Charles Lecour
French savate master, a student of Michel Casseux, who combined French kicking with English boxing to create French boxing (Boxe Française Savate).
Quick Facts
FranceBiography
Charles Lecour was born in Oissery (Seine-et-Marne); some sources give the year 1808, others 1802. He died in 1894 in Épinal. He is known as the creator of French boxing (Boxe Française Savate).
He learned savate under Michel Casseux, known as Pisseux, who codified the discipline as the "Art de la Savate"; he also learned stick fighting (canne, bâton) from him. Owen Swift introduced him to English boxing, though the order of events varies in the sources. According to some, he lost to him in 1830; according to others, in 1838 near Paris he watched a match between Swift and Jack Adams and reportedly boxed with Swift himself. He then trained in English boxing under Jack Adams in London.
After returning, he opened a gymnasium; some sources place it in Montmartre, others in the Passage des Panoramas, where he founded it with his brother Hubert in 1832. By combining French kicking (savate and chausson) with English boxing, he created French boxing. He introduced boxing gloves as part of grading progress instead of the earlier system of sashes, and competing in tournaments became a condition for advancing beyond beginner level. Between 1846 and 1847 he fought in public matches at the Cirque Olympique, and in 1848 he handed the gymnasium over to his brother.
His students included the Duke of Orléans, Théophile Gautier and Alexandre Dumas, as well as Joseph Charlemont, who developed the system further with his son Charles. Between 1875 and 1884 he was professor of French boxing at the École d'escrime française, after which Jules Leclerc succeeded him.
Teachers, students and family
Associated Martial Arts
A French striking sport in which one kicks with the foot in a shoe and boxes with the hands. Its modern form was given by Charles Lecour and Joseph Charlemont in the 19th century.
ChaussonNotable figure→A Provençal foot game that J. Charlemont described in 1899 as an old game popularly called savate or chausson. Opponents touched with the toe and only slapped with the hands.