World Academy Savate Glove Grading.

Language.

Understanding this syllabus should not require any French language ability. This principle has been adopted in order to test more clearly the features we consider important – those of the sport of Savate. This syllabus is therefore written in English, using a few French labels which cannot be analysed or translated. A thorough or conscientious student may choose to learn the French as well. We encourage students to use their native language to describe the techniques, deferring to the French terms only for the labels. That way, native language can be used to aid understanding, without unnecessary clouding.

Kicks.

There are four kicks named in French which cannot be translated and will always be written and pronounced (with accents) as follows. These cannot and should not be translated as, e.g., whip kick, push kick, reverse kick, or sweep, for these are not exact.

• Fouetté
• Chassé
• Revers
• Coup-de-pied-bas. (Hyphenated in this syllabus to render it unanalysable).

Footwork.

The two named footwork techniques are preserved in the French. Again, they name a distinctive move that is best not translated. Understanding the sense of the word, however, will help to comprehend the technique.

• Décalage. Shifting, making a gap. Example usage: Décalage horaire means ‘timezone’.
• Débordement. Outflanking. Example usage: a military outflanking the opposition; or a river overflowing.

Punches.

Punches may be named in English. This accords with the history of the development of Savate. There is, however, some ambiguity in the English terms. For example, ‘jab’ and ‘straight left’ are sometimes used interchangeably, some practitioners distinguish them. ‘Cross’ was originally a counter punch, nowadays any straight rear hand. The French terminology is somewhat clearer here, so the English pronunciation of ‘direct’ is employed. The French term ‘crochet’ was translated out of the English, so ‘hook’ is retained. ‘Uppercut’ has not been endowed with its own French translation in any case.

• Direct
• Hook
• Uppercut;

Strike descriptions.

There are several descriptive terms which are very commonly used in French as adjectives next to the strikes. In this syllabus they can be employed in French or English. Students should know the French term, but might find it easier to to retain their native language when training.

• Bas / low
• Médian / middle
• Haut / figure / high
• Avant / front
• Arrière / rear

This syllabus uses ‘front’ and ‘rear’ rather than ‘left’ and ‘right’ in order to retain accuracy when dealing with southpaw, false guard, or left-handed fighters.

The descriptive terms for kick trajectory have the same spelling in both English and French. In this syllabus, the pronunciation may follow the English, for ease of comprehension:

• Lateral 
• Frontal

Tournant has been translated as ‘turning’.

Defences.

• Esquive – in this syllabus, translated as ‘escape’.
• Parade chassée – in this syllabus, translated as ‘parry’.
• Parade bloquée – in this syllabus, translated as ‘block’.

Other words.

• Assaut – sparring, or free play.
• En garde –  get ready.
• Allez! – go.

Auxiliary terms that are not needed in French. It is preferred always to express these in English (or student’s native language), for ease of comprehension.

• Ou / or
• Même / same
• Autre / other
• Recule / backwards