Savate

Savate, or boxe française, took shape in 19th-century France from Parisian street fighting and chausson, a kicking game associated with sailors in Marseille. In the 1830s Charles Lecour combined the kicks with English boxing to create the modern form. Savate was a demonstration sport at the 1924 Paris Olympics and today has its own international federation. Its trademark: fighters wear shoes and kick with them.

Character

• Kicks with the shoe: Fouetté (roundhouse), chassé (piston kick), revers (hook kick), coup de pied bas (low kick) – precision over power.
• Hands from boxing: Jab, cross, hook, uppercut with boxing gloves.
• No shins, knees or elbows: Which keeps the game long-range and technical.
• Formats: Assaut scores touches with controlled contact; combat allows full power.

Who is it for?

Anyone who likes the technical side of kickboxing and wants to strike with mobility and elegance rather than brute force. Boxing gloves, savate shoes (or clean trainers to begin) and a mouthguard are enough.