La Canne Royale

La Canne holds a unique position in the development of martial arts in the nineteenth century.

It was at once a weapon for self-defense taught in the boxing and savate clubs across France and Belgium as well as a tool for gymnastics and physical education.

The canne was taught to the officer class in military academies and to children in public schools. This volume presents two mid-century methods for learning the canne which encompass both these aspects of its use.

Larribeau's 1856 A New Theory of the Art of the Canne concentrates more on self-defence and introduces lessons against a mannequin as a teaching method.

Hums 1862 Treatise and Theory of La Canne Royale centres more on the gymnastic and athletic aspects of the canne.

Both provide a fascinating insight into the canne before it was codified by Vigny and incorporated into the composite English martial art of Bartitsu.