How Do You Break Boards Using Karate?
Breaking boards is a long-held traditional technique used in competition, demonstration, and testing of martial arts students.
It refers to the practice of using a striking surface on the body such as hands, elbows, or feet to break one or more objects using skills honed in the practice of karate or another martial art.
Most commonly martial artists will break boards of wood but occasionally bricks or cinder blocks may also be used.
Many martial arts use this technique to demonstrate skills including karate, taekwondo, and pencaksilat.
As this technique is used to test the force of strikes as well as the mental fortitude of the marital artist, it is more commonly employed by martial arts which focus on striking and kicking.
The ability to break boards using karate uses progressive resistance training which relies on the fact that the skeletal system heals stronger after a break.
By gradually increasing the difficulty and amount of material and allowing the striking surface (usually the hands) to properly heal in between unsuccessful attempts, the marital artist eventually builds up their strength until they are able to break harder materials in this way.
This type of training should only be undertaken under qualified supervision as there are many small bones in the hands and feet that require proper conditioning in order to avoid serious injury.
Types of Breaks There are three different ways in which this technique is usually employed and they each test slightly different aspects of a martial artists striking abilities.
1.
Speed Break: This type of break is performed with an unsecured material and relies entirely on the ability of the artists to reach sufficient speeds to break the board in mid-air.
2.
Power Break: The most common form of board breaking, this type tests power and is easier to accomplish than speed breaks.
With this type the objects to be broken are supported, often from below, and the artist strikes through the unsupported middle using the supports to create resistance.
3.
Soft Break: This type of break uses the palm of the hand and relies upon gravity.
The material is broken but the transfer of energy from the striker's palm all the way through the material.
This type of strike can cause plenty of internal damage if used on another person.
It is important to remember that, while it is not essential to be stronger than average in order to learn karate, strength is an important aspect of becoming good at the martial art.
Training and consistent practice of techniques and skills will build up muscles and help to tone your body but proper care is still important to prevent injuries and overworking your muscles.
Learning good physical control and balance will greatly improve your karate skills and the primary muscles that you should concentrate on keeping in good shape are the core muscles that help you do everything from turning, striking, kicking, twisting, and throws.
If you want to learn how to break boards, don't just grab a few friends and give it a try as you will only injure yourself and regret it later.
Instead, sign up for a class in karate and do it the right way.
It refers to the practice of using a striking surface on the body such as hands, elbows, or feet to break one or more objects using skills honed in the practice of karate or another martial art.
Most commonly martial artists will break boards of wood but occasionally bricks or cinder blocks may also be used.
Many martial arts use this technique to demonstrate skills including karate, taekwondo, and pencaksilat.
As this technique is used to test the force of strikes as well as the mental fortitude of the marital artist, it is more commonly employed by martial arts which focus on striking and kicking.
The ability to break boards using karate uses progressive resistance training which relies on the fact that the skeletal system heals stronger after a break.
By gradually increasing the difficulty and amount of material and allowing the striking surface (usually the hands) to properly heal in between unsuccessful attempts, the marital artist eventually builds up their strength until they are able to break harder materials in this way.
This type of training should only be undertaken under qualified supervision as there are many small bones in the hands and feet that require proper conditioning in order to avoid serious injury.
Types of Breaks There are three different ways in which this technique is usually employed and they each test slightly different aspects of a martial artists striking abilities.
1.
Speed Break: This type of break is performed with an unsecured material and relies entirely on the ability of the artists to reach sufficient speeds to break the board in mid-air.
2.
Power Break: The most common form of board breaking, this type tests power and is easier to accomplish than speed breaks.
With this type the objects to be broken are supported, often from below, and the artist strikes through the unsupported middle using the supports to create resistance.
3.
Soft Break: This type of break uses the palm of the hand and relies upon gravity.
The material is broken but the transfer of energy from the striker's palm all the way through the material.
This type of strike can cause plenty of internal damage if used on another person.
It is important to remember that, while it is not essential to be stronger than average in order to learn karate, strength is an important aspect of becoming good at the martial art.
Training and consistent practice of techniques and skills will build up muscles and help to tone your body but proper care is still important to prevent injuries and overworking your muscles.
Learning good physical control and balance will greatly improve your karate skills and the primary muscles that you should concentrate on keeping in good shape are the core muscles that help you do everything from turning, striking, kicking, twisting, and throws.
If you want to learn how to break boards, don't just grab a few friends and give it a try as you will only injure yourself and regret it later.
Instead, sign up for a class in karate and do it the right way.