The Strikes of Mantis Boxing Training Course
The Art of Counter-Striking
There are two types of fighters - offensive fighters, and counter-fighters. A list of descriptors for offensive fighters is comprised of - aggressive, confrontational, type-A personality, control freaks, etc. On the inverse, the counter-fighter may be described as - laid back, docile, relaxed, non-confrontational. I contest that, no matter what your style of fighting is, I will make the case that the counter-striking skills are crucial to both camps of fighters. For now, if you are an offensive fighter, skip ahead to the section below on Offensive Fighters. If you are a Counter-Fighter, then carry on to the next paragraph.
HEAVY ASSAULT! - Circle and Chop, or Haymaker and Hammer
HEAVY ASSAULT - Go heavy, or go home! This striking combination, plucked right from the catalog of Mantis Boxing techniques passed down for centuries, is to overwhelm the opponent with big, destructive, blows. Connecting with the first one is ideal and effective, but if they duck, or move back, the second…
Hook vs Circle Punch - What's the Difference?
What's the difference between a Hook Punch and a Circle Punch? Are they really that different? Yes, and yes.
The Hook Punch is used at a closer range, similar to an uppercut. It works well when you are striking in tight, or engaged in a Clinch (Lǒu 摟). In here, a long range strike will extend beyond my opponent. We position the arm in a tighter hook shape to help…
The Scraping Fist
The Straight Punch - Throwing the Forward and Reverse Punch
The Straight Punch - devastating and destructive! Forward and Reverse punch are a good place to start when learning to punch in Mantis Boxing, or other striking arts. They are destructive, and can easily be modified to open hand strikes if necessary.
The following video shows the in's and out's of...
How to Throw a Punch...Safely
Having an improper structure, leaving a finger misplaced, or snapping our elbow, can all cause lasting damage, injuring ourselves more than the object we are trying to hit.
Whether we are hitting bags, pads, mitts, makiwara boards, or sparring partners, it's important to keep these tips in mind to keep us punching without injury for years to come.
Why is BJJ Easier than Boxing/MMA?
"Why is BJJ easier than Boxing?" This was a question proposed to me last year when we were taking submissions for the Swamp Talks videos. Truth be told, it was a question that made me uncomfortable at first, as I assumed it would be misconstrued. This question, out of all of them, really stood out to me and made me think.
It made me think about something I hadn't previously considered. Something that was clearly...