Martial Arts: Savate (French Boxing)
Savate, or French Boxing, was developed in the late 1700’s and it said to have developed on French ships sailing the Indian Ocean and South China seas, where they learned kicking techniques from Asian cultures. Savate was first recognised in Marseille, an important port in the south of France where sailors of many countries came together. Savate made use of the boots of the time known as Savate to attack an opponent’s legs and body.
A characteristic of this simple but effective method of self-defence is the manner in which kicks are always executed by the leg nearest the opponent, with the other leg taking the weight of the body. Savate uses both striking and foot techniques.
Origin of Savate: France
Savate was developed to its modern day form by Professor Lecour
September 24th, 2005 at 4:28 pm
In your blurb on Savate you state that French sailors learned kicking techniques from Asian cultures. There is absolutely no proof that this is t […] more
September 27th, 2005 at 3:48 pm
Haha actually there is proof of…for instance when the french-americans travelled to the asia islands they lerned fighting techniques, so they would […] more
October 1st, 2005 at 8:06 pm
Black Mamba that is sooo true
February 9th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Actually Europe has a long history of kicking arts starting with the Greeks. And many european martial arts, wrestling styles that included some kicki […] more
March 12th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Yeah, well. I can’t say that I know who learned what from who, but I can definitely say that, if the picture of those Savate practitioners is an accur […] more
March 13th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
savate is dead
, muay thai or open fight is what taking place now .
April 1st, 2006 at 9:29 am
that is really old fashioned picture of savate, modern savate kicks ass, its kicking techniques come from old gaulish and french fighting styles and o […] more
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:09 am
Well, that’s good to know that the picture is not modern. I really hate to say things so general as “this fighting style is ineffective,” and things l […] more
April 8th, 2006 at 12:50 am
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I would like to know where I can learn savate on this side of the world?
April 13th, 2006 at 12:56 am
Savate is weak. Get to Fairtex in SF and learn to do something besides poke your fancy boots at other French sailors. Fairtex has renowned Muay Thai i […] more
April 15th, 2006 at 9:24 am
I studied Savate under Richard Grigsby in Coventry UK. It was a pleasure to see this man fight. Some say it developed in Marseille when the City was a […] more
April 15th, 2006 at 11:20 am
I’ve watched Savate fights. Slippery movement, quick punching but weak kicks. Muay Thai, however, is a bulldozer in the ring; everything is prote […] more
April 19th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Hi — came here to learn more about the history of Savate, which both my son and I are learning. Master Larry Cummins teaches Savate in Lake County, C […] more
April 23rd, 2006 at 3:22 pm
I am studying savate as an extension to my french A-Level and was wondering if anyone could tell me of any other martial arts that originate from Fran […] more
May 6th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
Savate is flourishing in Los Angeles, with lots of training and competitions. Many students come to learn it from Muay Thai, JKD, and boxing backgroun […] more
May 10th, 2006 at 12:41 am
I respect Savate, you guys are slippery and the footwork is top-notch. I’m sure it’s of great use to some martial artists, but I’m surprised anyone wo […] more
May 21st, 2006 at 5:35 pm
There is no way that the french could have taught the chinese anything about martial arts because every single martial originated from China. If you l […] more
May 22nd, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Greetings, The idea that all martial arts originated in China is non-sense. China has possible Indian influences in its artforms just as it has pro […] more
May 22nd, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Can savate be used on the streets? Could it be compared to muay thai?
May 23rd, 2006 at 4:39 pm
Mike Young, a Savateur, among other areas of martial expertise, and a columnist for at least one MAs publication, wrote an article on the efficacy of […] more
May 23rd, 2006 at 4:44 pm
You are correct, just as there is absolutely no proof that European MAs (Pankration or otherwise) are the source from which non-European arts derive. […] more
July 1st, 2006 at 4:52 am
Hi, I’m fasinated to know if James is still practicing Savate in the UK. How do I get in touch wiith him? Richard Grigsby
July 1st, 2006 at 5:07 am
II studied Savate under Philippe Rebillauud in ‘75/76 and went on to form clubs in Coventry and Birmingham. I graded in Crystal Palace with the aid of […] more
July 3rd, 2006 at 1:41 pm
Pray tell us which exact techniques are “too dangerous?” This is all nonsense. In a cage fight, biting, gouging and strikes to the sides of join […] more
July 8th, 2006 at 12:52 am
I study Savate and Muay Thai I have found that they complement each other to an extrodanery degree. Its not as you put it leaving one for the other it […] more
September 27th, 2006 at 7:59 am
wow…a muay tai fighter that hasnt completely written off other martial arts ?!! wats goin on…..not complaining…i liek it. most muay thai figh […] more
September 29th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
I’ve done savate for a few years an I’ve meticulously studied its history. There seems to be a confusion between savate an “Chausson de Marseille” (th […] more
October 4th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Savate can not compare to asian martial arts.
October 19th, 2006 at 8:56 am
quand tu recois un coup sur la gueule, le style,ca compte pour toi? (trans) when you get punched , who cares witch style.bang! […] more
November 1st, 2006 at 12:09 am
Not to put a fine point on it, but has anyone researched the possibility of An African Origin or contribution to the art? The Pic above shows somethin […] more
December 20th, 2006 at 11:40 am
I’m a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, which means i know kicks best. Savate is the European form of the Asian (Korean) martial art, Tae Kwon Do which i fin […] more
December 21st, 2006 at 6:25 pm
The Los Angeles Time recent had an article on Savate training and interviewed French Cup champion Nicolas Saignac and Salem Assli from the Insanto Aca […] more
December 21st, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Making the point. 1. Ancient savate is not an Asian m.a., it has nothing to do with Asia. Also it has nothing to do with TKD, a korean m.a. that co […] more
December 22nd, 2006 at 11:26 am
OK that may be the best disciption of savate yet. TKD has a rich Korean backgroud which does include Karate and Chinese martial arts. Not to be […] more
January 14th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
now this is the real info, Savate is a French style of foot and fist fighting. Systematized in post-Napoleonic France, savate is the only marti […] more
January 28th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
savate has evolved since this photo of charles charlemont .this evolution began with the inclusion of english boxing @ the 20th century before that sa […] more
January 28th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
i prefer savate to the other martial arts i have studied because of the emphasis on distance timing and speed of the techniqes .it is challenging and […] more
February 8th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
I disagree, lad gorg; Here are pictures describing the very kick I was talking about that is consistent in Asian Martial Arts where the hand is do […] more
June 5th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Actually, check out Serbian Svebor (not the jousting part) It’s believed that this art was brought to India by Alexander The Great’s soldiers and was […] more
June 14th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Are you guys all just guessing? Savate is basically kickboxing but french-ized. Compared to most other martial arts its really silly looking to watch. […] more
June 14th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Are you guys all just guessing? Savate is basically kickboxing but french-ized. Compared to most other martial arts its really silly looking to watch. […] more
June 14th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Savate may not look cool (not at all), but it has AMAZING foot work, it is better to take out the foot work and add it to your Martial Arts, but you’l […] more
July 16th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Savate’s founding had nothing to do with Sailors, Asians, Africans, or Santa Claus. Its origins lie in the ramshamble streetfighting technique of Pari […] more
July 16th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6682273172409790207&q=savate+-youtube+-myspace&total=114&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=sea […] more
July 20th, 2007 at 5:56 am
Okay some of you make fun and call ballet fighting. So what if it is you should go see a ballet and see whatthose people do. but besides that I fence […] more
August 11th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Billymel you are wrong chinese martial arts originated in india and came to chine with Bodhidarma when he arrived at what is now called the shoalin te […] more
August 12th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Actually both of you are wrong, the Budhist monk that came from India, he only suposidly brought yoga into China and then later evolved into Shoalin k […] more
August 14th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
billymel, please stay off of M.A. sites. It is apparent that you know NOTHING about Martial Arts!!! Bodhidharma, an INDIAN Buddhist Monk, is credited […] more
September 1st, 2007 at 8:52 am
savateisnt dead.theres just not many people that can handle the tourture you go through to learn thr wonderful art,.
September 2nd, 2007 at 12:56 am
I would like to get into savete, where could I learn the techniques?
October 7th, 2007 at 2:56 am
Ya man, I agree completely. I told this to someone else, and he seems to think that the “leaving one for the other” is a good idea. I’m going to te […] more
January 5th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
As a hardcore practitioner of Savate,I would say that your article is extremely accurate.You have been doing you research!
February 9th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
hello i am grand master jin. I am a sixth degree black belt in savate. Savate was actually learned from the egiptians. It was the egyptians that made […] more
March 1st, 2008 at 1:17 am
what about wrestling? if boxing is listed in this site then wrestling should be as well. while folkstyle, greco and freestyle wrestling may not have […] more
March 3rd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
In reference to the picture: Remember that taking pictures in the early days of fotography was quite a ordeal. Exposure could range from 5 to 15 minu […] more
April 1st, 2008 at 9:34 pm
agree with comment about the photo. tired of hearing everyone knock european martial arts. especially the muay thai wannabes. ck out the ancient g […] more
May 28th, 2008 at 1:42 am
I thought that with dueling being outlawed between Gentlemen back in France late 1700s? Savate was created as a mix of boxing and swordmanship techniq […] more
July 4th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Not all martial arts originated in China. How about the Gladiators in Europe. In the olympics, the ancient Greeks grappled, and fought to the death. […] more
July 9th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I will take all arts and combine them to defeat you all mwahahaha, especially you thai fighters!! No just kidding. I practice Ninjitsu myself but I l […] more
July 13th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
First of all, to all you that say Savate is a weak MA, you are dead wrong. The reason why people stay standing so long in a competition is that the ob […] more
July 24th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
For all you muay thia practitioners have you ever studied or tried it’s traditional blocking system taught to it’s military it is awsome when you get […] more
July 31st, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I’d like to see references to statements in the blurb. What would happen if a Savateur and Muay Thai fighter fought in kickboxing rules? v s Wat […] more
September 16th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
you have no brazilian jiu jit su,masters frank shamrock ufc fighter rev jenson glen zweirs my instructor mathew curgola qld indooroopilly long list go […] more
September 17th, 2008 at 8:20 am
SAvate is savate and thai boxing is thai boxing… rules and tecnics are different.. you can not compare..
September 27th, 2008 at 6:00 am
since you have seen the truth and run it down again.savate god you proclaim you are you go take on the blokes at tenth year.watch a movie and chill ou […] more
September 27th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
nugget go to the cayman off shore bank acc,and apply for a overseas card.i was a black belt 4 you have no pot.
January 10th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Thats nonsense, Savate is one of the best Full Contact martial arts out there, and probably better than most asian arts.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Yes, Savate is alive and kicking in the UK. We set up the Great Britain Savate Federation (GBSF) on 17th March 1998 and are full members of the Intern […] more
January 11th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
savate hn iran is very good . my name is yaser sheikhi peresent savate in fars(iran)
January 12th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I’m a Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung-fu practitioner and I’ve been observing Savate and although i see alot of mixes in it’s form it’s surprising how […] more
March 11th, 2009 at 1:57 am
Savate is quite good but it would not match to a boxer or kravist or Mcmap or Thai Boxer or UFC or IFL fighter but it is still quite good how they wea […] more
March 15th, 2009 at 4:01 am
Tim - I know it’s been over three years since you posted to this page, but in case you’re still around and are still interested: Savaters Martia […] more
April 21st, 2009 at 1:53 am
Dear Sir, We have visited your web site www.com. Having come to know that you are in the market for the import & selling of Sports good & […] more
May 20th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I don’t see why not. The human body only moves certain ways. All tested systems eventually end up with about the same techniques Rick Sensei J. Ri […] more
May 25th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
The last time I actually saw some savate, a pair of (pro)american cage fighters were having there asses handed to them by average local club fighters […] more
May 26th, 2009 at 6:55 am
savte is a rip off version of wushu which was taught to the asilors by wushu masters
June 29th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Savate is one of the most effective fighting systems in the martial arts. true it is a sport, but there are the older ways of learning savate for sel […] more
August 25th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
This is a great article. This will really help me in the future. I just started reading all the blogs – this one is great! I will bookmark it. Tha […] more
November 24th, 2009 at 10:31 am
savate is not the only french martial art, modern greco-roman wrestleing was also developed by the french.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
martial arts origninated by the chinese.. but indians are tryin to take credit for it. like they do with everything else aginst the chinese tryin to p […] more
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:26 am
if you look at the old bare knuckle boxing books, you can see some of the basic self defense techniques of savate.