French boxing gaining popularity in Bulgaria

published on 8/25/10 12:29 PM

Photo: provided by Irina Verne from Mission of Bulgaria

Less popular than the English type, French boxing has still managed to gain considerable popularity all over the world. It has become part of the martial arts boom, which started with fighting techniques involving the use of both hands and feet. French Boxing, also called “Savate” is the only European sport of this type, as most of them come from Asia. The sport became popular in Bulgaria mainly as a technique for protection on the street and recently it has started being practiced as a sport discipline. Bulgaria already has two vice champions in the sport among the men and the women. It is not by chance that in 2004 the world Savate Championship took place in Bulgaria. The success of the sport in the country is due mainly to a Frenchman in love with Savate and previously married to a Bulgarian. His name is Alain Tardits.

He told Radio Bulgaria interesting details about the history of Savate – a martial technique of the sailors from Marseille and Genoa. It emerged in the 1700. On the swaying ships the sailors had to fight against attackers using the ropes of the ship to hold with hands kicking the pirates. The technique developed and it started to be used on land. Ironically, Savate later became a sport practiced mainly by the aristocracy.

“By 1750 the French aristocracy started to suffer from the frequent duels between the young and the big number of deaths and that was when the French king banned the young members of the aristocracy from carrying weapons. This way, however, they became vulnerable to attacks on the street and that is why they started to be interested in the combat skills of the poor, who never had the right to carry weapons. Savate training emerged, as experienced sailors often led the courses. It is a curious fact that the French revolution of 1789 became the reason for spreading the French boxing all over the world. Fleeing members of the aristocracy brought the skills to Russia, England, and Belgium. Savate became widely popular among the Russian Tsar guards.”

At the same time classical boxing emerged in England and no kicking was allowed in it. Matches between practitioners of both styles were organised and one of them was historical.

“The match took place in London and was called the fight of the century, Mr. Tardits says. “A few thousand French arrived to watch the match. Both the English and the French fighters were world champions in their sport. The French fighter won at the end but he experienced significant difficulties fighting at close range. That is why the practitioners of this sport decided to include punches too. In 1900 Pierre de Coubertin included Savat in the Olympic Games.”

What Alain Tardits likes most about French boxing is the fact it is mainly practiced by amateurs and the big money has not affected it.

“This sport remained mostly amateur and there is no doping, mafia, and fixed matches. The ethical code has been preserved”, Alain proudly says.

That is why Savate remains Alain Tardits’s passion, despite his love towards chess and acting. After a long break due to health reasons, Tardits resumed training in 1998, while in 2001 he established the first French boxing club in Bulgaria in the city of Plovdiv. Today there are 7 such clubs in the country. The last one was established in 2010 in the town of Dupnitsa with the help of the Mission Bulgaria NGO.

“During these years I have organised matches for Bulgarian competitors in Paris, as well as at European and World tournaments”, he says. “The results were encouraging. That is why I proposed the World Savate Championship to take place in Plovdiv in 2004. I was also one of the sponsors. I decided not to buy a new car, but invest in the championship instead and I do not regret it. The Bulgarians performed great and won two silver medals – one among the women and one among the men. The Bulgarian competitors often have experience in karate, or kick boxing and they are very well prepared”, Mr. Tardits concludes.

English version: Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Maria Dimitrova

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French boxing gaining popularity in Bulgaria

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