Savate (film)

Savate also known as The Fighter is a 1995 martial arts western starring Olivier Gruner, promoted as the allegedly true story of the worlds first kickboxer.

The French Foreign Legion had been founded in 1831, one year after the Garde cossaise had been officially dissolved. Right from the beginning many Germanspeaking men joined the forces, often hiding behind false names. In 1861 Napoleon III used the Legion for the French intervention in Mexico. It lasted until 1867. At that time Charles Lecour had already created and established French boxing as a blend of savate and English boxing. Hitherto savateurs had used their hands mainly to block kicks or to fence with sticks canne de combat at the same time. One of Lecours students was former army instructor Joseph Charlemont. Against this background it is imaginable a savateur like Joseph Charlegrand could have served in Mexico and that he might have met a Germanspeaking legionnaire during this time. Yet in spite of the claim the story was true, it seems to be mere even though entertaining fiction, since with the slow communications and travel of 1865, and the lack of crossover in combat sports of the time, the idea of an international martial arts contest in the wilds of the American West is highly anachronistic.

Source: Wikipedia