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]

"Good strategic kick. Next is the revers, which is more or less the fouetté backwards." He demonstrates, swinging his leg in the opposite direction from the first kick, hitting the bag with the sole of his shoe.

[kadewest]

"How many kick are there?" Kade asks, with mounting interest.

[futaille]

"One more after this if you mean basic categories. You can obviously vary the height and angle of all of these."

[kadewest]

"Oh, sure, sure. Okay, show me the last one."

[futaille]

"Coup de pied bas. The low kick. Aimed below the knee." He keeps his leg low and sweeps it sideways, kicking the bag with the inside of his foot.

[kadewest]

"Oh, that seems handy," Kade says. "Yeah, okay. I think I can pick it up."

[futaille]

He nods. "Really, the most important thing is staying mobile and quick on your feet."

[kadewest]

Kade laughs outright. "I'm going to be fucking horrible at this," he warns Grantaire. "But I'm committed."

[futaille]

"Excellent. What's the point at only doing things you're good at?"

[kadewest]

"Better to be a jack of all trades, master of none."

[futaille]

"A broad base of knowledge, precisely."

[kadewest]

"Oh, to have an approximate knowledge of many things," Kade laughs. "Okay. I'm gonna go change into something better for movement."

[futaille]

"I'll be here making sure the room doesn't float off."

[kadewest]

"A critical service," Kade laughs.

It doesn't take him very long to change into soft clothes and make his way back downstairs, and he re-enters the room mid-pulling his hair back and out of the way.

[futaille]

"Welcome back! A bit more comfortable now, I imagine?"

[kadewest]

"Oh, sure. Ready to rumble, brother."

[futaille]

"Wonderful." He steps away from the bag to a more open area.

[kadewest]

Kade follows. "Okay," he says. "Lemme run through these kicks once or twice first, make sure I've got 'em."

[futaille]

"Oh, by all means. Practice can hardly hurt."

[kadewest]

"Name 'em, I'll try 'em."

[futaille]

He shrugs. "All right, then. Chassé."

[kadewest]

"Heel strike," says Kade, and does a serviceable attempt at one.

[futaille]

"Well done. Now revers."

[kadewest]

"Backward whip kick," says Kade. This effort is slightly less serviceable, and he nearly overbalances. "Oof. Got any tips for me?"

[futaille]

"Don't get too overzealous with it. Mind your center of balance. Your body should, for the most part, stay upright and above your planted leg." He demonstrates.