Good savate and la canne documentary

**Permalost** · Posted On: 3/04/2010 4:55pm

I came across a National Geographic documentary about savate. The structure is kind of like Fight Quest or Human Weapon, in that the host is a martial artist that trains in a new style and ends up competing against a good practitioner at the end, but the host is a woman so it's got a different dynamic to it, which is nice. I like programs like this that actually attempt to show the culture that spawned the art and how it became what it is (even though they almost always oversimplify- they have an hour to entertain and inform after all). I'm not sure what the host's 25 years of martial arts experience contain, but she mentions karate at one point.

YouTube- Savate & La Canne De Combat Pt.1 of 5

YouTube- Savate & La Canne De Combat Pt.2 of 5
Around 4:30 in this one, there is a pretty cool display by a former savate champion and trainer that really highlights the athleticism of a savate fighter.

YouTube- Savate & La Canne De Combat Pt. 3 of 5
This is where the la canne part starts, and has some neat old sword canes towards the beginning. There's also an interview with an 89 year old canne master who was banned from practicing because he wouldn't teach the Nazis. It was great to see such an old guy still practicing his art, and seeing his little table set up with champagn after his little practice session made me smile. Baller.

YouTube- Savate & La Canne De Combat Pt. 4 of 5
Here, we meet her opponent, a very quick and competent looking young woman.

YouTube- Savate & La Canne De Combat Pt. 5 of 5
awesome historical side kick at 4:35. The end match looked very light but showcased the champ's skill well imo.

**Craig Jenkins** · Posted On: 3/04/2010 5:19pm

Her experience is in Shotokan karate and aikido.

**Rene "Zendokan" Gysenbergs** · Posted On: 3/04/2010 5:25pm

Originally Posted by CodosDePiedra

...I'm not sure what the host's 25 years of martial arts experience contain, but she mentions karate at one point.

Thanks for posting the documentary.

[derail]

While a little bit off topic, I can see that the host has experience in Taekwondo, WTF-style.
It's easy to recognize, in the first movie, when she's learning to throw combo's on the restored bridge.

Her front foot points sideways after one or two kicks.
A Savateur always keeps his toes pointed towards his adversary to maximize his/her punching capability according to the Tai Sabaki (Japanese term) principle.
A Taekwondoka (especially WTF) keeps the sidestand for kickspeed, but loses for the same reason his punching power.

Because the dynamic behind Savate kicks and Taekwondo kicks are the same after a few kicks an ex-Taekwondoka ends up in sidestand. That's the most difficult part to "de-learn".

Took me also a long time to de-learn and even now sometimes in the heat of the fight I end up in sidestands.

[/derail]

**Permalost** · Posted On: 3/04/2010 7:57pm

I sometimes end up in the side stand too, from doing continuous sparring structured around attacking the chest protector- the side kick was one of the tools that could really move someone around in that ruleset and a lot of people were in love with it. After doing kung fu for years, I started telling myself in training that I need to always face my opponent.

**Lindz** · Posted On: 3/04/2010 8:07pm

Did she do a series or was this a one off?

**Craig Jenkins** · Posted On: 3/04/2010 8:13pm

This was a series - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josette_Normandeau

**Permalost** · Posted On: 3/05/2010 12:18am

Recently, my girlfriend got back from a trip home to Germany and while she was there she found a shilelagh and a thin walking stick that she brought back for me. I've been watching all the la canne videos I can find to get some inspiration on the use of the thin walking stick as a weapon (as well as Barton-Wright and Vigny walking stick stuff). I really like it.

**Rubberduck** · Posted On: 3/07/2010 9:15am

Codos, you´d be meaning this gentleman? Bullies and bulliettes, Roger LaFond, still training last I heard.

YouTube- Roger LaFond method of canne, baton and french boxing

**Conde Koma** · Posted On: 3/07/2010 8:52pm

I watched the first video and had to stop because it was putting me to sleep. It's trying to be Human Weapon or whatever, but I don't think it's succeeding.