French martial art involving canes
Canne de combat is a French combat sport. As weapon, it uses a "canne" or cane (a kind of walking-stick) designed for fighting. "Canne de combat" was standardized in the 1970s for sporting competition by Maurice Sarry. The "canne" is very light, made of chestnut wood and slightly tapered. A padded suit and a fencing mask are worn for protection.
History.
The "canne de combat" or "canne d'arme" originated in France in the early 19th century as a self-defence discipline and was particularly used by the upper classes in large, unsafe cities such as Paris. Some classify it as a French martial art although its codification as a sport does not allow this name officially. The history of the discipline is closely linked to the development of the "savate" boxing techniques, which in earlier forms largely used kicks and later, under the influence of the British, incorporated punches. Gentlemen trained into the "savate" techniques mastered cane as a way of fighting from a distance as well as close combat kickboxing. The cane was more common in cities, whereas a staff akin to a European quarterstaff was more popular in rural areas. The tactics used were largely interchangeable between these disciplines.
The techniques of "savate" and "canne d'arme" increased in popularity up to the point that they were used by military and police forces until World War I. The deaths of many of its practitioners during the war caused the discipline to decline substantially. Its techniques continued, however, to be taught in a few "savate" boxing clubs that remained after the First World War and managed to survive World War II. There is reputed to be a group who operated during the Nazi occupation who used cane techniques to carry out assassinations. Cane fighting techniques of the late 1950s and 1960s were influenced by revival efforts of enthusiasts.
Self-defence sport.
During the late 1970s, the techniques of the "canne d'arme" were codified by Maurice Sarry with a view to rehabilitating it as a sport. This led to the discipline which is still today associated with the "Federation de Savate Boxe Française" ("French Savate Boxing Federation"). Aside from the sport approach, self-defense techniques are still alive; e.g., the "Master Lafond" technique.
Today, the sport "canne de combat" is practiced by a thousand "cannistes", and the French staff by some hundreds of "bâtonniers" or "bâtonnistes".
Canne de Combat in USA.
In the USA Jean-Noel Eynard brought canne de combat to the east coast in combination with Savate. The first real FFBFSDA/ FIS club of Canne de combat/ Savate was open in 1983 on the east coast in Philadelphia, under Dr. Jean-Noel Eynard, FFBFSDA/ FIS Professeur with the assistance of former FFBFSDA/ FIS DTN Bob Alix. Canne de combat was also taught in 1994 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Use.
The use of the cane as a weapon, as originally taught in weapons schools, was codified by the masters of savate so that the cane was taught as a weapon of self-defence. The French tradition includes techniques of medieval stick-fighting ("bâton français"), excepting those techniques considered too dangerous to be used in sport. The medieval stick is too heavy a weapon to be used in competition.
Its use has thus been lost and today "canne de combat" itself is disappearing. There is, however, a martial tradition passed down to Swiss master Pierre Vigny, which was used for codification of techniques using the Indian cane at the beginning of the 20th century, forming a separate tradition from the more common sporting cane seen in France today. The cane, first used for support and then as a gentleman's accessory, also provided a useful weapon. A normal walking stick is usually within the boundaries of legal self-defence, but the loaded cane (weighted with lead at one end) may be considered a weapon in some jurisdictions.
Rules.
In the modern sporting "canne de combat" system found in France, bouts are held inside a ring. The cane is held with one hand but the player can change it from hand to hand during the bout. Strokes are made either horizontally or downward, thrusting or stabbing blows being prohibited. The scoring zones are the calves, the torso and the head.
To count, all strokes must be with the cane, and low blows must have a lunging movement. The bout is won on points, the lightness of the cane and the protective clothing making a knockout impossible. Points are scored for style, according to the correctness of body positions during fighting. Contact with prohibited areas such as the arms are penalized. It is thus possible to win a match without landing a blow on one's adversary, if he or she accumulates penalties.
Variations.
"Canne de combat" has several variations:
"Canne".
"Canne" is the biggest part of "canne de combat". When playing "canne", the "cannistes" (competitors) have a stick in their hand, wear a protective suit and a fencing helmet, and try to score more points than their opponent during the match.
Scoring zones:
During a "canne" bout, the "cannistes" must use prescribed defensive and offensive techniques, combined with jumps and vaults. There is no simultaneous attack, meaning that if one of the players has started an attack, the other must parry or evade, and is allowed to counterattack only after the evasion. An evasion can be a step, a jump or a crouch. The stick can be held either in the left or in the right hand, and changing hands during the match is permitted.
"Double canne".
During a "double canne" bout, the "cannistes" hold sticks in both their right and left hands. They try to score hits with both hands using similar techniques as in "canne", whilst they parry and counter-attack. The two stick style allows for much faster attack and defence.
"Bâton".
"Bâton" means long stick techniques and is based on the movements of the medieval longsword and longer countryside walking stick, extended with the movement base of "canne".
"Canne défense".
"Canne défense" means self-defense with the "canne". The basic techniques are similar to those used in basic "canne", but are expanded to include thrusts, slashes, parries and counter-attacks, neck- and hand-locks and releases from holds. During "canne défense" every vulnerable part of the body is considered a legitimate target: the elbow, the knee, the face, etc. It is under heavy development. Because "canne défense" techniques are more dangerous, there are no "canne défense" competitions or free sparring, only paired techniques.
"Canne chausson".
"Canne chausson" combines savate kicks with "canne" stick attacks.
Techniques.
Attacks.
"Canne de combat" is based on six techniques, combinations, and other elements (jumps, voltes, hand switches).
"Latéral extérieur".
Assuming the cane is in your right hand:
Keeping the point of the cane to the front, turn your upper body to the right slightly as you draw back your right hand. There should be a lifting of the left heel at the same time. Once your hand has passed the line of your spine (if viewed from the side), flip the point of your cane out behind you, so that your arm and the cane is now in line, and fully extended out to the rear. Next, bring your arm and the cane around from the rear to the front, along a horizontal line. If the target is the head, remain upright as you deliver your hit. Your arm should remain straight throughout the execution of the strike as the point travels through a 180 degrees arc from the rear to the front.
There is no need to think of delivering the strike with a 'blade edge'. In fact, it's better to deliver the strike with your palm facing down, so that the thumb side of the stick strikes the target (similar to striking with the back edge of your blade). That helps enormously in keeping the arm straight throughout.
"Latéral croisé".
Assuming the cane is in your right hand:
Keeping the point of the cane to the front, turn you upper body to the left slightly as you draw back your right hand (palm facing up i.e. towards you) and arm across your chest. Transfer your weight slightly to your back (left) foot and raise your front heel slightly as you do so. Your hand should pass the line of your spine (if viewed from the side). Now turn your hand over (anti-clockwise), in order to flip the point of your cane out behind you, with your hand and forearm over your left shoulder, and extend the cane out to the rear as far as possible. Next, bring your arm and the cane around from the rear to the front, along a horizontal line. If the target is the head, remain upright as you deliver your hit. Your arm should remain straight throughout the execution of the strike as the point travels through a 180 degrees arc from the rear to the front.
Defenses.
Acceptable defenses in "canne" are the parry and the evasion. An evasion can be a step, a jump or a crouch. There is no simultaneous attack, which means that if one competitor starts an attack, the other has to parry or evade and is allowed to counterattack only "after" the evasion.
The "canne" strategy does not accept the theory of "getting a small hit in order to deal a bigger hit". If player A starts to attack and, instead of defending himself, player B also starts an attack, then the following is the rule:
This is similar to the right of way rules of modern sport fencing.
Lunges.
There are five lunges in canne.
Valid attacks.
Only valid attacks are counted. An attack is only considered valid if it performed using one of the techniques described above, and:
Rules.
Bouts are held in a 9-meter diameter circle. The cane is held with one hand but the competitor may change it from hand to hand during the bout. Strokes are made either horizontally or downward, thrusting or stabbing blows being prohibited. The scoring zones are the calves, the torso (only for men) and the head.
To count, all strokes must be with the cane, and low blows must have a lunging movement. The bout is won on points, the lightness of the cane and the protective clothing making a knockout impossible. Points are scored for style, according to the correctness of body positions during fighting. Contact with prohibited areas such as the arms are penalized. It is thus possible to win a match without landing a blow on one's adversary, if they accumulate penalties.
References.
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