Le Revers Frontal: the Unique Kick of Savate
Savate, also known as French boxing, is a martial art renowned for its elegant yet powerful kicking techniques, performed with specialized boots.
Introduction to Le Revers Frontal
At first glance, the name "Revers Frontal" might seem contradictory. "Frontal" suggests a direct forward motion, while "Revers" implies a reversal or turning. In Savate, this paradox is elegantly resolved:
Le Revers Frontal is an outward circular kick delivered with the kicking leg, while the body maintains a frontal profile to the opponent. The kick typically targets the opponent's face, making contact with the outside edge of the Savate boot. Both the support leg and the kicking leg are extended during delivery, emphasizing reach and power.
What makes it "reverse" is the outward circular trajectory of the kick itself, contrasting with the more direct, inward, or linear paths of other kicks. Despite this circular arc, the practitioner's torso generally remains facing forward, allowing for quick follow-up actions and maintaining defensive posture. This unique blend of circular attack with frontal body orientation is a hallmark of its sophisticated design in Savate.
Drills for Mastering Le Revers Frontal
To effectively integrate Le Revers Frontal into one's repertoire, a structured approach to drilling is essential. These drills progress from fundamental combinations to more complex sequences, building fluidity, power, and tactical awareness.
Core Drills:
Individual Technique Focus: Practice the Le Revers Frontal from both lead and rear legs, emphasizing the outward circular motion, full leg extension, hip engagement, and contact with the outside edge of the boot. Focus on maintaining a frontal body profile throughout.
Stationary vs. Spinning: Train both the stationary execution and the "spinning" (turning) variation of the kick, which utilizes a full body turn for increased power and range, often initiated with a "quasi suti" (a small jump or cross-step to cover distance).
Combination Drills (integrating punches and other kicks):
Jab / Cross / Rear Leg Le Revers Frontal:
Purpose: To seamlessly transition from a standard boxing combination into a powerful rear-leg kick. The power of the cross can naturally set up the hip rotation for the kick.
Lead Leg Le Revers Frontal / Rear Leg Fouetté Median:
Purpose: A rapid-fire kicking combination. Focus on balance and the swift transfer of weight and energy from one kick to the next.
Jab / Lead Hook (step off as you Hook) / Rear Leg Turning Le Revers Frontal:
Purpose: This drill integrates defensive footwork ("step off") with an offensive turning kick. The step-off creates an angle and gets the practitioner off the line of attack, immediately followed by the powerful spinning Le Revers Frontal.
Rear Leg Turning Le Revers Frontal / Lead Leg Low Fouetté / Step Off / Rear Leg Chassé Median:
Purpose: An advanced sequence demanding high levels of balance, coordination, and tactical thinking. It combines a powerful turning kick, a low whipping kick, an evasive step, and a powerful pushing kick to maintain pressure or counter.
Jab / Cross / Lead Hook / Rear Leg Turning Le Revers Frontal / Lead Leg Fouetté Median:
Purpose: A comprehensive drill that links a three-punch combination directly into two successive kicks, showcasing continuous attack and fluidity across upper and lower body techniques.
Usage of Le Revers Frontal in Savate Competition (Assaut)
In Savate competition, particularly in Assaut (light contact), Le Revers Frontal is a highly valued and frequently employed technique due to its speed, deceptive trajectory, and effectiveness in scoring points.
Primary Scoring Attack: Its primary target, the opponent's face, makes it a potent tool for scoring. The outside edge of the boot, being a precise contact surface, allows for clean, controlled touches in light-contact bouts.
Deception and Visual Blinders: The outward circular path means the kick travels outside the opponent's immediate line of sight. This makes it difficult to defend against, as it can arrive from an unexpected angle, especially when the opponent is focused on defending linear punches.
Guard Clearing: Even if it doesn't land cleanly, Le Revers Frontal can be strategically used to "clear away" an opponent's guard.
By striking the arms or gloves protecting the face, it can open up pathways for immediate follow-up punches or other kicks. Close-Range Effectiveness: Unlike many long-range kicks, Le Revers Frontal can be delivered effectively even at close distances. This makes it a formidable option after throwing tight hooks and uppercuts, catching an opponent off-guard as they recover from the punching exchange.
Set-ups and Feints: Competitors frequently use other kicks or punches to set up Le Revers Frontal. A jab can make an opponent cover up, creating the opening. Similarly, feinting a low kick (like a Fouetté or Chassé bas) can draw the opponent's focus downwards, leaving their head vulnerable to the high Revers Frontal. Conversely, Le Revers Frontal itself can be used as a feint to open up other targets, such as a mid-line Fouetté.
Usage of Le Revers Frontal in Self-Defense: A Practical Assessment
While Le Revers Frontal is a dynamic and powerful kick in Savate's sporting context, its direct application in real-world self-defense situations requires a practical assessment. Street encounters are chaotic and unpredictable, contrasting sharply with the controlled environment of a training hall or ring.
Practical Limitations in Self-Defense:
Compromised Balance: Any kick inherently requires balancing on one leg. The circular or spinning nature of Le Revers Frontal further compromises stability, making one highly vulnerable on uneven ground, slippery surfaces, or against multiple assailants. A missed kick or block can easily lead to a fall.
Slow Recovery: Complex kicks have longer recovery times. If the kick fails to connect or is countered, the defender is left exposed for critical moments, allowing an aggressor to close distance or counter-attack.
Space and Complexity: Le Revers Frontal demands adequate space and precise execution. Self-defense situations are often close-quarters and unpredictable, favoring simpler, more direct movements over complex, wide-ranging techniques.
Reliability Under Stress: Under extreme stress, gross motor skills are more reliable than intricate movements. Techniques that are quick, direct, and require minimal thought are generally more effective and safer for the defender.
Conclusion
While a powerful Le Revers Frontal could potentially create distance or momentarily stun an assailant, its inherent risks – including loss of balance, slow recovery, and environmental impracticality – often outweigh its benefits in a spontaneous self-defense encounter. For real-world self-defense, the emphasis typically shifts towards simpler, lower-risk techniques such as direct kicks to lower targets (e.g., shins, knees, groin) or prioritizing effective hand strikes and close-quarters control to ensure safety and facilitate escape.
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