Saw this post made around COVID quarantine which I'll quote to give context to this question.

I just got a book by mail The Sicilian Blade by Vito Quattrochi.

Quattorchi's main specialization isn't martial arts but occultism. Specifically Catholic devotions. His most famous book is Benedicaria: Magical Catholicism which is basically about local Italian magick all revolving around the Roman Catholic framework.

Throughout his book on Sicilian knife fighting he frequently mentions prayer to Saint Michael. Even in his Benedicaria and other occult books, frequently he says to call Michael the Archangel not just for defense against demons, but even for physical protection (one of the prayers in the Benedicaria mentions something about praying to Michael to let the enemies knife miss stabbing at you).

So I think this is a very underlooked topic. I'm not a Roman Catholic but I was raised Anglican and one of my relatives specialized in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. So I'm quite familiar with basic Catholic stuff from his tutorship and in Catholicism many Saints are given patronages of not only war but even certain weapons like Sebastian bow and arrows and Maurice swords.

Without going into a ramble about Catholic theology, you seek a saint who is patron of a specific subject like say Raphael for healing and ask them in a prayer to intercede on your behalf (they pray to God asking for your request related to the subject). Hopefully God answers them. The stronger the Saint is a patronage of a subject, the more likely a response from God.

In addition being raised in an Anglican-Lutheran hybrid school of thought in my household, I read through lots of stuff about Protestant Reformation and plenty of stories about prayers to the Trinity for victory not only in battles during major conflicts like The Thirty Years Wars but prayer before and after duels, hanging biblical verses outside of barracks (and so I would assume same for fencing schools), holding the cross while resting, etc in the various stuff I was forced to read, watch, and so on as a child all the way to College Years. Nothing involving saints BTW since Lutheranism normally doesn't believe in intercession of the Saints.

I mean even ISIS are known to have an Imam quote Quranic verses not only before battle but even during training as well as play Adhan before and after training sessions. So if Iraqi swordsmen today are even using Islamic spirituality as part of their fencing traditions, why does HEMA and most Western fighting traditions seem to completely ignore this often very associated part of Asian martial arts?

I mean in a HEMA site they were even pointing out some Medieval and Renaissance schools have patron Saints and not only had prayers and candle devotions but blatantly used Christian symbols as part of their logos as well as Biblical verses in local languages!

If there's one reason that irks me so much about the lack of exploring occultism and mysticism in HEMA and western fighting traditions in general, its not the fact some local familial styles like Vito Quattrochi's family style is steeped with Christian tradition..............

Its the fact in a far away Eastern country in Asia called the Philippines often has devotions to Saint Michael as a common thing across their local arts' schools. Esp schools existing prior to "Eskrima" being created as an all-catch codification of Filipino martial arts, already predecessor styles Saint Michael statues commonly in whatever the Filipino equivalent of a dojo is called.

So why does HEMA as a whole and even Western fighting arts tend to neglect the religious and occultic aspects of European martial arts? Esp since intercessions of the Saints was so ubiquitous in Medieval and Renaissance society it permeated not just swordsmanship and unarmed martial arts but practically all across European society? I mean even illiterate peasant farmers knew about prayers to local Saints and how to light novena and the nobility saw it necessary to honor Mother Mary or else!

Bonus question-anyone who is Christians do you attempt to add back European mysiticism into your practise of HEMA esp Catholic devotions? Do any of you light novenas to Saint Michael the Archangel or read verses from a Calvinistic bible in between breaks at sparring sessions?

FYI I'm myself am South East Asian and come from a country close enough to Indonesia that Silat practitioners live near my home. I seen them do some Islamic habits like hanging Arabic words in their training school and carry Taweez around during practise (scrolls with verses from the Quan on a tiny scroll put into a casing as part of a necklace). One of them is moderately devout enough to visit the mosque every Friday.

Thus as someone who's from the minority demograph in my country (Roman Catholic which barely exist here), so I gotta ask in light of my Muslim Silat neighbors. Was practises like lighting candles with Archangel Michael and bowing down to Mary statues ever a thing done in Savate? If not done today on a wide scale, was it incorporated during the 19th century especially in before the compilation of moves into Chausson? Considering the street thugs developed the fighting techniques were from manual laborers and other blue collar/working class types (who were the most religious demograph during this century)? Are there any famed Savateurs today who attend weekly mass, wear a rosary or some kind of crucifix necklace, and get blessings from priests before fights?

Hi all, I'm interested in learning savate in Chicago. I see that Kensho unfortunately closed in 2020. Is anyone familiar with any other places in Chicago? I have found a few places that liste savate online, but hoping to get some firsthand experience - thanks!

I was wondering about your experiences with testing for glove ranks . So as far as I know , no one in my state can promote me or test me . I know that last year there was a seminar that ended with testing . Do you guys go out of state to test ? Or can u do it over video chat maybe with a partner on your end ?

Thanks

i am using a "rugby mouthguard" for savate is this necessarily a bad idea ?

Where I live the nearest fight gym is less than a fifth of a mile away so sprinting there within 5 minutes isn't hard. The Savate shoes I bought, both combat and assaut, are pretty hard to put on and take off. I also have to lug them around in one arm So I'm wondering how practical would using them for outdoors travel be? Because I'd rather have them on the whole time I go to and leave from the gym from and going back home instead of the irritating process of taking them on and off and lugging them around in my hands every training appointment.

So is it ok to walk to the gyms while wearing Savate shoes? Or do I risk wearing them out much quicker? The path to my gym is on cement paved road and solid hard side walk in a typical small neighborhood city background if you need any indication.

Hi everyone.

I'm a bjj practitioner and I want to learn a striking stand up art soon to compliment my ground game.

I'm really drawn to savate.

I mainly want some form of striking for conditioning

Main question was is savate good for conditioning and how much of it is kicks vs punches? I'm a short person and fairly stocky so have not got great reach.

Tia

Hi everyone,

I take the opportunity to celebrate our 1000 subscribers! Nearly 2 years after I took back this subreddit as moderator, I'm happy I've been able to make it more faithful to Savate, and a regular space with French Boxing content.

Hence my question: what do you want to see more on this subreddit? Do you prefer youtube videos or shorts? More about combat (full contact) or assaut (light touch)? Let me know!