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

[lightbearinglord]

Now that he has been noticed, Lan Wangji does bow, brief but respectful with it. "Young master Grantaire." He glances toward the punching bag, then back to Grantaire. "I was unaware you practiced hand-to-hand combat."

[futaille]

"Oh. Yes." He grabs his water bottle and takes a drink. "It makes sense that you wouldn't know, though, because this is the first I've practiced here, anyway."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji politely doesn't make any comment on that. He practices his own pursuits daily, but Grantaire can decide for himself whether he wants to keep his skills honed or not. "What is this technique?"

[futaille]

"It's called savate. With a bit of chausson. They've been feeding off of each other for a while. Savate started in the north of France, chausson in the south, and they met and learned from each other. Started for fighting in the streets and on the deck of a ship, respectively, but in the last few years, a few people have been working on legitimizing it as a sport."

[lightbearinglord]

It isn't a particularly obvious alteration from the way his face usually looks as he listens, but Lan Wangji is indeed very interested in this explanation. "What are the rules?"

[futaille]

"For the actual sport? Don't try to break bones, probably."

[lightbearinglord]

"There are no others?"

[futaille]

"I don't know. I don't do it quite so formally. Generally the fights I got into, we'd try not to permanently injure each other, at least."

[lightbearinglord]

"But there is some technique," Lan Wangji points out. "You are not merely brawling."

[futaille]

"True enough. Well, it's kick-heavy, probably because of its origin on ships which meant the sailors sometimes would have to hold on to things for balance..."

[lightbearinglord]

"Will you show me?" Lan Wangji asks, then amends: "More slowly, with explanations."

[futaille]

"Certainly." He goes back to the bag and starts to do so, explaining what he's doing as he goes.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji listens closely, of course, hands behind his back and eyes on everything Grantaire is doing. It's a more savage kind of combat than the kind he is used to, but he can see the utility, and it is good to watch as Grantaire demonstrates something with expertise.

[futaille]

Grantaire would hardly call it expertise, exactly, but he'd also at least acknowledge that he's arguably the closest thing to an expert here, at least. "And that's that. It's not the prettiest form of fighting, but it's effective enough."

[lightbearinglord]

Ultimately, efficacy is all that matters in the majority of combat situations. Lan Wangji fights beautifully because he enjoys it, because it turns swordplay into an art -- but a fight is a fight, and death is death. He nods. "May I try?"

[futaille]

Grantaire steps back from the bag and sweeps a hand towards it. "By all means."

[lightbearinglord]

With permission granted, Lan Wangji steps at last across the threshold into the room Grantaire has been using. He considers the punching bag and considers everything he has just seen from Grantaire. Thereafter, he shucks the two outermost layers of his robes, his belt, and his qiankun pouch; he folds the robes and sets them in a neat pile, the belt coiled neatly, the pouch atop it all. This leaves him in his undershirt, his trousers, and a skirt, along with his boots.

After one slow breath, he spins into a high kick aimed at the bag. He is trying to emulate Grantaire's technique, rather than exert much force, but the sole of his boot does strike decisively anyway.

[futaille]

Grantaire watches curiously and grins as the kick connects. "Very solid hit."

[lightbearinglord]

"Was that correct?" Lan Wangji turns back to Grantaire, awaiting any necessary critique.

[futaille]

"It looked good to me. Or at least no real issues that I could spot."

[lightbearinglord]

"Mn." He repeats the motion, then; it does send the punching bag swinging, so he stops it with one hand on the return. "Will you demonstrate the open-handed strike again?"

[futaille]

It's such a wordy way to describe a slap that it actually takes him half a second to parse it. Once he does, though, he absolutely appreciates it. "The... Oh! Certainly!"

He steps up to the bag and gives it a good whack.

[lightbearinglord]

As before, Lan Wangji observes this with care. Once the bag has stilled again, he copies Grantaire to the best of his abilities; admittedly, despite his best efforts, this does send the bag nearly flying. Again, he stops it with his hand when it swings back to him.

[futaille]

"I see we're running into the same essential issue as with pinball."

[lightbearinglord]

"Too many handstands," Lan Wangji says grimly.