Charles CALLENS, better known under the name of " Charly ", was an emblematic and essential character of Savate-Boxe Française. Student of Lucien Batigne at Lille University Club Boxing-French in the 60s, with whom he won the title of University champion of France in combat -82kg, in the 70s, although he was already suffering from Hemiplegia (a form of paralysis on one side of the body), he quickly took over with his first competitive students, Marc Murray, Bertrand Warloppe, Yves Etcheparre, David Angielczyk . There followed the Skalecki brothers and sister and many others ...
Claiming his autonomy within the LUC BF section in order to take more personal care of his young boxers, Charly eventually became the treasurer of the section. At the same time, driven by the desire to stand on his own, and by the desire to better monitor his students, in particular by giving them more training opportunities, Charly created other sections: the Cercle Universitaire Lillois, the Académie of Boxing- Française de Ronchin, and a boxing section within the LUC BF club, which became the SLEC. Later, he even became an active member of the section SCAM combat and martial arts of the FFSGT in order to find competitive formulas, more suited to some of its students.
What happened next proved him right: Charly trained or helped to train a slew of competitors so many that it will be very difficult to determine the precise number. At the highest level and among those who reached high-level athlete status, we can mention: David Angielczyk , Jean-Marc, Maryse and Hugues Skalecki , Sylvie D being Caroline Tameze Aoutsa Julia Christofeul, Colombe Varlet Julien Delassus , Guénolé Triboulloy and Boris Rodriguez. More than 10 other champions at national level, in particular among young people or in 1st year Juniors also passed through the hands of Charly. Add the many university titles to which Charly, for his involvement in the organization of these competitions and its unwavering support for his protégé Jean-Marc Skalecki, then to Julia Christofeul, is no stranger. Charly was also known internationally. He regularly maintained relations with Belgium and England, he served as judge international referee, and finally he created the organisations in Cambodia and Venezuela.
Beyond his undeniable qualities as a coach, Charly also transmitted his disposition as a teacher and mentor to several of his students who have held or still hold federal responsibilities within different clubs, the department, the league. or at the national level. Occupying himself, from his beginnings as a coach, the functions of president of the departmental committee of the north, then of CTD, Charly was present in all the formations of the CQP league, yellow gloves, silver gloves, various internships. In the end, curious about everything, Charly continued to train at the federal level and from a personal point of view. For anecdote: Charly followed regular English classes for 3 years, yoga training, and then relaxation therapy, discussing these topics with Jean-Marc Skalecki and recently he had validated his training for sports on prescription through the FSGT.
In conclusion, beyond his ungainly appearance, his shaggy hair, his dishevelled clothes and his somewhat saucy words, hid a cultivated man, sensitive, very endearing, of extraordinary strength, interested and giving the importance to each of which he knew how to extract the best. There would be so much to tell about this devoted and passionate character, that we would need a complete book to tell his life, his passions and his hundreds of anecdotes which gave us the joy of sharing our moments in his presence. Impregnated by his charisma, we all keep a part of Charly in us, which comforts us and allows us to face life with a smile and dignity ... Goodbye coach, a great void awaits us, but it will be filled by the legacy of all that you have been able to transmit to us ...
His students and boxing friends
