--- In salledesavate@yahoogroups.com, "lone_wolf_92001"
<lone_wolf_9@h...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm new to this group, doing research for an article. Can anyone
> here help me with the following:
>
> I'm familiar with Les Apaches (Parisian street fighters at the turn
> of the last century,) and with the Apache dance style which
mimicked
> their combat style. I've also seen several 1890s self-defence
> manuals that refer to "dirty tricks" such as the use of the
> knife, "hooding" an opponent with a jacket or cape, etc. as "Apache
> techniques."
>
> "Panache" seems to refer to the same type or class of techniques;
was
> this style created recently as an evolution/adaptation of the
Apache
> tricks, or is it a different thing altogether?
>
> I'm also trying to source 1890s graphics or descriptions of the use
> of the cape/cloak/coat in self-defence, and will be grateful if
> someone can point me in the right direction.
>
> Can anyone confirm that this type of technique was employed by
French
> police around 1900, and that this is the origin of the slang term
for
> police, "le flic" (as in "flicking" a coat over a suspect's head to
> subdue them?)
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Tony Wolf


Hello Tony,

The Manueal de Baratero really shows these techniques, even when not
attributing them to any specific style. The cloak use, knife use
(navaja), etc. were all pretty common French street-fighting lexicon.

Phillipe Roudillion, whom I trained La Canne with at Cercle
Charlemont in Paris, had some early photos (ambrotypes, ferrotypes?)
of street folks (not the usual dapper guys) doing Savate it looked
more like this (tight chambering of kicks, using the knife, etc).

Panache really refers to a system codified quite recently by
Legendary Savate Prof. LaFond, though I've heard it
incorporates "methodologies" from Les Apaches and Lutte Parisienne
(as "techniques" are sort of hearsay) it really is most interesting
as very early Boxe Francaise, when simple throws and other blows were
still allowed in the ring.

I'd never heard about "Le Flic" origion...never asked, but I will now!

If I can get any of those photos, I will post them.

Armando