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Since 1996
Gentlemens StickFighting Coalition
How it Developed
Competition History: Texas 1992–2005
1992 - Irving TX
The Texas Association of Savate conducted
- First Metro Blast
1993- Irving TX
- The Second Metro Blast
1994- Irving TX
- The Third Metro Blast
1998- Laredo TX
Under USA SAVATE, the organization conducted its first officially sanctioned event:
- First Border Rumble
1999
USA SAVATE expanded with multiple sanctioned events:
Irving TX
- Fourth Metro Blast
Laredo TX
- Second Border Rumble
Dallas TX
- First N Texas Championships,
2000 - Laredo TX
- First U.S. Championships of Savate
- Third Border Rumble
- Buitron Savate Smoker
Hebbronville TX
- First U.S. Assault Championships,
2001 - Irving TX
- North Texas Championships
Laredo TX
- Fourth Border Rumble
- First U.S. Nationals of Savate
2002 - Laredo TX
- Fifth Border Rumble
- Second U.S. Nationals,
- FirstnLaredo Internationals
2003 - Laredo TX
- Sixth Border Rumble
- U.S. Nationals Laredo
2004 - Laredo TX
- Laredo Internationals
- U.S. Nationals
- Texas Championships, Texas
2005 - Laredo TX
- U.S. Nationals
- After 2005, overseas military deployments during ongoing wars impacted participation levels, leading to a generational gap among active competitors.
How it Developed
Gentlemens StickFighting Coalition
How it Developed
1957 to 1989
Isidro Chapa shared his skills in Zipota and Boxing with many people in Laredo
1990
The Academy of French Martial Arts was established in Dallas and Laredo, operating in Laredo as Savate French Martial Arts
1991
The Texas Association of Savate was incorporated with legal assistance from attorney Maria Elena Morales, marking the first formal organizational step toward governance
1994
The discipline expanded with the addition of Danse de Rue Savate, evolving into the International Guild of Danse de Rue Savate, headquartered in Laredo
1996–1998
Acting on recommendations from Texas Boxing Commissioner Dickie Cole, efforts began to establish a nonprofit governing body. These efforts culminated in the formation of
USA SAVATEBoxe Française & Canne de Combat Commission, Inc., officially registered with the Texas Secretary of State in 1998
1999
USA SAVATE received state and federal tax-exempt status, solidifying its role as a national nonprofit governing body.
Gentlemens StickFighting Coalition
Gentlemens StickFighting Coalition
Gentlemens StickFighting Coalition
2014
USA SAVATE established the Gentleman Stick Fighting Coalition, a formal subcommittee created to oversee the regulation, standardization, and promotion of amateur stick-fighting competition. The Coalition implemented uniform rules, safety protocols, and governance standards designed to ensure participant safety, ethical conduct, and organizational accountability.
USA SAVATE formally established the Gentleman Stick Fighting Coalition as a regulatory and organizational body dedicated to the governance of amateur stick-fighting competition under standardized rules and safety protocols.
Since its establishment, the Coalition has annually hosted the Texas State Stick Fighting Championship, maintaining an uninterrupted yearly competition.
In addition to state-level events, the Coalition has organized and sanctioned two All-American Stick Fighting Championships and multiple regional tournaments, contributing to the development of structured competition pathways and to athlete advancement at the state, regional, and national levels.
In alignment with its educational and community-development objectives, USA SAVATE expanded its program offerings to include youth-focused martial arts disciplines that support holistic development:
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Youth Access and Training Structure
USA SAVATE maintains a promissory estoppel arrangement that ensures:
- Youth participants train free of charge, reinforcing accessibility and inclusion
- Adult practitioners pursue advanced training through affiliated academies
This structure supports the organization’s nonprofit mission while maintaining technical standards and continuity.
Cultural Stewardship and Recognition
USA SAVATE established the World Pugilist Hall of Fame, which has hosted 18 annual events, honoring pioneers, competitors, and contributors to the martial arts community.
The organization continues to:
- Maintain historical records
- Sanction competitions
- Promote French martial arts nationally and internationally
Expansion, Sport Governance, and Youth Development
- Zuavos Capoeira, incorporated to promote physical coordination, rhythmic movement, cultural literacy, and historical awareness
- Pare Bat Kenpo, adopted as a structured instructional system emphasizing discipline, foundational self-defense skills, and personal responsibility among youth participants
The inclusion of these programs marked a strategic expansion of USA SAVATE’s mission beyond competitive sport. This initiative reinforced the organization’s commitment to youth education, leadership development, and character formation, supporting long-term community impact through structured martial arts training.