Sorry if you were one of the unlucky ones who were unable to make this seminar.
We had a great time. Jean Pierre began the session by having us do a variety of games, as a warm-up, before going into Baton training. We then went onto training with the cane, and then ended the day drinking French wine and eating French cheese and bread with him in the Gym.
On Sunday morning, Jon, Morgan, Julie and I had a private session with Jean Pierre, for about two hours, in one of the Squash courts at Next Generation Gym. We even let Jon spar with him for about five minutes, or so, and I believe that Jon actually managed to hit him on one occasion. Either that or JP felt sorry for him! I have it on film, so I'll count up the number of hits sometime.
Event: Canne de Combat et Baton seminar with Jean Pierre LAURE from France
Date: Saturday 18th November
Times: 2pm - 6pm
Venue: Netherhall Lower School Gym., Gunhild Way, Cambridge.
If you want to see Jean Pierre in action, and be blown away by the sheer athleticism of this sport perhaps, please copy and paste the following link into your browser, then click on the link to start RealPlayer at the top of the page:
As you can see, wheelchair users are also able to train and practise this sport with their able-bodied counterparts.
In training, wheelchair users are able to move around freely. Even in actual competition, all athletes move around and compete within a 9 metre circle. They can also use the cane in either hand at any time. This allows for an excellent workout and is entirely the opposite to Fencing competition, where wheelchairs and their users are bolted in a fixed position on the piste.
Pugil
Origins, History and Practice of Canne de Combat:
"The “Canne de Combat” or “Canne d’Arme” is one of the rare combat disciplines which, surprisingly enough, is a pure product of French history and culture.
"It developed in the early 19th century as a self-defence discipline and was particularly used by upper class “bourgeois” gentlemen in big, unsafe cities such as Paris. Some speak of French martial art although its codification as a sport does not allow this name officially.
"The history of the discipline is closely linked to the development of the Savate boxing techniques which at the beginning was mainly using kicks and lately under the influence of the British also incorporated punches.
"Gentlemen trained into the Savate techniques mastered cane as a way of fighting from a certain distance as well as close combat kickboxing.
"The cane was, in the hands of the city men, what the staff was in the hands of farm men. In fact, cane and staff always had a very close destiny, in all the countries and cultures of the world.
"The techniques of “Savate” and “Canne d’Arme” gained in popularity up to the point where is was used in the military and police forces (Well depicted in the famous TV series “les Brigades du Tigre” referring to a special police task force of the 3rd French Republic) until the First World War.
"The millions of lives that were called during the war caused the discipline to nearly disappear. The techniques continued however to be taught in a few “savate boxing” clubs that reopened in between the two wars and managed to survive the 2nd World war. The cane fighting technique in the late 50’s and 60’s was influenced by a few skilled individuals who revived it.
"During the late 70’s, the techniques of the “Canne d’Arme” were codified by Maurice Sarry with a view to reintroducing it as a sport.
"This led to the discipline which is still today associated with the “Federation de Savate Boxe Francaise” (French Savate Boxing federation). Aside from the sport approach, self-defence techniques are still alive: e.g. “Master Lafond” technique.
"Today, the sport “Canne de Combat”, is practiced by a thousand of “cannistes”, just as the French staff, by some hundreds of “bâtonniers” or “bâtonnistes”."
I have it on film, so I'll count up the number of hits sometime.
