<P> It was initiated by the Militia United in Righteousness ( Yihetuan ) , known in English as the `` Boxers '' , for many of their members had been practitioners of Chinese martial arts , also referred to in the west as `` Chinese Boxing '' . They were motivated by proto - nationalist sentiments and by opposition to Western colonialism and the Christian missionary activity that was associated with it . </P>
who was the chinese boxer rebellion of 1900 was directed at
Western colonialism and the Christian missionary activity