Inspired by the king and queen of clinch fighting - the praying mantis.
What is Mantis Boxing?
Mantis Boxing is a bare-knuckle clinch fighting system that trains you how to fight in all ranges — long, mid, and close range. Low kicks for long range attacks, strikes for mid-range engagements, and elbow & knee strikes, as well as throws, trips, & takedowns for the close-range clinch fight.
Why Mantis Boxing?
VERSATILITY
Mantis boxing is a highly versatile fighting art, especially when integrated with a ground fighting self-defense component such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Unlike other styles that may focus solely on striking, or kicks, or throws, mantis boxing encompasses each of these pillars, as well as the ability of the boxer to seamlessly transition from one range of the fight to the next, without skipping a beat.
ADAPTABILITY
Too often fighters will shut down when the battle changes ranges such as striking to grappling, or grappling to the ground. This extremely dangerous ‘pause’ is where an attacker can gain the upper hand, and increase their chance of defeating us.
SIMPLICITY
Simplicity is the key. Each and every technique we train should be simple (not easy), so we can spend the majority of our time focused on the true art — the transitions from one range of the fight, one position in the fight, one submission, strike, kick, or throw in the fight, to the next. Adaptability, versatility, and familiarity with the entire fight leads us to gain superior skill,
FIGHT FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
“Why is it called Boxing if it has kicking and Grappling/wrestling?”
The term boxing in the UK, where the modern western boxing we see today originated included clinching, kicking, and grappling. In China, where mantis boxing originated, the term boxing has always included and represented more multi-faceted fighting systems that included kicking, wrestling along with striking. It is only in more modern times that the word ‘boxing’ has become synonymous with punching only, as we see in the sport of boxing.
“Bare-Knuckle Striking!?!?!?”
It sounds worse than it is. It is actually safer.
“How can that be?”
First, follow this simple principle — the more gear you put on a person, the harder they hit. As seen in football injuries that have increased over the years as they’ve added more protective gear. Closer to home, I saw this happening in my own gym. The more pads we put on our boxers the harder they would hit one another. The less control in the training environment means more injuries (concussions), more risk, higher attrition, and a major deficit in skill advancement for those trying to improve and grow.
Next, in a real world situation where we need our fighting skills in order to survive and/or protect our loved ones, there is zero time to wrap up our hands, or put on puffy gloves to protect our hands. And why on earth would you want to soften the blows against our opponent??? Striking in mantis boxing teaches you to use the tools you have on you at all times without equipment, to maximize your striking power without breaking your own hands in the process.
“Why Low Kicks?”
Kicking is one of the riskiest attacks we can execute in a fight. We have two legs to keep us stable and upright as we traverse the world. When throwing kicks we perch precariously on one leg while trying to throw a powerful destructive kick against a moving target, that is simultaneously trying to knock us down and out. The higher the kick, the riskier the attack, as we are more likely to unbalance ourselves, our opponent has a greater chance to topple us, or worse, catch our leg in mid air. Kicks in mantis boxing allow you to launch powerful effective long range attacks while minimizing the risk of things going incredibly bad, we do this by using low kicks (waist down).
“What is ‘Clinch Fighting’?”
The clinch is the inside fight, the range where we latch on to an opponent to control them getting inside their striking power and nullifying their kicks, also referred to as grappling or wrestling. Mantis boxing focuses heavily on hooking methods to maximize position and control over a dangerous foe, opening the door for us to launch specialized attacks impossible at longer ranges — elbow strikes, knee strikes, throws, trips, and takedowns.
“Grappling & Wrestling…That sounds painful! Isn’t that for kids? You don’t see older wrestlers after all…”
The throws, trips, takedowns found in mantis boxing are softer style takedowns. More specifically, when we look at the types of attacks found in western wrestling or judo, these rely on explosive power (strength and speed) thus relegating them to weight-class systems in competition to keep them ‘fair’. The grappling in mantis boxing focuses on position and timing, allowing smaller vs larger throws to be executed with maximum effectiveness. This lower impact on the body keeps us capable of training these takedowns into our more seasoned years.
“What happens when we end up on the ground with the opponent after throwing them?”
That…is why I took up Brazilian jiu-jitsu, one of the best ground grappling systems on the planet, and coach it as part of my mantis boxing system. Being skilled on the ground makes the transition from standing to ground seamless. An unsuspecting adversary stepped into the ocean, and we’re the shark!
“Will I Get Hurt?”
Like many combat-centric martial arts, Mantis Boxing is a contact sport. While there is always a possibility of getting injured in any sport, we have spent years cultivating an amazing community of really good people who are invested in one another’s success, not just their own. In addition to this, I’ve been honing a process to help people achieve their goals and gain skills without sacrificing the required realistic resistance we need in order to be an effective boxer.
“Sounds Amazing, How do I try this out?”
See below for a variety of ways you can train with us. I look forward to the opportunity to train with you.
Ways to Train
TEAM CLASSES
Train Mantis Boxing hand in hand with amazing, unique, like-minded individuals all reaching for a common goal. For Adults and Kids.
1-On-1 TRAINING
Hook on to the fast track in your Mantis Boxing self-defense skills with private 1 on 1 instruction. Available on-site or at your location.
SQUAD TRAINING
Build your own squad of Boxers/Grapplers and train together to achieve your goals. Available on-site or at your location.
TRAIN ONLINE
Achieve strength, coordination, balance, timing, and striking, kicking, takedown skills all from your own home. Over 20 courses available with video lessons, training missions, and more.
12 Strategies of a Mantis Boxer
The following twelve strategies define the methods and tactics of a mantis boxer.
Hook
Clinch
Pluck
Connect
Stick
Hang
Strike
Enter
Crush
Wicked Deception
Adhere
Lean
If you’d like more detail on the strategies of mantis boxers, you can check out the course below.
Historical Resources on Mantis Boxing
The following are research notes as I have sought to uncover more of the history of our boxing art:
