Savate (pronounced 'Sa-vat' and also known as Boxe Française) is an effective fighting sport from France. We have regular classes and beginners' courses in Cambridge at St Bede's Sports Hall and Gym.

Savate is an efficient, tactical method of fighting using the feet and hands. One clear difference from other kick-punch sports is that savateurs wear light-weight boots. This comes from our history, traceable to the early part of the 19th century.

During the first half of the 1800's, Charles Lecour combined English Boxing with French foot-fighting taken from the old street fighting methods of 'savate' (a slang term for 'old shoe' or 'old boot'), and the more flamboyant style of 'Chausson' (the name of a sailor's deck shoe).

Nowadays, Savate is made up of two inseparable parts: Savate Boxe and Savate Defence. Savate Boxe is one-on-one fighting, in a ring with a referee, judges and rules, wearing Savate gloves and boots. Savate Defence has no rules, however, as it is a method of all-in fighting for self-defence.

Our Savate classes concentrate on kicking and punching skills, mobility, defence and tactics. You can build up your fitness and progress at your own pace. We include 'sparring skills' for anyone who would like to learn to spar, as well as sparring sessions for intermediate and advanced students.

Several members of the Academy have represented Great Britain in European and World Championship competitions. We regularly participate in the Great Britian championships, and international open events in Budapest, Castlebar, Helsinki and Paris.

In addition, we offer classes in Savate's sister art: Canne de Combat. It is an exciting and dynamic form of cane-fighting, consisting of striking techniques, blocks, feints and combinations. It is a long range, graceful art, involving stylish striking and athletic movement. Our Canne classes include Canne de Combat, Baton and Canne Chausson. Canne de Combat Participants wear padded clothing and safety equipment in competition.