Savate Kicks | Fencing with the feet
Fencing with the Feet
Savate kicks, unlike those in kickboxing, Thai boxing or MMA, are delivered with the boot. It is a shoe fighting art and students learn to use each part of the shoe as a weapon. More emphasis is placed on kicks than punches in Savate and several rules in competition ensure fighters are, all else being equal, rewarded more for kicking than punching technique. Savate kicks can only strike with the shoe. Shins and knees are forbidden. The trajectory is also important and certain trajectories are not allowed.
Names of Savate kicks
Fouetté
Literally ‘Whip’ kick. The kicking action is made around the knee joint. Striking with: toes or top of the shoe, foot extended. The final trajectory must be lateral. (Never swung forwards).
Chassé
Literally to ‘drive away’. Stamping using a piston action and hitting at full extension, using the heel to keep an opponent at distance.
Lateral: hips sideways on.
Frontal: hips front facing.
Revers
Reverse kick. The reverse arc of the fouetté from outside-in, striking with sole or blade of the shoe.
Lateral: hips sideways on.
Frontal: hips front facing.
Coup de pied bas (balayage)
Literally low strike (sweep). Either striking forwards or outside-to-inside. Can be used to upend an opponent’s. Striking with: inside blade of the shoe, below the knee of the adversary.
The Federation International publishes a rule book which describes legal Savate technique (French language, external link).
Example kick: Chassé Frontal, demonstrated by head coach James Southwood.
Recent London Savate World Academy online kicking classes
| Preview | Title | Date | Summary | Minutes | Categories | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Scoring Combination: Bottom of the ‘Sea’ | 04 Jan 2021 | 39 minutes. Learn a scoring combination that works from distance and watch it in action … | 39 | Lessons | combinations, kicking |
 | World Academy 100-kick workout | 28 Dec 2020 | Here it is. Our popular and easy-to-follow 100 kick workout. A short 27 minute training … | 27 | Lessons, Workouts | beginners, kicking |
 | Balayage Combination ‘Stirring the Coffee’ | 30 Nov 2020 | 40 minute lesson. Learn an effective Savate combination taken from a real fight. Includes movement … | 40 | Lessons | combinations, kicking |
 | Hitting the High Notes – Savate Kick Flexibility | 06 Nov 2020 | Kick higher! Our 4-week course for building flexibility, leg strength, and high kicks. 12 videos … | Courses | flexibility, kicking | |
| Sofa to Savate | Kicking up to Waist Height | 12 Oct 2020 | Sofa to Savate is great if you are looking to start the elegant and effective … | 23 | Lessons | flexibility, kicking | |
| Chassé Fundamentals | 20 Aug 2020 | Aims To introduce the Chassé kick, put it into different attacks, and strengthen the muscles … | 45 | Lessons | beginners, kicking | |
| Fight Analysis Workout: Multiple Kicks | 17 Aug 2020 | Watch multiple Savate kicks being used effectively in the ring. Talk-along fight analysis PLUS workout. … | 6 | Analysis | kicking, tactics | |
| Décalage + kick | 11 Aug 2020 | Aims To find new angles for kicks using décalage and have a good leg workout. … | 43 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Revers Combinations | 10 Aug 2020 | Aims To have a good workout improving how we use the revers kick in a … | 43 | Lessons | combinations, kicking | |
| Chassé Frontal | 04 Aug 2020 | Aims To explore and get better at using chassé frontal. Contents Warm-up. 1. End with … | 43 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Turning kicks | 21 Jul 2020 | Aims To improve our technical basis for doing turning or spinning Savate kicks. Contents Warm-up. … | 44 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Low kicks | 09 Jul 2020 | Aims To offer 3 different uses for low kicks. Contents Warm-up. Part 1: Fouetté bas. … | 47 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Chassé Combinations | 30 Jun 2020 | Aim To practise some combinations using chassé so as to improve how we use it … | 40 | Lessons | combinations, kicking | |
| Chassé d’Arrêt | 18 Jun 2020 | Technique 48 mins | Warm-up | Chassé frontal | Chassé lateral | Chassé bas | … | 48 | Lessons | defences, kicking | |
| Higher Kicks | 11 Jun 2020 | Technique 45 mins | Warm-up | High fouetté | High revers lateral | High frontal … | 45 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Fouetté | 02 Jun 2020 | Technique 43 mins | Warm-up | Fouetté + direct| Fouetté + hook/upper | Fouetté + … | 43 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Lateral / Frontal | 28 May 2020 | Technique 51 mins | Longer warm-up with kicks | Blue Glove Direct + chassé combination … | 51 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Workout – kick control | 10 May 2020 | This world-class Savate training content is available with London Savate World Academy Online Membership . … | 7 | Workouts | flexibility, kicking | |
| Coup de Pied Bas | 28 Apr 2020 | Technique 37 mins | Coup de Pied bas / Balayage technique | Blue, Green, and … | 37 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Revers | 20 Apr 2020 | Technique 37 mins | Revers Frontal | Revers Lateral | Disturbing Guard | Revers tournant … | 37 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Double Kicks | 13 Apr 2020 | Double Kicks – 13th April 2020. 45 mins | Double kicks | Changing heights | … | 45 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Chassé | 06 Apr 2020 | Chassé – 6th April 2020. 40 mins | Chassé stretch | Combinations | Defend Chassé … | 40 | Lessons | kicking | |
| Multiple Kicks | 23 Mar 2020 | Multiple kicks are a staple of good Savate. Especially in Assaut. – Filmed live outdoors … | 41 | Lessons | kicking |