The Chinese Federation of Savate was born on 21st May 2011! A delegation of international Savate federation went to Beijing to complete, in style, the opening up of Savate to millions of Chinese.  After many attempts, over almost two years, with many contacts, Savate has succeeded in entering the orbit of planet For this entry in China, one of the top sporting nations, our President Julie Gabriel and the Vice-President, Joël Dhumez, were invited to give a presentation on the values and virtues of Savate in front of an enthusiast public and under the attentive and friendly eye of Mrs Mylène Hardy-Zhang, Attaché for language, education and sport of the Service for Co-operation and Cultural Action of the French Embassy in Beijing.

Julie Gabriel and Joël Dhumez had the privilege to work with the President of the BKS, Mrs LIU Xiao Hong, its Vice-President, Mr. LIU Li Xin and its General Director, Mr. ZHOU Jian Jun to complete the negotiations.  The delegation of the FISav also had the opportunity and pleasure to meet Mr CHANG Jian Ping, General Director of the Boxing and Taekwondo Administrative Centre of the General Administration of Sport for China.

It should be remembered now, having passed through the stage of dreams and vows, to write this first mission in the story of a collective approach and a collective strategy within FISav, and with the effective support of the French Federation. This mission is the culmination of a long continuum of relationships of different levels – sportsmen, administrative, institutional, political, cultural – but especially a magnificent promise for international Savate.

The Chinese Sports Ministry, the General Direction of Sports Competitions (Mr. HAI Si Wen), the various approaches with Federations of combat sports and the visits of numerous Chinese universities, just like the recognition by Sport accord, have contributed, stone by stone, to construct an image promoting Savate as a major combat sport on the international scene.

Similarly, we should be pleased that the International Federation of University Sports (FISU) has invited FISav to the Universiades of Shenzhen (China) in August 2011.  This opportunity offers us a springboard to move in the spirit of Olympism dear to Pierre de Coubertin, always “Faster, Higher, Further” (Citius, Altius, Fortius), corresponding to the spirit of our athletes and the essence of Savate, in China and all over the world: 'There is little to choose between overshooting the mark and falling short.' as Confucius (孔 夫 子) said 2,500 years ago… Savate can still hope a lot for China!