Savate Défense
An associated discipline of the French savate federation focused on defence within the bounds of legitimate self-defence. Formerly savate bâton défense, it also uses the side-handle baton.
Quick Facts
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Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
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About Savate Défense
Savate Défense is an associated discipline of the French federation FFSbf&DA (Fédération Française de SAVATE boxe française et Disciplines Associées). The federation's 2026 statutes list it under this name alongside canne de combat and bâton and savate forme. The federation's teaching materials from 2018 and 2025 still call it savate bâton défense. It is not a competitive sport. The federation's teaching booklet Cahier n°9 (2018) describes it as a defensive practice with a non-sporting aim that does not seek to train fighters but to teach caution, wisdom, discernment and moderation. Training stays within the framework of legitimate self-defence under Article 122-5 of the French Criminal Code and includes work with the side-handle baton (bâton à poignée). According to the French Wikipedia, the discipline was created in 1995 by a commission led by Jean-Michel Reymond and Marc Brégère. The English Wikipedia gives the year 1994 and other names.
History
The teaching booklet Cahier n°9 from 2018 was compiled by the entire national commission for savate bâton défense, and Christian AÏT bore responsibility for it. The booklet presents the basics of the renewed savate bâton défense. The French Wikipedia states that the discipline was created in 1995 by the savate défense commission, then led by Jean Michel Reymond and Marc Brégère, and that Eric Quequet held the technical leadership for ten years, from 1995 to 2005. The English Wikipedia instead says that savate défense was first introduced in 1994 by Professor Pierre Chainge and that in 2000 Eric Quequet developed it into a form of self-defence. According to the French Wikipedia, the discipline was called savate bâton défense until the general assembly of 2020, when the word bâton was dropped from the name. The reason given is that it should not be confused with the national commission for canne de combat and bâton, and that the use of the side-handle baton in public spaces is reserved for law enforcement. The federation's current statutes of April 2026 list it as Savate Défense, and the internal regulations give Commission Nationale de Savate Défense.
How it differs
Savate défense differs from savate boxe française and from canne de combat and bâton in having no competition rules. The federation's sports regulations of April 2026 and Cahier n°9 mention no competition, and the delegation decree of 22 December 2025 entrusts the federation only with savate boxe française in the form of assaut and combat and with canne de combat and bâton. The federation's website describes savate défense as a return to the roots of savate, which it says was born in the Paris suburbs and focused on street defence.
Technique
Cahier n°9 covers guards with the side-handle baton, petit côté and grand côté parries, two-handed parries, parries against knife and baseball bat attacks, escapes from a collar grab and counters with the baton. The federation's website gives ground and standing work, strikes, joint locks and grips as technical foundations. The French Wikipedia equates the baton with the tonfa and says it is also practised with objects it calls armes par destination.
Training
Cahier n°9 training rests on a training partner who, under the teacher's responsibility, leads attacks as close to reality as possible. The defence must stay within legitimate self-defence and the counterattack must be proportionate to the attack. An impact-absorbing suit is useful but not mandatory. Each year the national commission holds the Formation et Perfectionnement camp, in 2026 from 16 to 22 August in St Christol lez Alès.
Ranks and progression
Cahier n°9 lists the Savate Bâton grades blue, green, red and yellow, and above them Savate Bâton Défense Argent and Savate Bâton Défense d'Argent 2ème degré. The silver grade requires at least 60 points out of 90 and the second degree 65 out of 100. Assessment has three parts: Techniques maîtrisées, Thèmes dirigés and Parcours défense. The syllabus for federal instructors (Cahier n°1, October 2025) has four qualifications, and the qualification for savate défense takes five days (35 hours) and about ten hours of practice in a club.
Today
The discipline is run by the national commission of the federation FFSbf&DA. Sportmag magazine reported in 2022 that its chair is José Pinheiro and covered the sixth annual camp at the Boxing Club Tain Tournon in Ardèche. According to its own website, the federation is recognised by the ministry of sport, has had delegated authority since 17 February 1975 and is a member of CNOSF and the international savate federation (Fisav).
Frequently asked questions
Is savate défense a competitive sport?
No. The federation's teaching booklet calls it a defensive practice with a non-sporting aim, and its sporting regulations list no competition for it.
Why was it formerly called savate bâton défense?
According to the French Wikipedia, because of the side-handle baton (bâton à poignée) used in it. According to the French Wikipedia, the word bâton was dropped from the name at the general assembly in 2020, but the federation's teaching materials continue to use it.
Does savate défense have grades?
Cahier n°9 lists the Savate Bâton grades blue, green, red and yellow and above them two silver Savate Bâton Défense grades. They are assessed in the parts Techniques maîtrisées, Thèmes dirigés and Parcours défense.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.