What is Free Boxing?
A hybrid martial art that bridges traditional martial arts, combat sports and self-defence.
Free Boxing is a hybrid martial art, a bridge between traditional martial arts, combat sports and self-defence. It was created in Marseille in 1993 by John Lelong, and its first tournament took place in Marseille in 1995.
Martial arts, combat sports, self-defence: three different mindsets
- Martial arts: arts of war, designed to fight and neutralise an opponent, not necessarily bound by the rules of sport. Fight.
- Combat sports: codified, regulated forms of fighting, where techniques are adapted to a sporting contest. Fight within rules.
- Self-defence: methods for protecting yourself in a real situation, putting survival, escape or neutralising the threat first. Survive, protect.
The four principles of Free Boxing
Striking, gripping, throwing and submission. Free Boxing combines strikes, wrestling, sweeps, throws and submission techniques. In competition, it is practised in a gi jacket, with or without sleeves, on the mats, with limited time on the ground.
- Striking: kicks, shin strikes, punches, forearm strikes, elbows and knees.
- Gripping: grips, control and stand-up wrestling, using the jacket.
- Throwing: sweeps, reaps and throws to take the opponent to the ground.
- Submission: joint locks and chokes, within a limited time on the ground.
Where does Free Boxing come from?
John Lelong began building his fighting method in 1993, during his military service. Back in civilian life, he opened his first club in Marseille and taught self-defence there. His method, Poing Instinctif Self-Défense, has three strands: Free Boxing, self-defence and weapons work.
The first Free Boxing tournament took place in Marseille in 1995, with fighters from around twenty different disciplines. John Lelong later brought his methods together under the name Mix Fighting System. The International Mix Fighting System Federation, which he has chaired since 2019, keeps the discipline alive in several countries and on several continents.
Boxe Libre, Free Boxing and Mix Fighting System are trade marks registered with INPI by John Lelong.
What does “free” mean in Free Boxing?
In Free Boxing, the word “free” refers to freedom of action and freedom of movement. So it is not an anarchic free-for-all where anything goes: the rules, the kit and the grades are the same for everyone.
Each instructor brings their own approach and experience to teach “their” Free Boxing. And each student is free to develop their own style according to their physical abilities, their joint mobility and their own leanings: more of a striker or more of a grappler.
The instructor passes on the tools, and the student picks the ones that suit them, tests them and adapts them to gradually build their own fighting system.
Freedom. Adaptation. Evolution.
Free Boxing and MMA: what’s the difference?
Both mix striking and grappling. Free Boxing is practised in a gi jacket, which opens up a whole range of grips and throws. Groundwork is time-limited, which keeps the stand-up exchange at the forefront. Finally, Free Boxing keeps a martial and self-defence dimension in club teaching.