I recently paid a visit to the Foyer Club De Grenoble.  Before doing so I had written to M. Chabut, who runs the club, asking if I could call on him and see the girls in training, to which he readily agreed.  Imagine my surprise on arrival to find that he had arranged a small tournament for my benefit.  The Club is well equipped with a regulation ring, training equipment and changing facilities.

 The girls range in age from ten to sixteen years, and were on holiday from school, but were only too anxious to come and perform for a visitor. Seven wrestling and two boxing bouts had been arranged.  The first bout was between two of the younger girls, who really set the standard.  They certainly went at it with enthusiasm, and showed that they had been very well taught.

Next there was a boxing bout of three rounds between Nadia and Haiette, both were about sixteen. I had been told that Haictte was good and this was certainly born out by er performance.  She kept her guard well up, a well balanced stance and moved beautifully and was clearly superior all round but Nadia stuck to her task as well as she was able and kept facing her opponent.

This was followed by a wrestling bout between two of the bigger girls, Fahyma and Linda.  Although Fahyma had a weight advantage, Linda was the more skillful and a draw was the result.  Among the following wrestling bouts the most notable was between Saliha and Yasmina.  Saliha was such a tiny mite that when I first saw her I thought that she was not more than seven but it turned out that she was eleven.  Her opponent was about a head taller and proportionately bigger all round.  When the bell went, Saliha was across the ring like lightning and had taken her opponent down before she knew what had happened but what was more amazing was that she held her and pinned her.  This was repeated for two more fails.  On one occasion Yasmina did manage to get on top but only for a moment before Saliha was on top again.

There was a second boxing bout between Haiette and Fahyma who had wrestled Linda.   These two were fairly evenly matched as to size.  Things started to happen immediately, Fahyma got in a good left to the jaw and Haiette replied straight away.  Throughout the three rounds there was plenty of action with good punches thrown by both combatants.  Both girls grinned when they got in a good punch and also grinned when they were on the receiving end, in fact the spirit was excellent.  Haiette was ultimately given the verdict, with which I agreed, as she had the better defence and Fahyma at times tended to get a bit wild. I got the feeling that there was a certain amount of rivalry between these two young ladies and that one day there will have to be a showdown.  If so, I would very much like to see it.

The final offering was a wrestling match between Linda and Nadia, this was a real cracker.  Immediately Nadia threw Linda who straight away grabbed Nadia’s hands and replied with a stomach throw.  The whole bout continued in a very lively fashion with Linda getting the best of it,’ but it was one of the best wrestling matches that I have seen.

All credit must go to M. Chabut for the way in which he has trained these girls and for the spirit of sportsmanship, that has been instilled in them, I did not hear a single complaint form any of the losers during the whole afternoon.

The style of wrestling taught with both pins and submissions – makes for a better spectacle than submissions only, where one competitor gets a hold such as a Full Nelson or Scissors and just hangs on to it for the submission; whereas in the style taught here, one always has to be careful not to be trapped into a position where one can be pinned.

After watching this display, I must say, that when they are properly trained as these girls are, wrestling is an ideal sport for them.  It demands a good degree of physical fitness, alertness of mind, and real sportsmanship.  TO see the camaraderie and enthusiasm amongst these girls was evidence as to how much they enjoyed their sport. I should say to any parent who queried the advisability of letting their young daughter wrestle, go ahead, it will improve her fitness and also help build her character.  If later she wants to box, let her do so;  she would understand that she might get hurt but under the properly controlled conditions such as exist here, no serious damage would occur.  After the tournament was over, two of the smaller girls got hold of some gloves, put them on and started sparring, so there may be some future boxers (or should I say boxeuses).

All credit to M. Chabut for his efforts with this club.  Unfortunately there does not seem to be any other club of this type as M. Chabut would dearly like to be able to arrange inter club matches.  If anyone knows of such a club, would they please get in touch with M. Chabut so that he can contact them.  His address is; – M. Emile Chabut, 24 rue Marcel-Peretto, 38100 Grenoble, France.  18

Grenoble Revisited

Inspired by the foregoing account by ‘Medaia’ of his welcome in Grenoble, we felt it was time another Editorial visit was paid to the Foyer Club.  Greatly aided by the fortuitous presence of French friends who facilitated instant telephonic communication, we were able to arrange a trip the last weekend of May, when the Club was in any case presenting exhibition boxing and wrestling at the local community festival.  Monsieur Chabut was his usual welcoming self, and it was delightful to renew acquaintance with him and the Bar Julian across the road from the Club itself.

The exhibition was taking place in a small park a few yards away, on an open air stage.  Alas for the traditional South of France weather, the sky was threatening and there were ominous drops of rain failing even as the first of the boxers took over the stage from the previous song and dance act.  We had all assembled at the gym a few minutes earlier, where a dozen or more girls, aged from eleven to seventeen, were smartly attired in black and red. tracksuits, the club’s outdoor uniform.  A chattering, eager throng, we crossed the road to the park.

Beforehand I had been told that only the boys would demonstrate boxing, with the girls presenting the wrestling.  However, I was delighted to find that M. Ch@but, mindful always of my special interests, was alternating the boys’ rounds with rounds between the two girls ‘Medaia’ mentioned with such approval.  These were the brunette Haiette, aged sixteen, and the fair-haired Fahyma, who is seventeen. I first realised this when I saw the two, clad in red and black shorts and singlets, being gloved up with evident keen anticipation.

This was exhibition boxing, so there was no intent to hit, or at least do more than just land the occasional restrained punch, but the boxers were able to show off the excellent boxing technique which is the hallmark of all those taught by M. Chabut.  Indeed, they had to box with considerable caution, for the raised stage was without ropes, and the wrestling mats on which they performed were quickly becoming slippery from the incipient rain.  Nevertheless the girls and the boy boxers with whom they alternated provided a polished display which merited a larger audience.

With the boxing over, and the rain increasing, the mats were turned over so that a less slippery surface was available.  It was then the turn of the wrestlers.   These included Haiette, and several others of those seen by ‘Medaia’.  The wrestlers were attractively and practically attired in skin-tight wet-look black or red sleeveless leotards: Once again it was evident how well they were trained,  and how enthusiastic they were for their sport.  The sixteen-year-old Nadia and Patricia, and Linda, 15, all wrestled with skill and vigour, and two of

14, Najette and Najet.  The youngest two were both 11, Yasmina (seen by ‘Medaia’) and Chrystelle.  Unfortunately the tiny Saliha, who had so impressed him, was unable to be present.  Once again, these were exhibition rounds, with no question of winner or loser – but within the wrestling context this mattered less than in the boxing, with holds and aggressive effort being seemingly unrestrained.

With the public display over, we retired to the Club gym again.’There for the special benefit of myself and my companions, we were able to see plenty more boxing and wrestling, without the inhibition of rain and ropelessness.  This time the boxing rounds, of two minutes a time, alternated between the earlier pair, Haiette and Fahyma, and between Nadia and the two years younger Najette.

Each pair boxed three rounds.  Without the slippery surface to contend with, Haiette and Fahyma were more positively able to demonstrate what polished boxers they are, and we longed to see them in genuine competitive action.  We so agreed with ‘Medaia’ that a such a bout would be really impressive.  However, we could well understand that, friends as they are, this is unlikely to take place against each other.  Despite it being a friendly bout, M. Chabut agreed to allow the presentation of a prize – a brief swimsuit – to the girl we considered the best boxer of the two.  This was far from easy, as they are well matched, but we unanimously agreed that Haiette showed the best style.

With the other pair, Nadia and Najette, there was a clearer ‘winner’, as Nadia was undoubtedly the more aggressive and effective boxer.  Nevertheless, despite her younger years,  Naiette put up a spirited performance, and will be one to watch in future years.   Nadia was duly awarded a Union Jack T-shirt brought over with this in mind.

We then turned to wrestling again.  All but one of the girls who had taken part in the public exhibition were here still, and in various permutations repeated, in five-minute rounds, the enthusiastic and aggressive wrestling we had so enjoyed earlier.  Of the wrestlers, the 15 year old Linda struck us as the best, but she had worthy opposition in Patricia, Nadia and Haiette.  For sheer lack of inhibition and enjoyment, the palm must, I think, go to the two eleven-year-olds, Chrystelle and Yasmina, but, all in all, it was a splendid exhibition which left one frustratedly wondering at the taboos which prevent this being a popular sport for schoolgirls everywhere.

AS the Club now has a number of girls of the 15 to 17 age range., M. Chabut is hoping to be able to arrange to bring a team to Britain this autumn, to box and/or wrestle with British girls.  The half-term break when this would have to take place is the week of 29th October to 4th November 1984.  It is hoped to arrange for the French girls to take part in a wrestling tournament in London on Saturday 3rd November.