Street Savate - Daniel Duby - V3

Rest in peace Daniel Duby de Lavergne We lost another absolute legend in Savate. Daniel Duby was one of the very first Savate teachers in the US, although his stay was too brief, and he was very well known as an unbelievably great fighter. He had a great focus on hard sparring, and that creativity would come under pressure. He believed a savatuer should behave in a “knightly” manner in the ring- not chasing a knockout like an animal, but waiting for the knockout to present itself though skill. Among the stories that can’t be told in detail, he once knocked out a famous UCLA linebacker in a fight at a popular club in Los Angeles with one fuete ,and went to every kickboxing school in the city to spar with all the famous names associated with the sport in the late 70’s and early 80’s. And yes, if you’re thinking of someone from then, he probably spanked them. He often taught his lessons at boxing gyms, where he and his students would daily spar the boxers before training their kickboxing. Personally, he looked wry slightly awkward when teaching statically, but when he was in motion and fighting, his grace was truly a beautiful thing. He was at home with the fight and himself in relation to it, like it was where he belonged. His style of Savate would be considered “old school” by modern practitioners, but he, without question, proved it’s effectiveness and how appropriate it was for the street.