Moulinet
Moulinet
A circular rotation of the stick in canne de combat that precedes a strike; its direction determines whether a side strike, brisé, or enlevé follows.
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Moulinet is a circular rotating motion of the stick that, in French canne de combat and in bâton français, precedes a strike. It charges the strike with rotational energy and brings the stick into the extended armé position from which the strike develops. It is thus not a hit in its own right, but a preparatory rotational phase that forms part of the overall movement of the codified technique. The direction of the moulinet determines which strike follows. Horizontal moulinets lead to the side strikes latéral extérieur and latéral croisé, vertical ones to attacks on the head or leg, namely brisé, enlevé, croisé tête, and croisé bas. In la canne, a moulinet led downward along the outer side gives rise to brisé, and a moulinet rising from the inner line gives rise to croisé tête. Moulinet is thus part of all six basic techniques of canne de combat, in which competition also scores style according to correct stances. Canne de combat arose in the 19th century from French stick self-defence, and in the 1970s Maurice Sarry standardised it.