Need help identifying a martial art...

[SurviveNthrive]

Need help identifying a martial art...

A long time ago I saw a VHS tape on a martial art that was different. It wasn't any of the usual ones...this wasn't some pajama dance for colored belts*, this was the real deal, thug street fighting type stuff probably developed in Eastern Europe...the one I remember best was a guy using his attackers knees...he's facing his opponent, he rushes up, steps on his knee, and just keeps moving until he's wrapped in a scissors hold, raining down fists and elbows while the guy goes down from the impact and weight...sounds like it's really quick, but it's not, it's going up, and climbing as the guy goes down and inflicting damage. It's difficult to defend against, but you'd have to know what you're doing.

It's close to the Russian martial art, but different, and it's close to the KGB/OMON etc., stuff used for killing and taking prisoners...but I don't think these guys were Russians.

Anyone know what it is, it's not the Russian national sport one.

*I'm quoting myself from a book there, in case someone notices it and thinks I 'borrowed it'.

[shotinthe6]

I don't know what it is, but it sounds familiar. Have you seen any of the Human Weapon episodes on...?History Channel? They had a couple of episodes that might be helpful in tracking it down. Just a thought. Hope it helps!!

[Aslan]

Might be a hybrid form of savate, which is a brutal French martial art. Yes, french.

Non-sporting versions of Savate are very effective for street combat.

They make good use of their legs and feet - usually going for knees like you describe.

I've seen it done, but have never studied it.

[BigEd63]

I knew a guy that trained in and taught something like that on the side. Just going from seeing him sparring.

He learned it from some place in Kansas or Nebraska...can't recall. I don't even know if where he learned it could even becalled a dojo. The guy doing the teaching was a Nung from indochina; so their may have been some French influence there.

What my buddy Chuck learned( NO not THAT Chuck) looked like a mix of Savate and some other things that are plain dirty and nasty.

Looked like a mix of kick boxing, judo, and a few other things.

[gripper]

If I recall correctly, a friend of mine made mention of another art(often taught with Savate) known as Le Cane(spelling?)...you guessed it- a walking stick/cane fighting style adaptive to sword work.