Ryan-
I wanted to put together something cool - sharing where we came from. Hunter and I had met in college as you guys know from our back story, and when we made our first review we set it up in my parents garage with a card table and a saw horse, grabbed whatever gear we could for the video and went for it. These are two of our original videos we put on YouTube for our first reviews involving the company Deliberate Dynamics. You’ll also get to hear more about the 10 year journey (11 years) to where we are now. Please watch the video below, as well as read more about it below in this post.
Hunter -
When I look back ten years on where we have come from as a company, I can't help but think back further than that to the first time I ever met Ryan. We were both attending school at The Catholic University of America and happened to have the same philosophy class. I am well aware that this was not when we posted our first YouTube video, but so much of what we are as a company today was born in college. The first time Ryan and I met one another - I wore skinny jeans with holes, flip-flops, and a polo shirt with a popped collar. He came to class wearing black cargo shorts, a skate company T-shirt, an eyebrow ring, and a bright red mohawk - I can only thank fate that the next class I was running late and there was only one seat available next to Ryan; but this time, we both had something added to our clothing for the day that made all the difference: Oakley sunglasses! If you're unfamiliar with Oakley, they have produced some of the most iconic sunglasses in history, apart from being one of the most well-known glasses associated with our armed forces. Looking at how we both dressed at the time, it's a surprise we ever spoke.
This simple conversation about eyewear became the first “gear” we discussed. Little did we know that this was the beginning of a tiny prong of what Mantis Defense would become. The funny thing is that Mantis Defense was never even a thought at the time. Ryan and I spent more time together discussing philosophy because our grades depended on it, but tactics and weapons we spoke about for fun. When we started, we only envisioned being a small two-person bodyguarding company. However, our shared interest has helped us evolve into something more significant. If you're reading this, you might think, "Wait a minute, bodyguarding? Don't these guys run a YouTube channel?" Our initial vision has transitioned, and as a result, we've grown into a multiservice security/media firm, as opposed to just two guys in black sunglasses.
Along the way, our friends often sought our advice on tactical and technical matters. These questions led us to realize that we could share our wealth of knowledge with a broader audience. Many were interested in our expertise and the gear we use, which either came from family traditions or acquired through extensive reading and online research. Reviewing gear became only a natural part of our company. We not only started looking at our gear to make it better, but we also examined the gear used by professionals and paid close attention to their feedback. As a result, most of my gear is tailored to 90% of my needs based on extensive research, with the remaining 10% being either custom-made by me or sourced from vendors. We aimed to share this research and knowledge with anyone who needed help.
Additionally, we kept an eye on new gear entering the market to see if it made sense to incorporate it into our future loadout. We discovered that new gear was only sometimes significantly better than what came before, and sometimes it was worse. These unwelcome surprises drove us to seek what the tactical community truly desires: an advantage. Whether it's an edge over an adversary or the advantage of continuous growth in knowledge and skill, we prioritize lightweight, low-profile, and nimble advantages. Our first in-depth investigation was on plate carriers, where we thoroughly researched the offerings from all the major players, always keeping specific needs in mind. We are not a private military corporation (PMC), so our interest in gear for urban use is about shaving weight or time. With that, looking for low-profile gear led me to Deliberate Dynamics and their very slick plate carrier, which was low-key manufactured by one of my favorite companies, Tactical Tailor.
I contacted Deliberate Dynamics to express interest in their plate carrier. After some back-and-forth discussions, we assured them that our team wouldn't disappear with the gear they were providing. A personal conversation with one of the owners helped build trust between us. Feeling confident about the relationship, I informed Ryan that I believed we had secured our first piece of gear from another company. To my surprise, I received a box with an uncomfortable amount (monitarily speaking) of plates and carriers to be reviewed, photographed and returned. The amount of merchandise was a fantastic sign because they had sent way more then we agreed upon, telling me that I properly represented Mantis Defense to the Deliberate Dynamics team.
Even though we made it super clear that we would be brutally honest, we never wanted kindness or money to sway our opinion. This initial relationship with Deliberate Dynamics opened our eyes. It paved the way for us to become what we wanted. Let me just say, the first time is always the most nerve racking. The hours blurred as we pushed through the night, desperate to avoid mistakes. Delirium set in, and I’m not kidding when I say we actually forgot our own names during closing remarks. I must have called myself 'Deliberate Dynamics' more times than I can count before finally getting it right, only to watch Ryan stare blankly into space when it was his turn. We shared a look of utter frustration and yelled, 'Fuck, let's do it again!' Together, we pushed through and created a video we're incredibly proud of.
Like all our completed reviews, we allow the vendor to review the video for any specification or technical inaccuracies before posting. Accuracy is paramount, so we welcome their input. However, our opinions are final and have always been understood as such by our collaborators. The Deliberate Dynamics team gave us the green light to post our review. The positive reception of our review led to the next question they asked of us - if we would be interested in reviewing one of their classes in Colorado.
I cannot thank Deliberate Dynamics enough for being a mentor and a world class lesson on how to run a company that cares about the people it trains. We always wanted to reach our fans and followers in a very approachable manner. The experience of traveling to Colorado to film one of our first on-site reviews and spending time with some of the United States Military's most elite personnel was truly eye-opening. It inspired us to approach our content in a way that would make it relatable and engaging for you, the viewer. We aimed to provide valuable, no-nonsense information while maintaining an approachable tone, making you feel part of our community.
Throughout my career, I have always prioritized knowledge.I currently work as an IT Manager for a government consulting company. My previous experience includes working for PR firms and contracting with the federal government in many technology supporting roles. I excel at communicating complex technical information to diverse levels of expertise. My hands-on approach to problem-solving emphasizes efficiency and risk mitigation, ensuring optimal technological solutions. I apply a similar mindset to gun culture, exploring various disciplines such as tactical, hunting, three-gun, sport, and clay shooting. I aim to draw unconventional connections between these areas and fields like athletics and mechanics. By doing so, I hope to inspire innovative solutions and adapt existing technologies for new purposes, bridging gaps between seemingly unrelated domains. Think how nuclear technology led to the development of microwave ovens. I believe this cross-pollination of ideas is key to human advancement. By expanding our toolkits and knowledge, I aim to discover how to gain even a marginal advantage in everything we do, both individually and as a company at Mantis.
Over the past decade, I recognized the need to advance my career to create the necessary space and resources for Mantis. By focusing on professional growth, I aimed to build a foundation for dedicating more time and energy to the company’s development. Because of this, I had to step back and dedicate time to my personal and professional life first. To do this, I entrusted the company's growth to Ryan. He had strong connections within the firearms community due to his work at a range, which gave him valuable exposure and knowledge. Even though I haven't been as visible on Mantis Defense's social media over the years, I have significantly impacted the company's direction and marketing decisions during the past ten years. With my career advancement, I've gained additional skills that I can now apply to benefit our clients at Mantis Defense. On a personal level, I've also built a life with a wife, a home, and two dogs. Fun fact: My wife happens to be in one of our earlier videos on shotguns.
In recent years, our team has expanded with the addition of members like Tim and Wayne, who have significantly enhanced our company's knowledge base with their specific skills and new ideas. I am a firm believer in the power of knowledge and the critical importance of understanding the trajectory of our industry. Looking back on the past decade, I am even more enthusiastic about what the next ten years will hold for Mantis. The rapid technological advancements and their intersection with weaponry, tactics, and techniques fascinate me. Mantis Defense will surely embrace and adjust to them. Despite the challenges of balancing our day jobs and managing Mantis, our passion for creating and sharing content has remained strong.
As we celebrate ten years since our first YouTube video, we are immensely grateful for the unwavering support of our friends and family. I am incredibly thankful to Ryan, who kept our dream alive as my career and life demanded more time. Looking ahead, we have big plans for the next ten years, and we are thrilled to have our long-time supporters and new followers join us on this journey. We have discussed the Mantis and how it protects its home as one of the many reasons it is our symbolic ambassador. What we want you to know above all else, and I know I speak for Ryan as well when I say, this home is not just for us but for everyone who has joined or interacted with the Mantis team.
Cheers!
Hunter Costa, Co-Founder
Ryan -
Looking back at it, it’s so terrible to hear the uhm’s and pauses. I grew up doing lots of public speaking for scouting, student government, church things, etc. To have that many uhms, uhs, and pauses is almost embarrassing. You can also see during that time I was clean shaven until I discovered I am in fact one of those Asians that can grow facial hair, but it takes practically a year. It’s so funny to watch this first video in the garage - the audio is so terrible, the lighting is a bunch of work lamps setup around us. We had multiple cameras set up, but we couldn't match the footage. The audio change you hear is because we set up Hunter’s phone below us to record the audio that he spliced in. My first plate carrier is so gross. It worked for what it needed to be, but realistically it should have been a chest rig because I hadn't made a decision on plates yet. I will say though, the ITW Fastmags are still used in rotation for some of my kit, but mainly on my First-Spear belt setup.
Hunter and I had a lot less responsibility back in the day, so traveling back and forth was easy. We are about an hour away from each other, so we would drive up/down at midnight sometimes to hang out for a weekend to knock some filming out or work the creative board. It also helped that we were connected through the car scene that I was in, it bridged Northern Virginia and Maryland pretty frequently. We would find time to film and buy the products we were interested in. I didn’t even have a credit card and was buying pretty much everything back then with cash. We were tired of hearing everyone peddle the same products. Back then some of the “tier 1” or “superior” products weren't really that much better, they were just advertised as such or made to be dominating the market as the “tactical” thing. One thing I did notice, we bought a lot of products but never felt the need to review them. Looking back, there were plenty of products that we should have reviewed, especially since there weren't thorough consumer reports when we first started. Youtube was still popular as ever, but the gun scene was a bit slower it seemed like.
With Deliberate Dynamics, Hunter set this whole thing up and it was a great experience back then for us. We were semi-young and just out there. We stayed in a local hotel/suite that was about 40 minutes out from the training facility. Pawnee Sportsman’s Center is huge by the way. They have a giant shotgun range, super long - long range, and multiple bays for carbines and pistols. I distinctly remember two guys who showed up in full matching multicam Crye kit and I was like shit, these guys have all the cool gear and a nice kit. I also remember though, one of the two was not that efficient. So, if anything, it helps re-affirm that even if you don’t have all of the gear and you see the dudes who do, don’t be intimated, as some are still on the same page starting as you are. It's evident even further with some of my students.
Over time, I had the opportunity to blend my photography skills with Mantis Defense further and we continued to build the name and reach more people. I remember we would ask a few companies here and there for stuff to give out to our followers, etc. and most were happy to help us (shout out KNS Precision for super early on assistance). We were contacted by companies like Faxon to fly out to Shot Show and go to the range day for the ARAK-31 (308), Red Rock Hill Gear to do their media for their booths, and a couple other companies like those along the way. We definitely had some missed opportunities, but we were young and didn't really understand it all.
I spent time at The Machine Gun Nest (TMGN) where my background helped me expand my role and build skills on all ends. We helped build a great reputation at the range and that also helped with the expansion of training, firearms maintenance, selection, aftermarket parts, knowing the trends versus having a very boomer mindset of this Tetra Oil is the best product (with packaging not updated since 1960). During my time there, I met some great people. I had the opportunity to train with and train under some great professionals as well. I trained with one of my personal instructors frequently, starting at 7 AM before the range opened. Eventually, I added late-night filming for TMGN and Mantis to my schedule, often working until 2 or 4 AM. I extended training to our staff in the late hours of 10PM-2AM often.
During this time, one of my employees and co-workers was Wayne, where we formed a strong relationship. Wayne was established as a CRSO and as one of the instructors we had on staff. Post TMGN, Wayne I and got together and started instructing our own curriculum. As the training director, it helped me a little in the development of our own program; but even then, my experience with Mantis actually helped me develop TMGN’s program. Through all of that networking, I shook a lot of hands with guys in various agencies, various OEM and aftermarket companies, and developed some great relationships that I’m still in touch with today. Truly thankful for all the guys that gave me time of day.
Now back to Mantis. I primarily used a Nikon D810 for my work, and most early reviews were filmed solo. Content creation slowed down significantly during a couple of years when I was handling everything myself. This coincided with Facebook's transition to paid advertising, leading to declining organic reach and engagement. As I wasn't interested in paid advertising, and Hunter was busy with his wedding, I had more time and energy to dedicate to the project since I wasn't married yet. I was still quite busy during this time photographing cars and weddings most weekends, leaving little time for training and filming.
Fast forward a couple years where my friend Tim, an old customer from TMGN, started helping me create content and made it much more fun and easier to do with a second set of hands again. Tim continued helping Mantis, and established himself as our videographer and photographer, while I still maintain most of the video editing. Tim handles most of the photography and editing, which has freed me up to do more of the storyboarding and planning.
Fast forward further, where I am married, and still trying to find time to continue creating, planning, and producing content for Mantis Defense, as well as some contract work we hold for other industry brands. We currently continue to look at popular and lesser known products in the market, weigh if they are valuable additions to kit and where they fall into the consumer market. Certain brands have also supported and helped us get products in the hands of students before being an "influencer" was a thing. We are grateful to those brands for supporting us.
I think Mantis Defense has a cool origin story, nothing overwhelming, but just simply cool. Hunter and I would never have met had it not been for us both wearing a pair of Oakley sunglasses. Hunter, I’m pretty sure was wearing Oakley Ducati Monster Dog’s, and I was wearing Oakley Ducati Riddle’s. We shared a few classes and here we are now. Also, mind you, I had a giant mohawk to which Hunter probably would not have approached me back then.
Our old sign off for videos was saying both of our names and repeating Mantis Defense in unison, which evolved over time. There was a short window where Hunter would close us out with “Stay Safe and Shoot Straight,” while mine became “Train Hard - Shoot Straight.” As Hunter had less involvement, I used his tagline in honor of him versus mine. Over the years, we have adopted the mantra of ADAPT, which you see on some of our apparel and swag. It represents the mindset of us, our students, and our approach to firearms and the integration of them into our lives. You can see more of that under the about us section on the website.
Originally, I envisioned a shirt for the top-performing students in our courses. This recognition would be based on either perfect scores or exceptional skill demonstrated with smaller pistols. Due to the positive response to this idea, we decided to shift our focus. I've designed a limited-edition challenge coin and keychain that will require completing a specific shooting challenge to earn. To maintain exclusivity, we'll only produce 25. Design has always been a passion of mine. Many of you might remember the old TMGN cleaning kits or the packaging for Engage's receivers, builder kits, and limited-edition rifles. I collaborated with Breakthrough Clean and a major packaging brand on those projects. Additionally, if you own an E4 rifle with my initials on the build sheet, know that it was assembled with care and enthusiasm.
Thank you guys for your years of support, for either subscribing to our YouTube channel, interacting with us on social media, meeting us in person, or just buying a hat when you see them for sale. Your support is not unnoticed. Thank you.
Ryan
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