Mantis Boxing is comprised of punches (using the fist) as well as open hand striking. Since the art is based on combatives vs sport, the open hand striking is more prevalent to the head to avoid breaking the hand. Punching is generally reserved for softer targets in the torso and groin.
At it’s roots, Mantis is about stand-up grappling. We strike/kick to either knock out the opponent, or get to a grappling position to set up a throw/trip/takedown.
Types of Strikes:
Keep the elbow slightly bent when performing straight punches. Maintaining a slight bend in the elbow is imperative to preventing hyperextension of the joint at impact; repeatedly punching with a fully extended elbow can cause cartilage/ligament damage. Furthermore, as with any joint, the elbow is more susceptible to a joint lock when fully extended.
Secondly, keep the wrist straight, sending the force of the punch directly through the fist from the arm. If the wrist is bent, the impact will push against the wrist joint, rather than traveling through your fist. This diminishes the force of your strike, as well as causing injury to the wrist.
Thirdly, create a flat punching surface. To do this, gently clench the index and middle fingers, so that they touch the palm slightly, while clenching the ring and pinky fingers just enough so that all four knuckles form a straight line (see photo). If the ring and pinky fingers touch your palm, you will not create a flat surface and you will be susceptible to what is known as a “Boxer’s Fracture,” an injury common to full-contact fighting. The thumb should be bent and tucked under the index and middle fingers, not on the side of the fist pointing forward. This will keep it safely out of the way on contact, also to avoid a bone fracture.
The Forward Punch, is thrown with the lead hand, i.e. the hand closer to your opponent in a bladed position. It is similar to a jab in that regard, but varies on intent. Where a jab is a quick punch that is not as powerful as other punches, and used to engage the opponent to set up a more powerful strike with the rear hand, the Forward Punch is used in combination with footwork to drive power in the punch.
The cross, or reverse punch, is a straight punch thrown from the rear hand in a bladed guard position. The cross has more power but is slower, so it requires setup from another punch such as a Forward Punch, or Jab. To throw the reverse punch, twist forward at the at the waist and extend the rear fist directly out toward the target. Finish by quickly withdrawing the punch; twist back to the guard position with the shoulders bladed, as they were at the beginning of the punch.
To achieve longer range without compromising stability, you will twist from the waist. If you turn the hips past the bladed alignment (i.e. put your body behind the punch as a boxer does) you will be unbladed, providing a wider target and losing stability. While the ability to achieve maximum power is important, you must also be able to throw the Reverse Punch without twisting your hips.
You will be at a disadvantage (particularly with heavier opponents, against whom stability is important) if you are only able to throw this punch as a power shot. Use footwork to advance with the punch to produce power versus over exposing with a twisting action.
The hook or circle punch can be thrown with either the lead or the rear hand. Drop the first slightly and loop it to strike the opponent from the side (see photo). At very close range, the hook punch is thrown with palm facing in, as commonly seen in conventional boxing. We extend the hook's range by also throwing the hook with the palm facing out.
close range with palm facing in
longer ranges with palm facing out
(hook punch photo)
Uppercuts are close-range strikes. To throw the uppercut, drop the fist down from the guard position to no lower than about mid-chest level and reverse the position of the hand so that the palm side is facing you. Strike in an upward and outward motion to make contact with the target, usually the underside of the jaw.
close-range punch
fist with palm-side in
do not drop fist below mid-chest
The Scraping Fist - like a low uppercut, or body shot. One of the advantages of this devastating gut punch, is the fact that unlike throwing a straight punch toward the body which comes in from a high angle, this punch comes from underneath by dropping the elbow, making it harder to block.
It's a great punch to sneak in shots to the body, especially when using the principle of Changing Levels/Varying Targets. . But it can be dangerous trying to pull it off at the wrong place/time.
The Whipping Fist is not a power punch like a right cross, a scraping fist, or Hook Punch, but it is quite effective for it's intended use. Which is...attacking the groin. That is it's only target. Try to use it any other way, and you'll find it quite anemic.
The punch swivels from the elbow and comes up underneath the opponents guard. It is difficult to see, and block. The key to using the Whipping Fist effectively, is keeping the arm relaxed, and using speed rather than trying to add strength.
It's an excellent addition to a striking combination that focuses on Changing Levels and Varying Targets.
Chopping Fist is found in many styles of martial arts originating from China, but heavily used in Mantis Boxing. This punch and can easily be thrown at the wrong time and place.
Offensively, the Chopping Fist can be a devastating bridge to break down an opponents guard hand. Conversely, it also works effectively as a counter punch when an opponent throws a hook punch, and you counter down the inside line with the chopping fist (as seen in Tou Tao).
Focus on targets such as the Nose Bridge, Brachial Nerve, and Occipital Lobe for effective targets. You can use the fist as shown, or go deeper on entry and attack with the forearm for maximum damage.
Monkey Steals Peach - a parrying move from Mantis Boxing. This move uses a parry vs the opponent's punch, rather than a block. The cross-circle step footwork is used to execute the maneuver. This can be used offensively by various means (not shown), or defensively (self-defense) as we show here. We use a straight punch, which can be thrown from the opponent's forward hand, or from the rear hand with a step. Play with it, and train it both ways for maximum effectiveness.