Randy

Coach - Mantis Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Artist, Writer, Pilot (Hang-Glider & Para-Glider).

• Founder/Head Coach - 2004

• Black Belt - Mantis Boxing

• Black Belt - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

• 2x Gold Medalist, 1x Silver Medalist U.S. National Kung Fu Championships 2004

• Gold Medalist - IBJJF Boston Open 2012

• Yang style Tai Chi Instructor

25 years experience Praying Mantis Boxing, 13 years Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Cross-disciplinary training in various Chinese Martial Arts (Eagle Claw, Hung Gar, Long Fist, Yang Taijiquan, Xingyiquan).

Trained in 17 ‘Chinese Martial Arts weapons’. Specializing in staff, saber, sword, and military saber.

Randy has been FEATURED IN...

• Guest: The Tai Chi Notebook Podcast - Episode 31 - with Graham Barlow

• Guest: Karate Unity Podcast - part 1 - part 2

• Guest: Fight Commentary Chats - Interview - with Jerry Liu

• Guest: Happy Life Martial Arts - Episode #82 - with Sensei Ando Mierzwa

• Guest Lecturer - 5th Annual Martial Arts Studies Conference 2019 - Chapman University

• Guest: Happy Life Martial Arts - Video - with Sensei Ando Mierzwa

• Guest: Fight for a Happy Life - Podcast - with Sensei Ando Mierzwa

• Guest: Strenuous Life Podcast - Episode 128 - with BJJ Black Belt Stephen Kesting

• Guest: SenseiAndo.com Channel with Sensei Ando Mierzwa

• Article: Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine - July/August issue 2017

• Article: Journal of 7 Star Mantis Boxing

Publications

• Collapse and Fall Into Ruin (Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine July/August issue 2017)

• Xiao Da - The Truth on Effective Strike (Journal of 7 Star Mantis vol. 4, issue 4/Northern Shaolin Praying Mantis Institute and Association 2013) 

• Size Matters - In Chin Na - Why Chin Na Works, And Does Not Work (Journal of 7 Star Mantis vol. 3, issue 3/Northern Shaolin Praying Mantis Institute and Association 2012) 

Q&A with Coach Randy Brown

Why did you start martial arts?

Since childhood I have been fascinated with martial arts. However, my early machinations of becoming a highly skilled ninja assassin by age 10 were thwarted by my mother, and her stalwart refusal to let me arm myself with sharp objects hidden in my clothing,

When did you start your training then?

I finally began formal martial arts studies in Texas in 1991 for a brief period.

What style of martial arts was it?

Tae kwon do/Hapkido. I signed up for classes while serving in the U.S. Army. I had an amazing instructor.

Did you ever return to it Tae Kwon Do or Hapkido?

I tried. After leaving the military I went to a strictly TKD class out of sheer convenience. Briefly retrying my hand,…or rather…foot, at tae kwon do.

You said briefly?

Yes. The experience I had was abominable to say the least. I quickly abandoned that path turning my attentions back to artfully, and potently propelling my life into a downward spiral for the next few years.

How did you end up in Praying Mantis Boxing? That’s a bit of a strange style isn’t it?

For sure! When I was doing tae kwon do in the military I encountered Chinese boxing (commonly known as kung fu) while sparring a friend. I was amazed with the efficiency and efficacy of the style he fought with. Basically, he whooped me. Our friendly bouts stuck with me for years to follow, and would later on come to shape my choices and goals, for not only myself, but also my students.

When I finally sought out kung fu training in my mid 20’s I had never heard of praying mantis boxing. However, the only place I found teaching ‘kung fu’ at all in almost the entire state of New Hampshire, taught this style; as well as qin na fa, and Chinese weapons. Since my first encounter with a mantid as a kid in elementary school on the playgrounds, I was fascinated by them. Such amazing creatures.

So when did you begin training mantis boxing?

1999. Once I was done diligently trying to screw up my own life I undertook a quest to right the ship as it were. Eventually I sought out an instructor in Chinese boxing as part of this rebirth/reboot/relaunch.

Did you train other styles of kung fu or just mantis boxing?

Several, actually. I continued with dedicated focus in mantis for a few years and then later I trained all over. During this time I went on to explore other styles of Chinese boxing such as long fist, eagle claw, tai ji quan, xing yi quan, hung gar, southern fist, and weapons.

Did you say weapons?!

Yes. Many of the Asian martial arts have weapon training part and parcel to their practice.

How many, and what kind of weapons?

Seventeen in total. Pole arms such as short, and long staves, spear, yuan yue dao. Mid range bladed weapons - single, and dual hand swords, sabers, tiger hooks, Close range weapons such as daggers, butterfly swords, fighting fan, even a flute; as ridiculous as that sounds. Flexible weapons as well - chain whips, 3 section staff, and rope dart.

That sounds like some HEAVY METAL!?!? How do you learn so many?

Weapons are simple in methodology. If it is complex it is likely a trick/stunt for someone to show off and would not work in combat. Practical usage of each weapon though is quite simple. Additionally, many of the weapons share common principles and functionality which makes it easier to assimilate new weapons with common shapes, grips, function. Pole weapons for example have similar functionality, etc.

Ok, so moving on then, when exactly did you open your training academy?

March of 2004 my friend Bruce Sanders and I opened our school in Westford, Massachusetts. In the old Graniteville district.

You had only been training 5 years?

Good question. Yes, five years, six to seven days per week, and usually multiple sessions per day. I can be slightly obsessive.

What is the biggest thing that teaching and running a school has taught you?

I could list hundreds! All of equal value. I am always learning, and truth be told I learn more from my students than I can possibly teach. However, once I began teaching students full-time I quickly realized how scattered my interests had become in the realm of Chinese boxing. My students (a direct mirror into ourselves as coaches/teachers) were not benefiting from this chaotic Frankenstein of a journey I was on. A hard reset was necessary.

What did you do about it?

I purged. Eliminated a ton of material and quadrupled down on mantis boxing and tai chi. Delving deeper into the variations of seven star, and 8 step and the practical application of these. It’s a long story. You can read more on my Mantis Boxing journey in an essay I wrote Rise from the Ruins.

What brought you into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)? It seems like a big deviation from mantis boxing/kung fu? Didn’t you try to be ‘less scattered’ as you put it?

Yes, but that came later. Twelve years later to be exact. To your question though, being smaller I saw the value in knowing basic ground fighting techniques. Even the best throw illicits an adversary yearning to grasp at anything they can find to help soften the catastrophic end about to be metted out on them. That tends to be us who are throwing them.

Which means we’re going to the ground with them. I had enough bad experiences on the ground in my life to recognize that we are our own worst enemies when fighting in that arena. Panicking and gassing ourselves out in a matter of seconds, leaving ourselves defenseless against our enemy, etc.

Did you find it easy to start BJJ?

Hell no!!! By all accounts I should have quit when I started. If I weren’t so painfully stubborn I would have walked away. If you enjoy Shakespeare’s tragedies you can read more about my experience in ‘A Dark Start - Why I should have quit BJJ when I started’.

Did you have a goal when you started BJJ?

Absolutely! I had no plans to be a ‘ground fighter’. Initially I had planned to get to a ‘blue belt’ level of proficiency, and move on.

Why a blue belt?

Blue belt is tough. Some styles of martial art are giving black belts out in the time it takes someone to achieve a blue belt in BJJ. Blue is the first belt, and it takes time and grit to earn. Two to four years on average.

How long did it take you?

One year.

That’s quick!!!

Yes, see above on the obsessive bit.

Why did you stay after blue belt?

I saw how mistaken I was.

Mistaken?

The level of skill that comes with a blue belt is fine against most people you end up on the ground with, if they lack any training that is. However, if they are significantly larger and/or stronger than us then we need even greater levels of skill to mitigate the disadvantage.

What level is enough then?

Usually purple belt.

Why purple?

By purple belt we have the ability to flow from one thing to the next. When one attack or escape fails, we can intuitively move to the next instead of being a ‘one-and-done grappler’. Or we can bring to bear a level of control over an adversary as to buy time to think. This gives birth to innovation and opportunity.

Why did you continue after purple belt?

Enjoyment, challenge, depth. I love learning. There is always more to learn in hand-to-hand combat. It has ceased to quit on giving back to me all these years. The more I put into these arts, and the more I give to others, the more the arts give in return. After diving into the punch bowl of Brazilian jiu-jitsu I became lucid, not only realizing how important this pillar of training is in fighting, but how immensely challenging and fun it can be. The deeper I went the more I found that the style melded extremely well with my mantis boxing. I saw no choice but to continue on forging a new hybrid of the two arts.

The mantis boxing style you teach is ‘bare knuckle’, ‘no-holds barred’? And in your BJJ classes you add strikes. These seem abnormal in today’s boxing and BJJ gyms. Boxing with big gloves, or MMA gloves, and BJJ for sport, where striking is not allowed. Can you tell me why you do this?

Definitely. I have competed at length in combat fighting sports. Sport rules are there for good reason. And yet they create serious problems when it comes to martial arts being effective in real world situations, and for self-defense.

Have you seen this happen?

Absolutely! I witnessed a 10 year old girl with no training dismember adult martial artists with decades experience using a simple groin kick. I’ve seen people naturally react to getting hit, by throwing a hand up and inadvertently poking a striker in the eye as they came in to hit the person. There is a popular meme in Brazilian jiu-jitsu about just that.

What is it?

“How do you turn a BJJ Black Belt into a Blue Belt…?” Start striking.” That meme does not exist without merit.

Then what is your approach to teaching these? You enjoyed competition, do you train others to compete?

If they want, yes. That is a completely personal decision for each individual to make. If someone wishes to go that route I will absolutely support them any way I can. However, overall in my coaching/teaching, I want to train people to be effective at their art in any situation, not just in sport fighting. More of a no holds barred vale tudo mindset if you will.

Combat sports such as western boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, BJJ, judo, wrestling, are they not effective in real self-defense situations? People do fight with those outside of the arena and successfully defend themselves, correct?

Yes. Absolutely. And yet, martial artists do routinely get into problems using their skills in non-competition situations. Sport is excellent for taking things to a level we often can’t reach otherwise. Specialized sports such as boxing for strikes, muay thai or tae kwon do for kicks, judo or shuai jiao for throwing, are all exceptional arts. Through them we can take our skills to an exceptionally high level due to their focus on a single pillar of fighting.

You used that word ‘pillar’ before. What do you mean by pillar?

A pillar being a specific modality of hand-to-hand combat - grappling/wrestling (throws, trips, takedowns), kicking, striking, submissions (chokes and joint locks), and ground fighting such as wrestling or jiu-jitsu. Each of these are arts in and of themselves. Or rather—a pillar of fighting.

MMA (the sport) took these pillars and tested them against one another. A hyper focus on individual pillars existed at the time, that was the detriment of a well rounded skill set. This in turn gave rise to the UFC, and what made it exciting to watch. One pillar would clash up against another, and the cracks would show.

As time went on the fighters ultimately blended these pillars to become effective all around combatants. Something the traditional eastern and western martial arts did centuries ago, but lost their way. Additionally decades of sport fighting had also neglected to address this fact.

Highlight another example from history, Genghis Khan would measure his soldiers using the 3 manly acts - archery, horseback riding, and ‘wrestling’. The wrestling excluded striking, knees, elbows, biting, etc. for the same reasons we have today, but it was a way his troops could work their hand-to-hand combat skills in the advent they found themselves without a weapon, or too close to use it.

What are some of the drawbacks to modern striking combat sports in your eyes?

Gloves and wraps create weak wrists ripe for injury. They put us in the mindset that we can punch another human in the skull with full power, without breaking our own hand. Something I think about - are we wearing gloves/wraps when we are out with friends? Do we stop and wrap up before walking to the car after a movie with our kids, or leaving dinner with a significant other? Gloves are a crutch.

What about ground fighting, or grappling in general. Any drawbacks?

In the present day BJJ underworld, all too often there is a lack of striking incorporated into the training due to it being illegal in competition. There also is a lack of focus on how to deal with a standing opponent (where a fight usually starts) that wants to punch your face in. These factors create serious deficiencies in our skill set when it comes to real-world situations. If what we know is ground fighting, and an enemy is blocking our only egress from a room, are we going to jump on our butt and say ‘come get some’ in order to fight them?

But BJJ is heralded as one of the best martial arts for self-defense, right?

Yes, and it can be. It is phenomenal! It has so much to offer people. And any training that gives people hope that they can survive, is powerful. Sometimes that bit of hope, the will to survive, is enough to get them out of a bad situation. Yet, spending years and years in a ‘competition rule-based mindset’ without ever training to strike, to defend strikes, to rip ears, gouge eyes, crush the throat, hit the groin, or snap someone’s fingers, or having someone try to do any of that to us, or them using a weapon on us; is a weakness. We lack the tools we may absolutely need in a real world non-combat sport situation to survive.

Untrained people strike (flail), scratch, bite, pinch, & headbutt. They use what they know. In my opinion, what good are years of martial arts training if they can be dismembered by a novice that uses schoolyard fighting methods?

Isn’t this type of training dangerous? Bare knuckle! No holds barred! Grappling with strikes! I mean, is it hard to train this way without people getting hurt?

There are challenges to it for sure. But these are easily conquered with solid training methods, a good atmosphere, and above all else, an amazing group of people to train with! These are all key.

What do you do for fun?

Train. Coach. Teach. I get to live the life!

Any hobbies other than martial arts?

Flying! Hang-gliding to be specific!

That’s nuts!

Perhaps. But I love to fly. To soar the sky with birds as you drift over the landscape below.

How, and why did you get into that?

Aside from being a ninja, ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be a fighter pilot. It wasn’t in the cards due to my ear canals. Flying helicopters in the Army was as close as I got. When I got out of the military I did not have the funds to continue aviation as a civilian. Eventually, 8 or so years later, I looked at the most affordable option to get back in the air. Diving off cliffs in fabric wings and soaring into the clouds was the option I found, and honestly, it is about as close to being a bird as we can get.

Alright then!!! Let’s wrap up then with one last question. What is your favorite ice cream?

Coconut Almond Chip from Kimball’s Farm. Nothing comes close. Hands down, THE best ice cream on the planet!