Savate - French Kickboxing

On 8-9 March, a group of men and women boxed to medal success at the Helsinki Savate Open 2024

Savate is a unique French kickboxing sport dating back to the 1800s. The word literally means an old shoe and competitors wear boxing gloves and boots rather than go barefoot for fighting. The result is longer-range, fluid, and precise. Savate is now a modern kickboxing sport practised around the world with graceful moves and a competition category called "assaut" in which touch contact only is permitted, enabling a wider set of people of all ages to compete. 

The London Savate Club was founded in 2004 by Professeur James Southwood, former world champion. The club fielded three men this year in Helsiinki, with its sister clubs from Indiana, USA and from Denmark bringing another four in total. 

These international teams started learning Savate with Prof. Southwood over the pandemic when all training was done over video. They have now become international competitors.

Adam and Walter from Indiana fought in their first Savate tournament, travelling with their coach David. Lise journeyed from the small Danish island of Møn to her second Helsinki Savate Open. Peter, William, and coach James fought out of London. 

This was the 10th instalment of this excellent international event at the world-class facilities at Savate Club Helsinki. 

More information about Savate

https://londonsavate.co.uk/

youtube.com/londonsavate