Salem Assli

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Salem Assli
Born (1959-12-02) December 2, 1959 (age 61)
OccupationMartial arts Instructor
StyleFrench Boxing Savate, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, Filipino martial arts, Maphilindo silat
Spouse(s)Married to Shiyun Chen
Websitesalemassli.com
Signature
Salem Assli signature.png

Salem Assli is a French-American internationally acclaimed martial artist,[1][2][3] instructor, author and researcher best known as the first B.F. Savate instructor in the US.[4] He also continued the development of martial arts[5] on five continents and is Head of the French association of Jeet Kune Do[2] and Filipino Kali.[6][7][8]

Early life[]

Salem Assli and his parents

He was born in a French-Belgian-Algerian family.[8] His mother is from Northern France, her father was Belgian (Flemish), Salem's father was from North Africa, Algeria and came to France when he was 16, but to reside in France he had to state that he is two years older than he actually was. Assli's father used to work in a plastic manufacturing factory and his mother was a housewife taking care of four children.[9]

Career[]

Salem has been a martial arts practitioner since the 1970s, and his journey started with Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do. Prior to that, he competed as a gymnast[8] under Dominique Lescornez at the "La Renaissance" club for 10 years until the age of 18. In 1983, while in his early 20's, he moved from France to the US (Los Angeles) at the invitation of Dan Inosanto,[10] a student of Bruce Lee, to study directly under his tutelage. Salem was desperately trying to get a response from Dan Inosanto and when he almost gave up, he received a handwritten letter from Inosanto.

Letter from Dan Inosanto

Today, Salem Assli is a proficient coach in more than ten combative martial arts, and is acknowledged as the leading and first certified Savate instructor in North America.[11]

He is a published writer and has been featured in countless martial arts publications such as Black Belt Magazine,[12] Inside Kung Fu, Budo International, World of Martial Arts and Dragon Magazine among other publications and TV shows. As an author and researcher, he is interested in the history of edged weapons and archery and has a passion for archeology, cultural history and religious studies. Other figures that have influenced his values are Georges Brassens, Jean Ferrat, Jacques Brel, Bob Marley and Raël.[9]

Martial Arts[]

Assli is the first Frenchman to graduate and be certified as a Senior Full instructor in Jun Fan Gung Fu Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino martial arts under Dan Inosanto.[2][13] In 1986 he received his first teaching certificates in both Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do and Filipino martial arts. Salem also studied Muay Thai under Ajarn Chai Sirisute (President of Thai Boxing Association in the USA) and earned his instructorship from the Thai Boxing Association of America. He then became the first Muay Thai instructor of the Inosanto International Instructors Association.[2] Salem trained with the son of Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee at the Inosanto Academy, he was the Thai pads holder during Brandon's examination in Thai boxing. Salem also gave martial arts private lessons to Hollywood actor Fred Ward.[9]

Dan Inosanto encouraged Salem to master the art of his homeland, Savate, so that he could teach it to the students of the Inosanto Academy and worldwide.[14][15] His first step into the world of French Savate started with an old book that Inosanto lent him - “Boxe Francaise history and tradition” by  [fr] (Student of Count Pierre Baruzy), Golden Glove of French Boxing, two times French champion. He continues researching Savate to this day, particularly traditional old-style Savate.[9] Back in France Salem earned his 1st degree Silver Glove from France's National Technical Director, Bob Alix.[8] Salem finished first in his class of 50 students, acquiring the highest grading, all without previously having an instructor or a teacher. One year later in Los Angeles, Salem earned the prestigious diploma of Professeur of Savate Boxe Francaise and his 2nd degree Silver Glove[16] along with members of the French Elite Team such as Richard Sylla and Robert Paturel.[17]

Martial arts proficient in[]

Guro Dan Inosanto and Salem Assli
  • Lee Jun Fan Kick Boxing[4]
  • Jeet Kune Do (the Art and Philosophy of Bruce Lee)[7]
  • Filipino Martial Arts (Kali - Eskrima - Silat)[2]
  • Wing Chun Kung Fu[18]
  • Muay Thai Boxing[17]
  • Savate Boxe Française (French Foot Fighting)[4]
  • The Madjapahit Martial Arts[18]
  • Maphilindo Silat[18]
  • Shoot Wrestling[18]
  • Krabi Krabong (Thai swords and weapons training)[18]
  • Chinese Sword Play[18]
  • Parisien Fighting and Savate Defense[4]
  • French Cane Fighting and Bâton of combat[4]
  • Capoeira[18]

Trained with[]

Motorcycle accident[]

In March 2021, Salem Assli got into a severe motorcycle accident[20] in Los Angeles. He was hit by another vehicle while riding two blocks away from his home to get some breakfast. He was delivered to the emergency room at UCLA Hospital with ten broken ribs, a cut tongue, a broken nose, a tooth in his lung, a bleeding kidney and liver, and a completely crushed leg bone. Salem went through several surgeries and doctors were able to save his leg.[21]

Accomplishments[]

Publications[]

Books:[25]

  • French Savate. Salem Assli. 2000[26]
  • Jeet Kune Do (Jun Fan Gung Fu, Kick-boxing). Salem Assli 2001[27]
  • Jeet Kune Do. Dan Inosanto and Salem Assli. 2013[28]

He is working on a 700 pages book dedicated to Savate Boxe Française that he has been researching for 30 years. At the recommendation of a historian on French martial arts, Sylvain Salvini (former President of the International Savate Boxe Française Federation and a Golden Glove) Salem accumulated as many historical documents as possible about Savate. His other future book is about Filipino martial arts.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ "Jour de l'an chinois : les lions à Hiva Oa". Polynésie la 1ère (in French). Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Buckingham, Aubrey (12 November 2008). "You take the concepts and make them your own". Shanghai Daily. Archived from the original on 2021-05-29.
  3. ^ Stole, Jasmine. "Four martial arts seminars to be held this weekend". Mariana Guam. Archived from the original on 2021-05-29.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Kelly, Perry William (2000). Dan Inosanto : the man, the teacher, the artist. Boulder, Colo.: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1581600797.
  5. ^ "關於台灣截拳道概念JEET KUNE DO CONCEPT & KALI TAIWAN - 台灣截拳道概念". www.jkd.com.tw. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Arts martiaux : le kung-fu arrive". Le Telegramme (in French). 2006-01-06. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Nieman, Paul. "If it works, it's Jeet Kune Do". The China Post. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Feet of Fury MASTER SALEM ASSLI & THE JEET KUNE DO-SAVATE CONNECTION". Blitz. 29. 2015.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "The Life of a Savate Boxe Francaise martial artist". Western Morning News. 2020-10-20. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Spirit of Bruce Lee Alive and Well in Rexdale". Muscularity. July 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  11. ^ "[FMArts] Salem ASSLI". sdkbudo.ch (in French).
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "Savate: From the Back Alleys of France to the Martial Arts World". Black Belt Magazine. 2014-05-19. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Sur les traces de Bruce Lee". Laval. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Way of the Warrior: Ralph Mitchell". Black Belt Magazine. 2021-03-14. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Boxe Francaise/ SAVATE". NUBREED MARTIAL ARTS - Whitestone Queens, NY. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "SALEM ASSLI EL MAESTRO "ILUSTRADO" DEL SAVATE". ARTE MARCIAL (in Spanish). 2014-11-24.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b "Professor Salem Assli". The Way Of No Way | Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Kali, BJJ, Jeet Kune Do, Silat and More. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Sifu Salem Assli". Arte Filipina. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Salem Assli: Savate Master!". Theme Park at its Darkest. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Inosanto Academy – Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts". Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  21. ^ Dunbar, Wade (2021-04-10). "Martial arts Professor Salem Assli and how a severe accident changed his attitude towards life". World of Martial Arts. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Art Martiaux – une démonstration de Kali et mannequin de bois à Olympians". DomTomNews (in French). 10 April 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Instructors USA – Inosanto Academy". Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  24. ^ Frank, Bram (9 November 2017). FMA Grandmasters and Masters. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-312-83502-3. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  25. ^ Bertrand, David (2015-03-04). Artiste martial: Mon Tao de Bruce Lee au Mma (in French). Image Publique Éditions. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  26. ^ Assli, Salem (2000-01-01). French Savate. Silver Glove. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  27. ^ Assli, Salem (2002). Jeet kune do - jun fan gung fu, kick-boxing. ISBN 2702706932.
  28. ^ Assli, Salem (2013). JEET KUNE DO. ISBN 978-2702714539.

Further reading[]

  • Hartsell, Larry (1987). Jeet Kune Do Counterattack Grappling Counters and Reversals. Burbank, Calif.: Unique Publications. ISBN 978-0865680814.
  • Bey Logan, Donnie Yen. "Bruce Lee and I: A Biography and A Memoir". 2020
  • Vega, Eva Valladares; Valverde, Luis Miguel (2009). El mundo de las artes marciales. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  • Soet, John Steven (1991). Martial arts around the world. Burbank, CA: Unique Publications. ISBN 978-0865681514.
  • Paturel, Robert, ... (2002). L'esprit du combat : conseils pratiques aux professionnels du combat et de la sécurité. Paris: Chiron. ISBN 2702707491.
  • Maillet, Jean-Paul (2001). Esprit & combat. [s.l.]: Tv Sport. ISBN 2912679273.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""