A proud, genuine man of Panache
“French boxing is heir to old combat methods with evocative names” is what is written in ‘Défense et illustration de la Boxe française (savate, canne de combat, chausson)’ (Defence and Illustration of French Boxing – savate, canne, chausson).
About these French Boxing disciplines, all of which ring like an old epic poem, Bernard Plasait reminds us that “Savate and chausson, as do canne de combat and bâton, belong to France’s heritage…” Among those working for the glory of our sport, Roger Lafond stands as “one of the most remarkable teachers”.
A whole cliff-face has crumbled; a century has ended whose boundaries we now know as 1914 to 2011. Indeed, born in 1913, stemming from a long Parisian line of weapons masters (in both fencing and French Boxing), Maître Roger Lafond has passed away on 8th April 2011, aged 98. His roots lying in the famous Bataillon de Joinville which he joined in 1937, he became in the 1950s a precursor of the renewal of our sport by coming a ‘Teacher of French Boxing and Physical Culture’. As I was not personally introduced to French Boxing until the start of the 70s, I only met him on two or three occasions during the time when he basked in a veritable aura thanks to Panache, his very own combat sports method!
He taught French cinema celebrities such as Jean Marais and above all he was said to have inspired the great mime artist Marcel Marceau. Some of the elders, to which I belong, will undoubtedly remember that his reputation did not stop at the Belgian borders with his friend from Liège, Jean-Pierre Julémont… Indeed, across the Channel, the TV series The Avengers, better known in France under the name Chapeau melon et bottes de cuir (Melon hat and Leather Boots), has been shown since the 60s and a lot of young people across the world probably still watch it and the techniques he taught to its actors.
Still in the 1950s, he also created around Panache what he called Modern Savate, thus following in the traditional French Boxing footsteps of Michel Lecour (1830). He applied himself to perpetuate a practice of Canne in which one “strikes forward”. He also taught traditional French Bâton, the Lafond Bâton, the Double Bâton and many more combat techniques…
Roger Lafond was very genuine; a man of courage and truth who spoke with his heart but also knew how to become daring and strong in order to maintain a panache which he carried held high, seeing his ideas though, for the glory of our Savate.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKDkBlKEY1g
Maître Roger Lafond: Weapons Master, teacher of Physical Education, Modern Savate, Cane Fighting, Bâton and Panache.