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]

"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."

[kadewest]

"Sure, sure, I can see how it would do that."

[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?"