Open Post: La savate et le chausson

[futaille]

Much to his satisfaction, Grantaire has been able to keep up with many of his hobbies unabated during his time at the mansion. Not all of them, though, mostly because they were ones he'd go to specific spots for, and with those spots not being here in addition to an abundance of his other hobbies, they more or less fell by the wayside.

However, a recent chat with Dionysus has reminded him that he has very much neglected his 'hitting things' level. Although he didn't find a crash test dummy, the thought being on his mind ended up in him stumbling upon a small gym tucked away, complete with some equipment including a standing punching bag.

So he's discarded his waistcoat and cravat over a bench and is practicing his savate¹.

¹French kickboxing! During R's time it was basically for streetfighting, and just beginning to get formalized, but there are some cool vintage videos on youtube (Here and here) to give the... vibe.

Comments

[futaille]

"No complaints at the moment. And no matter how sore I am later, it will still be less than if I had an actual opponent."

[kadewest]

"Would you like an opponent?"

[futaille]

"What, are you offering?"

[kadewest]

"Sure, if you don't mind that I'm wildly out of practice."

[futaille]

He laughs. "So am I, so we're even."

[kadewest]

"The last time I fought with any regularity," Kade say, conversationally, as he comes the rest of the way into the room, "I was the thirteen-year-old general of one of the armies for the fairy Court of the Rainbow Princess."

[futaille]

Grantaire thinks that over for a moment. "You might be slightly more out of practice than I am."

[kadewest]

"I did borrow a chocolate-covered toffee sword in Confection to help a friend defeat the Queen of Cakes once when I was eighteen, I suppose."

[futaille]

"Oh, of course. Can't forget that."

[kadewest]

"What," with a growing grin. "You've never found yourself fighting for your life in a world made of sugar?"

[futaille]

"I have somehow missed out on that clearly universal experience."

[kadewest]

"Yeah, you really are missing out," Kade laughs.

[futaille]

"My burden to bear, I suppose."

[kadewest]

"Ah, well." Kade leans against the wall. "So are there any particular rules to your version of kickboxing?"

[futaille]

"Not any particularly formal ones. Or, rather, not any formal ones that I ever learned. In the last few years, some people have been trying to regulate it but I don't know what rules they've set."

[kadewest]

"So you just go hog-wild?"

[futaille]

"Of course not. There are rules, but not formal ones." He pauses. "Well, unless you're in an actual fight, in which case..."

[kadewest]

"So when we spar, what should I keep in mind?"

[futaille]

"First, more kicking than punching in savate. Second, in a friendly spar, try not to go for the face or break bones. Third... Really, the first two should work well enough, but if you want me to show you the types of kicks, I can."

[kadewest]

"Oh yeah, please do." Kade is definitely going to have to change if they actually do this; his clothes are way too structured for a ton of exertion.

[futaille]

He nods. "First is the fouetté, the whip kick." He lifts his leg sideways, bent at the knee with his shin facing the bag, kicking it forward to hit it with the top of his foot.

[kadewest]

Yeah, there's no way he can recreate that even in practice with these pants. "Whip kick," he repeats.

[futaille]

He nods and faces the bag straight on. "Exactly. Next..." He lifts his leg and kicks forward with his heel. "Chassé. Can also be done sideways."

[kadewest]

"Chassé," Kade repeats. "Is the point the heel-strike?"

[futaille]

"It helps keep your opponent at a distance. Drives them away."