultaneous with the turn of the head and the body and leg should then follow smoothly. Placement of the foot round to the rear after the first kick facilitates the second strike.

Tip 4

This one is from a regular club training session in Holborn. Thanks to London members Dom Tsui and Pete Josse who feature here. It is not just the kick in this clip that we take note of, but its preparation.

Feint with left glove, skip in for front leg fouette bas, then retreat.

fouette_bas.wmv - 407kb

Using a left hand feint, Dom sets up a distraction that allows the low line front leg strike to be delivered cleanly. Without the preparation, a counter attack or evasion would have been more likely. Variations on this theme include using one shoulder, the other leg or even the eyes to momentarily offset the opponent's attention (feint) and gain the time or position needed to launch a successful attack.

Watching how an opponent responds to your movements is good practice in general and will reveal which feints work best. While you spar, pay attention to the natural reactions of your opponent and then exploit them. Developing feints to bypass an opponent's guard is an effective way to gain points, especially if your partner is faster than you or has a reach advantage.

Tip 5

This one is also from the 2005 European Assaut Championships.

Fouette with right leg, decalage (side step), fouette with left leg.

decalage.wmv - 520kb

This is an excellent tactic against a close range fighter. When an opponent wishes to keep you in close range, kicking combinations can only be accomplished with good footwork. Here, the taller fighter has to step well wide of the centre line (decalage) to achieve the second kick.

Such a move also provides a degree of safety by removing the attacker from the danger zone of the counter attack. The spinning counter attack is attempted here but is not accurate, owing to the displacement of the original attacker.

With this advantage in position taken, the second fouette becomes extremely effective, leading to a take-down.

Tip 6

This is another clip from regular club sparring, provided by Dom and Tony.

Attacker delivers high fouette. Esquive by leaning back and ducking underneath, retaining enough balance to then skip forwards and counter with a chasse lateral bas using the front leg.

chassebas_riposte.wmv - 394kb

If your reactions are quick enough, there are options available with this kick. In this case, the attacking leg becomes the target after it returns to ground. Should this not happen, the support leg is a more distant but highly effective alternative target. 

Beware that the esquive alone is not enough, as a follow-up attack may be imminent. The riposte steals an advantage by acting quickly. Adjusting the weight backwards in this manner can be risky as it limits maneuverability, so always be prepared to strike with the front leg when doing so - it should feel quite natural.

Tip 7

This is a clip from a Savate demonstration given at the Essex Vegan festival on Friday 2nd Dec 2005. Mike, Rachel and James (many thanks guys) performed for a small crowd. We feature an extended kicking combination here.

Left leg fouette haut, leading to revers frontal tournant with the other leg, double fouette haut with the left leg, finishing with fouette bas sautee with the right.

james_mike.wmv - 611kb

Note the alternation between left and right leg strikes, which, in general, helps to improve the effectiveness of a combination.

In sparring, long sequences work best against a retreating opponent. They are also useful in a situation where you wish to exhibit technique, such as in this demo or perhaps in the closing stages of a bout in which you have dominated. In a ring such moves please judges and can gain a tireur valuable points for technique.

Getting used to the enchainement of an extended combination is a useful skill to practice. It will help you be creative with your strikes even whilst under pressure.

Tip 8

For the last clip of 2005 we will look at a two kick combination, courtesy of James and George.

Right leg coup de pied bas, jumping into left leg fouette haut.

fouette_sautee.wmv - 438kb

The initial coup de pied bas can be used for attack, to feint or to gain height for the jumping fouette. Be sure to return the right leg far back enough to keep correct range for the second kick.

An occasional jumping kick can provide a fighter with dominance in a bout, but should be applied with caution, especially with respect to the level of force, as control might be compromised.

"French Boxing is comprised of conceptions that can be summed up in the three qualities that best describe the human condition: intelligence, courage and physical health."

Marcel PAGNOL