My first experience with board breaking was a total humiliation. I was a ten-year-old Karate student, with six months of practice under my orange belt, when my sensei decided we should all break some wood. He asked each of us to acquire a stack of boards, one square foot by one inch in size, and bring them to our next class.
As a bright but naive child, I had no idea that the practice of tameshiwari, or breaking, was an instrument of martial arts fraud. I only knew that it looked cool, and that it required focus–or so my teacher said. After class, my Dad and I went to a local lumberyard to pick up some wood for our upcoming test.
“What kind of wood?” the salesman asked us. “I dunno…regular.”
Tip #1: Some woods are stronger than others. For an easier break, use pine wood. Avoid oak and particle board.
I don’t remember practicing my breaking skills in preparation for next week’s class. Why would I? I was led to believe that successful breaks were a product of kime: focus and determination, honed to perfection through the repetition of Karate kata. There was no apparent need for experience with actual wooden targets–and aside from Judo-chopping pencils with my schoolyard buddies, I had none.
When class arrived a few days later, we each took a partner, and held their board vertically in front of our chest, to be split with a single punch.
Tip #2: The board must be held firmly in place, or it will not break. Striking downwards at a stationary board is easier than striking forwards at an unstable board.
After two or three tries, everyone in class was able to break their boards. Everyone except myself, that is. Maybe this stunt was meant to instill confidence in Karate students, but it had the opposite effect on me. I wasn’t the youngest, or the smallest kid in class, but nevertheless I was a complete failure at breaking. Sensei didn’t offer any useful advice, as I recall.
At the time, I was ashamed of my performance. When I quit Karate a few months later, it was in part due to this terrible experience. I wasn’t yet old or wise enough to understand that my failure was, as much as anything else, a failure to cheat.
Tip #3: Pine is weaker and easier to split when dry and brittle. Cook your boards in the oven before striking them. Seriously.
It was Bruce Lee who rekindled my interest in martial arts, a few years later. Bruce Lee didn’t bother much with breaking–”Boards don’t hit back,” he famously said in Enter The Dragon. Forget wood, or even concrete blocks: Bruce Lee broke people instead.
Following his lead, I put aside any remaining interest in tameshiwari, in favor of speed drills and punching bags. Thankfully I discovered through this training that, contrary to the assertions of a few cheap wooden planks, I was not completely inept at martial arts. But I still hadn’t realized that, in mainstream Karate at least, the fix was in.
Tip #4: When breaking multiple boards at once, use spacers to separate them. This makes your break much easier, but your audience probably won’t know the difference. An average adult can break 3-5 prepared boards this way, with no training whatsoever.
It was nearly a decade later, after watching a series of increasingly ridiculous martial arts demonstrations, that I finally understood why I had failed in kiddie Karate.
In the first show, I saw a frightened wooden board split itself, a quarter-second before the supposed Taekwondo master actually kicked it!
In the second show, I watched a tiny first-grader and Hapkido student punch through her boards with an ease bordering on nonchalance. Surely these were not the same boards that I, at nearly twice her size, couldn’t conquer?
The final shocking episode occurred during the setup for a performance. An assistant accidentally dropped one of his boards on the ground. It fell three feet, landed flat…and broke in half.
Tip #5: Make your own “rebrakeable boards”. Secretly break all your boards before the demonstration, then tape or glue them together again for the big show. It’s pathetic, but it works.
After seeing this, I lost all my respect for breaking demonstrations. Folks, you have to assume the game is rigged unless and until proven otherwise.
Kudos to those martial artists that play fair, using materials without any hidden or prepared defects, and circulating them through the audience for inspection. They deserve some credit. But lest anyone forget, ability to hit a stationary target is a poor representation of combat skill, or self-defense skill, or physical and mental balance, or any other significant benefit that one would normally expect from martial arts mastery.
In other words, it is a dubious performance even when the materials are genuine. When they are not, it is an absurdity. Call me when boards start hitting back.
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21 responses so far ↓
1
Rik Hemsley
// Jul 11, 2010
You’re right, of course, that board breaking is probably often done for show, rather than for some useful purpose, but I have seen at least one demonstration where the utility was evident.
The karateka broke several boards, each held by a different person and at a different location in space. If we assume that they were holding boards which require at least significant force to break then the karateka showed in this demonstration that they were able to perform many strikes, to different places, in quick succession.
I have heard that plastic boards are available which require a reasonably precise amount of force to break, but also that they weaken significantly over time. It might be useful if some boards which measure instantaneous force reasonably precisely (similar bathroom scales) were available for this kind of practice.
2
Liam Boyle
// Jul 11, 2010
I recently enrolled my little one (age 4) in a Tae Kwon Do class here in Louisville, KY. The school may be a bit of a McDojo, but it seems to be one of the better ones, and does at least put focus on teaching the children respect. All that aside, I was told that on the third trial class all the new students get to break a board. I looked at the boards, one of the assistant instructors happily showed them to me, 1/4″ plywood obviously glued from two separate pieces right down the center. However, the assistant instructor told me they use the boards in this fashion – the child is supposed to choose a bad habit and the board represents that particular bad habit. When the child (we are talking exclusively about children is this example) breaks the board they are “breaking” that bad habit, not to repeat it anymore.
Used in this manner I see tameshiwari as a valid psychological tool. Plus, it helps the kids feel good about themselves, and can give them a much needed sense of accomplishment. Now, “performance” breaking is a much over used tool of MA demonstrations, and the amount of trickery used is appalling. I had to do breaking as part of my test from white belt to yellow eons ago when I studied TKD (I now practice Taijiquan as my main MA for health reasons). Back then it was an unaltered 12″x12″x1″ naturally dried pine board. The point at my school then was to show us students how much force a properly executed punch could generate. After this we were given a long lecture on responsibility and controlled response. Again, used in this manner I see breaking as a positive training tool. It’s a bit more impressive to a teenager or young adult to see the amount of damage they can actually do in a form such as this than reading numbers off an impact pad. To me this is how breaking should be used in MA – to help build confidence and mindset in the very young, and to reinforce the concept of control in older students.
Flashy, fraudulent breaking used to sell MA and increase student enrollment is exactly that “fraud.” That is my opinion on the topic, others mileage may vary.
3
bruce
// Jul 12, 2010
When I was 8 in daycamp I was talking to this tough little kid. I said I was impressed by karate guys breaking bricks. He said he wasn’t. Then he put a brick across two others and broke it with his bare fist.
I was awed.
I asked him what school he’d been to. He bullshucked some, then opened his hand and showed me a chunk of brick he’d been hiding on his fist.
I’m still awed. HAD to have hurt his hand. NOT worth it.
4
Mohammad Khan
// Jul 12, 2010
At our school, they told us about all of this from the start, and showed us that they don’t do these practices. Of course, that school was a part of the World TKD Federation, so it had genuine credentials, aside from their obviously non-fake teachings. Anyways, they told us that one board is the strength of a rib when unprotected by muscle. They made sure NEVER to use separators. It taught us both self-confidence, and, when you were able to break a stack of boards, that it was necessary to control your strength. I think it’s a good way of developing power and restraint, even though in a real fight you would not be fully cocked and ready.
5
Madzdad
// Aug 5, 2010
I understand the point of breaking boards as a relatively new student of Tang Soo Do, but am always reminded of the Karate Kid:
Daniel: So, can you, like, break boards and stuff?
Miyagi: Don’t know, never been attacked by tree!
Kidding aside, at my size and strength (I am a really big guy) breaking boards is not hard, but doing it correctly as to focus power and prevent injury is what is important. It is a way to learn correct technique and targeting as well as a wonderful self-confidence booster.
6
Dragon Book
// Aug 5, 2010
A chinese master arts master, Wang Shu Jin, also said that breaking bricks would become intersting when bricks started hitting people.
He also said that there are chinese martial arts whose practitioners break bricks and boards and train hitting tress. Their fingers and hands become extremely tough and powerful but they lose dexterity, like the ability to hold a pen.
7
Papadiabolous
// Aug 25, 2010
I’ve been in Tae Kwon Do for about a year now. Our instructor is careful to make a distinction between demo board breaking and competition board breaking. The demo boards are designed to fly apart easily and in many pieces. We even hold them differently; quickly snapping the board into the oncoming fist or foot to make sure it breaks. Call it fraud, if you like, but it looks cool. Competition is different. The boards are different, not as brittle and glued together from many pieces like the demo boards. We also hold them still and as tightly as possible with no snap assist. It’s entirely up to whomever’s striking them to make the break.
And I do break bricks. They’re cinderblock landscape edging, actually, but it takes skill and focus to do it without breaking my hand in the process. It’s just plain good fun and impressive to see, if I do say so myself. I wouldn’t say it makes me a better martial artist, but I have a blast doing it. No tricks, hidden aids, or other cheats/assists.
8
Karate-ka
// Sep 9, 2010
Wow! So muching trepidation over breaking! After you practice hitting air, bags, and fellow students it’s not so horrible to try breaking boards and concrete. It’s measurable, unless you posses expensive equipment that measures force, and it’s actually fun. Those that spend time doctoring up boards and baking this or that are certainly fakes and do need to be pointed out–I agree. But, having placed EVERYONE within the same context is dumb, to say the least. I’m sorry the writer of this article felt he was cheated when he was younger but I’m not convinced this should be the final say on breaking. Think about it. Beleive me, I thought breaking was fake given the folks out there demostrating in an unscrupulous manner, but having competed in a United States Breaking Assoc. event there is a governing body that keeps high standards. Look them up.
I too chuckled at Bruce Lee’s famous quote…”Boards don’t hit back”. So that automatically makes board breaking not part of the martial arts make up? Really. What if another famous martial artist spoke up in favor of breaking? Then it’s okay now?! I love Bruce Lee as much as the next person but he is not the FINAL AUTHORITY ON ALL THINGS MARTIAL ARTS. Please listen. What makes the martial arts so interesting is the developement of the student (yourself) and finding ways to improve upon your ability through breaking is fine. It’s not for everyone, but please don’t knock it unless your willing to do your homework completely. I’m pleased to say it has vastly improved my karate and I can still hold a pen in my hand (referencing: Dragon Book, Aug 5th). Thank you & Peace.
9
chris
// Sep 9, 2010
The author is not against breaking just because he was cheated in the past.
The author notes that breaking demonstrations generally cannot be trusted; that breaking competitions have limited combat relevance; and that the arguments for breaking as self-cultivation apply even more strongly to targets that do not break.
The author suggests: if you want to develop focus, good alignment, restraint and well-grounded self-esteem, try punching a concrete wall instead of a wooden board.
Rest assured the author has followed his own advice.
10
Drew Serrano
// Sep 9, 2010
As the Co-Founder of the United States and World Breaking Associations I have spent a great deal of time dispelling accusations of cheating and explaining the benefits of breaking, both in practice and competition. I have had discussions with some of the most talented in the Martial Arts Industry and opinions do vary. Thankfully once a person sees the professionalism of our organization and/or experiences breaking properly first hand their attitude toward this centuries old tradition changes.
It is obvious that the author is against breaking and considers it a waste of time. Everyone has the right to express their own opinion, right or wrong. Every aspect of just about everything in life can be argued from different points of view. The validity of an endeavor and the benefits it can provide ultimately lie in the person involved in the endeavor.
I have been in Martial Arts for over 32 years. I have had many experiences, both negative and positive. Some have been during training, some in competition, some on the business side. We are a product of these experiences, but it is still important to keep an open mind and see the positives that are still around us.
One of my videos on Youtube has over 500,000 hits. Are all the comments positive, of course not. People who “can’t” will always try to undermine those that “can’, so is life. When you have a true belief in something and know what it takes to acheive a goal you do not have time to argue every point from the nay-sayers or ill-intentioned.
I am sorry that the author had a negative experience with breaking, he is definitely not the only one. I do hope he will focus more on what he wishes to acheive and build, rather than spend time downplaying or bringing out only the negatives of an area that is an important part of many Martial Arts styles for thousands of years.
11
Karate-ka
// Sep 9, 2010
Dear Chris (Sept 9)-
I did not equate the author’s past experience as the sole reason for his disdain towards breaking. However, It’s very apparent after reading the entire article that the general tone is.
Your summary of what the writer wrote was appreciated, and as Drew Serrano stated, “Everyone has the right to express their own opinion, right or wrong”. I wanted to balance the argument in general and bring to light what Drew and his organization represents. I have experienced the benefits of breaking and it was difficult to simply read the “bad side of breaking” without chiming in. To the writer’s credit, he did commend those that go about breaking “honestly”. Admittedly, it was a mundane complement at best.
Please let me add that breaking has affirmed my “combat readiness”, however you define that. Hitting boards or concrete blocks with a karate technique does require the same attributes as a properly delivered hit. The feedback from the material, the commitment to hit, and the placement of the board/concrete can simulate that. True, not every break does that. This is why you balance your training with pads, workout partners, and even the use of mirrors.
There, I said it…thanks for allowing folks like me to voice my opinion.
Again… Peace.
12
chris
// Sep 10, 2010
I didn’t want to have to say this, but…
With the global warming threat facing our world today, can we really afford to be cutting down all our precious forests, just to split some wooden boards with Karate chops?
Won’t someone please think of the children?
13
Keith
// Sep 21, 2010
Interesting writing here. I really, really like the way you write your blogs, it is always informative and educational. I will continue to visit your site in the future to read greater blog posts like this one. This is absolutely an awesome post. I love tips about martial arts.
14
Jim
// Nov 28, 2010
Once, when I was a child, I went to the circus and saw a “strongest man in the world” carrying two massive weights with “10 tons” painted on the sides. I later found out that he was just carrying hollowed-out boxes and, though a husky man to be sure, he probably wasn’t the strongest person on that stage, let alone the world.
This article is basically what it would have been like if I had seen this and then concluded that all weight lifting is complete and total fraud. Or at least, that you should assume they’re all frauds unless they can PROVE otherwise.
15
Sam Rye
// Feb 18, 2011
Let bullys see you or hear that you can break bricks with your fist, and they are much less likely to give you problems. They are more cautious to give you a chance to hit their nose, or jaw, or ribs.
16
Chuck Sears
// Feb 19, 2011
Breaking has a very valid place in martial arts training. It teaches the concepts of focus and timing much better than floor drills do, and most importantly, it instills confidence in the student.
We use UMAB rebreakable boards (http://www.breakaboard.com/rebreakable.html). This gives us the flexibility to start a student with “easy” boards and quickly find a level where they have difficulty breaking the board. They then have to rise to the challenge. When they succeed, we go up a half-step. It’s a great training tool, but nothing more.
17
Julia
// Jun 13, 2011
I think that board breaking or other martial art demos like this is fake. I think it really is not a test of skill. Nor do I believe that it requires any training. I am going to tell you why-
My 11-year-old daughter is enrolled in dance. She has a 12-year-old “puppy love” boyfriend. I say “puppy love” because they knew each other since infant daycare and they are not seriously in love.
Her so-called boyfriend is enrolled in Karate. Now, I cannot mention the type of Karate because I do not know the differences.
He was preparing for his next level or belt thingy. He had to practice hitting a plastic board that could be re-fastened. Upon his next level test, he was to break a real board. We were invited to visit his test.
After the arrival of all in attendance, his instructor informed everyone not to try this at home and without proper training. His instructor stated that it was a great test of skill and had required much training to accomplish.
All of the Karate students performed their breaks well and past their tests. Afterwards, we were mingling among students and visitors alike. The instructor approached us and somewhat like a used car salesman, suggested that I enroll my daughter in his Karate school.
He said, with much training, she could get the skill to perform the breaks just like those who have done this day. My daughter is a bold person at such a young age; she had asked the Karate instructor if she could break one right now. The Karate instructor told her no and said that she needed much training and skill to be able to do it.
Being the rebel she is, before anyone could stop her, she went up to a board that was still set-up, she brought down her hand really fast, and with a yell, she easily broke the board.
Sensing others who witness this in awe, immediately the Karate instructor removed the wood, its set up, and told us to get off the “floor”, the area of practice. As we were leaving, I told the instructor that the breaking thingy was not a test of skill and it did not require much training. As all there knew this to be true.
We were never invited there again
18
Fan of Chuck
// Sep 19, 2011
All I can say is I seriously hope that Chuck Norris does not read this article! Everybody knowschuck Norris is well known for ripping people’s heads off that mock anything to do with his art. Just remember that if you can see Chuck Norris… he can see you. If you can’t see Chuck Norris… you may be only seconds away from death.
Other Facts about Chuck Norris that may save your life:
>Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that’s why there are no signs of life there.
>When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
>Chuck Norris does not hunt because the word hunting infers the probability of failure. Chuck Norris goes killing.
>Chuck Norris sold his soul to the devil for his rugged good looks and unparalleled martial arts ability. Shortly after the transaction was finalized, Chuck roundhouse kicked the devil in the face and took his soul back. The devil, who appreciates irony, couldn’t stay mad and admitted he should have seen it coming. They now play poker every second Wednesday of the month.
>Chuck Norris counted to infinity – twice.
and
>Chuck Norris’ tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.
Feel free to thank me when this information saves your life!
19
Jeff
// Sep 20, 2011
@Julia – You are lucky your daughter didn’t break her hand. With one board… anyone can get lucky… especially those with zero martial arts skills like your daughter. However, add one more board or change the strike used for the one board… and your daughter will be writing with her other hand for the next 6-8 weeks… while you’re stuck paying the hospital/doctor bills for her broken hand or arm.
Trust me… no one else there was in “awe” that your daughter broke the board because the “breaking thingy” required no skill… they were in shock that your daughter had zero manners and that you were just as ignorant as her for not maintaining control over your eleven year old child. I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but your daughter is not “bold” nor is she a “rebel”, she is clearly just a spoiled brat that does whatever she wants too because Mommy lets her. She knows that no matter what she does, Mommy will defend her inappropriate actions and somehow justify then for her. I feel sorry for her boyfriend and the embarrassment that you and your daughter brought upon him. It’s evident with the condensing nature of how you describe your daughter’s relationship with her boyfriend, that you do not like this young man and have absolutely no qualms about embarrassing him at his martial arts studio and in front of his peers and their family. I seriously hope that that young man has moved on and is free of both you and your daughter.
Also, don’t bother telling me how you and your daughter “ain’t” ignorant, because the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and you clearly demonstrated your ignorance by your complete lack of grammar, punctuation, and any kind of logical thought process in your post.
As sad as it is, I am certain that you are either divorced or headed down that road as evident the bizarre “puppy love” tangent that you went on when while writing negatively about your daughters relationship. I’ve seen bitter women demonstrate the mentality of “Why should she be happy if I’m not” countless times before. The problem is, that in your eyes you’ve convinced yourself that you treat the men in her life negatively because, “You just want to protect her” or because “You don’t want her to make the same mistakes that I did”. If you are somehow still married… TRUST ME… no man can tolerate someone that thinks like you for long. Not to mention, that you are headed for some rough roads as your daughter enters into her teenage years… and turns out exactly like you.
As much as I would love for you to read this response to your post, embrace the issues brought up, and then work on these issues to improve not only your life, but the life of your daughter… I have met many women like you in my life (and yes, men can tell a lot about a person by reading a post like yours) and I am certain that you can’t possibly comprehend the thought there is anything wrong with the way you think or behave. You are clearly too much of an ego maniac to believe that you are the source of the problem… and not everyone else.
On a positive note (well positive for me at least), I look forward to watching you and your daughter on the next episode of Lifetime’s “Dance Mom’s”.
-Jeff
20
Jeff
// Sep 20, 2011
…and yes… I deliberately left some grammar errors in so you not only have something else to complain about, but so that you can attempt to redirect the issues I brought and focus on the grammar issues instead. I know through experience, that women like you like to redirect your personal faults (instead of addressing them) and that you have absolutely no plans to change the way you think or to improve the way people think about you. Your welcome.
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