What exactly is a Passage de Grade?
by Prof. Buitron
This is one of the most asked questions of students of Savate. Many instructors
forget how to answer or what to answer for that matter. The problem is that we
can place a lot more emphasis on what facts our students are learning and what
we pass on to
them.
Such as the explanation of what each level of rank is in comparison to the other
arts, is usually the main reason for the question. The ranks are similar between
styles : Boxe Francaise: Savate, Contemporary Savate and Dane De Rue
Savate.
Each one carries a Blue, Green, Red, White, Yellow and Silver Glove Levels, As
well as an Initiateur, Aide-Moniteur, Moniteur and Professeur; except that in
Danse De Rue Savate you have Coach before Initiateur and Maitre after
Professeur.
The meaning of the gloves is a result of long traditions deeply embedded within
Savate’s history, yet after the 1950’s, similarities between Boxe Francaise and
Savate were brought closer together. Within Boxe Francaise Savate ranks you have
five additional glove levels for Silver which depicts the experience level of a
Savateur in the ring.
What exactly is the role of each rank as well as the correct curriculum for
each? Nonetheless many forget or are merely concerned with ranking as a level or
for a level status, which is not the concern of the Guild.
The meaning of each glove rank is simple in my frame of thought. It is the
melting or forging of silver. Blue is the flame when hot reaching its melting
point, Green is the ore that is full of impurities, Red is the color of the ore
that is reaching its molten stage, White is the flame when the ore is melting, Yellow is
the color of Molten Silver before being cooled and Silver is the finished
precious metal in its final stage.
What the concern of the Guild, is Danse De Rue Savate and to teach its associated
disciplines. To actually produce a well rounded zipotero that can travel from
the ring to the street, without hesitation. The Guild is not a group; it is a
school that teaches everyone regardless of race, religion, age and sex about
savate in general.
The Guild is an institution, an organization that is following traditions that
have been past down from Professeur to Professeur in a sequential manner.
A Passage de Grade is the support system of Savate. It is the actual growth of
the System regardless of Style. Yet many have forgotten the rules of testing or
examining a student. A Passage de Grade is the highest standard of a Federation or of the
Guild this is how one is leveled with the realm of Savate and abroad.
Many in today’s world place a money amount on each level of Rank and a rank is
given at the end of a seminar. Thus is the happenings of the realm of Contemporary
Savate. Yet, many get insulted about the realm or division of Savate and claim
the ring without ever actually cornered a fighter, fought or even seen a bout of
Savate: Boxe Francaise. This is fact and it has decimated what a silver glove is
or what it represents. The factual reality that in California with in the
contemporary savate groups you now have more Silver gloves than what Michael
Jackson has.
That is were many of the contemporary savateurs who claim the fame of the ring
and wear a silver glove rank. Only to find out that a silver glove is not the
same in their world as it is in the real world and are quickly handed over to
their corner in a world of pain and shame.
This
Realm of Savate has made claims that we are violent, this they have done openly
in forums to elevate their status or image of rank. I am personally against
violence. In my honest opinion, I think they have confused effectiveness with
violence.
Violence is what they are doing with the image of Danse De Rue Savate,
intentionally spreading misinformation in order to prevent seekers of savate
from getting to know us. This I tell the instructors of the Guild and it only
makes us unite and grow stronger.
I worry a lot about the way savate is being sold worldwide, since the art keeps
growing on everywhere. There are many unqualified teachers, who are not
teaching it as it should, especially its fundamentals and traditions. This is
the true violence that is going on.
As I say the different styles vary and different Federations have their own
ranking methods which gear to a type of testing procedure. I have personally
seen silver gloves walk into my school or during competition and claim to have
been ranked in France or as many say a Frenchman taught me.
Immediately I respond with what was his name. Then you actually know and
understand where this clown is going and they came from. Because their response is he
was French. So, by the ability of delivering or knowing techniques (Kicks or
Punches) or even the recognized lingo involved with in its subculture has not
been passed on. The other question I ask is where is your passport (sporting The
life history of a Savateur and Zipotero )? They always answer with we belong to
a certain federation. So, then were your passport. They cannot present one.
This sadness of reality of instructors that have not been taught correctly
calling or assuming that techniques are the same between different martial
styles or systems is very much present. Calling a Fouette for example a Round
Kick, Round House or even the toe kick, these assumptions of ignorance of your
own art degrades the truth and essence of savate derivatives. This leads many
not respecting and placing our art in a level of a minute system.
A familiar tradition that has many baffled is the fact on presenting a Silver
Glove I examination. You need three Professeurs, that is a fact on the many
different federations that exist. Here in the United States you have three only
three, My Father, Nicolas Saignac (Contemporary BF Savate) and I, others claim
but in reality they are not.
Now what makes a Professeur, that we have to take into consideration, in the
times past a Professeur of Boxe Francaise or Maitre of Savate which was the same
in level was different that today. Yet, in the time after Michael Pisseux a
Professeur or Maitre was a title that was brought forth with in time and
experience. A recognized title within the others involved with in Savate, Boxe
Francaise, Chausson and Pugilism in general.
Levels of teaching were given around the late 1800s between the different
societies of boxing that emerged in France. Granted it is the force behind a
federation or that of the Guild. You need that type of hierarchy.
The present day format for Passage de Grade was started by the late Sylvan
Sylvaini and Bernard Plaisait, Prevost and Kunstle for the formation of a
Professeur of Boxe Francaise. The formation of a Professeur of Savate was and
has been given to the Lafond Family Lineage who started it in the later 1800s.
Canne de Combat was given to the late Maurice Sarry, while Lutte Parissienne was
headed by Sylvian Slvaini passed down the ranks to Viviani, Change and myself.
Panache was formatted by Maitre Roger Lafond.
Nonetheless, to me a Passage de Grade is the communal bond between students and
instructors of all levels a place where values are brought forth. The seeing of
a younger brother or sister growing with in the art is a moment in time that is
irreplaceable. Beside the passage means passing or giving forth, a point in time
for giving forth information at an excessive rate.
In a place where everyone wants rank in a hurry, and get upset when they fail
the exam. Is a reality that lingers in every town and city in America.
I tell my students when they first talk to me the following: Why do you want to
do Savate? Many are looking for a sport, others to lose weight, some to make
friends and other to learn how to fight. If these questions are answered you
know you have a potential zipotero. If they intern tell you I have black belt
and want you to teach me a couple of kicks to make my style. You will not have a
student for long.
For each of the reasons there is a federation or group of Savate in the world.
Being a Professeur or Maitre of Savate means respecting the art, practicing it with love, a
teaching it with honesty, loyalty, good conduct, and humility. Being a Zipotero
means having character.
My life philosophy is what I teach. I have practiced Zipota since I was a child; Zipota has
grown inside of me. My way of seeing the world is through danse de rue savate;
this road has taught me to respect others, to know that we are all equal
regardless of social condition. Danse De Rue Savate gave me the flexibility to
overcome everyday difficulties; it taught me how to win and how to lose – mainly
how to lose, because everyone is already prepared to win.
Danse De Rue Savate has enabled me to have a profession with which I completely
identify. One that I am free to act, think and develop my work in the way that I
think best. I have other professions but their driving force is what I have
learned in the road of Savate.
I am trying raise and educate my children in this way of life. I have to
understand that I have the chance
to help many people and also be helped. I have made many friends within this
road and try to teach my students in a family oriented Guild made up of Brothers
and Sisters with a common ground. This is how as a child, I was taught to defend
myself, and how it has transformed into a philosophy life.