Martial Arts and breaking tiles/wood?

Question

Is it worth it? in some systems you are required to break wood to show power, but I dont really want to.

Answer 1

I did this in a Korean art for many years and it was part of belt testing and demos. In some cases, depending on the school and or association, etc. you and your parents can have a talk with your instructors about your issue. If this does not work and you are under a contract ask if you can get out of it without a buy-out...If they say NO, then you'll need to see you DOCTOR. Explain to the Doc the issue and ask if he or she is willing to write you a note that forbids you from using your hands & feet for such tasks and that is why we have hammers for.
You may need to check out another school.

For almost ten years I love doing this and at one point realy got into Power-breaking and today, I pay for it with sore wrists and hand, almost every day.

Answer 2

The purpose of tile and board breaking was for a martial artist to exhibit their mastery of a technique physically and the power, speed, and accuracy with which they could execute it as well as their mental attitude and approach to it by not shying away or deflecting their technique as it made contact.

Their are many schools that still require board breaking today for rank promotion. Unfortunately some of them don't put enough time into developing the technique before they have students attempting breaking or they litterally don't do a very good job of teaching breaking itself. Look for schools or programs that do not require it for testing and if one is not available then here are some things for you to keep in mind that may help you.

1. Break with the grain-never against it; use only dry pine and 12" x 1" boards for best leverage. Never break half boards unless you are very exeperienced. Green boards don't break near as easily, they are softer and tend to rip and splinter and cut your hand or foot as it passes through.
2. The person holding it should be strong enough and big enough to hold the board firmly without flinching or their arms and shoulders giving as you make contact if it is a power break. If it is two or three boards then more than one person should be holding or supporting the holder so their is no give.
3. Accuracy is important. If you don't make contact in the middle you will have less leverage and it will be harder to break. Once you have broken your board look to see if you hit it in the middle or not. Sometimes drawing a big dot for beginners to aim at can help their aim a little before breaking it but their is no real substitute for accuaracy. If you hit the persons' hands you definitly did not hit the middle and it can be painful for the holder as well as you.
4. Some training time should be devoted to toughening up and developing the portion of the hand or foot that you are making contact with and younger students should not break with certain techniques since they are still growing so much.

Number 4 is really where a lot of schools fall short and just bring out a stack of boards at testing time and have their students try and perform a break. If this is the case at a place where I was studying I would certainly either find a different place or at least do the work/homework myself since it was my hand or foot that might be injured in the process come testing time. While you should not have to do this it is the sad state of affairs at some schools now. A good school and instructor will address it and give it the proper time and attention and some will start you off with a half or quarter inch board first and build your confidence and technique and train you correctly if it is required for testing.

Answer 3

Board breaking is about more than showing power. I have seen 7 year old children break a full-size board. You have enough power to do it, but do you have enough self-confidence? And can you control your mind enough to execute when you have to?

Believe it or not, breaking boards is as much or more of a mental challenge than it is a physical one. If you never had to do something you felt uncomfortable with, you wouldn't be growing as a martial artist. Give it a try- I think you will find that it is valuable in your studies. Good luck!

Answer 4

Tiles and wood don't hit back.

It is my opinion that breaking stuff is pointless. What does it prove? That you can take your time preparing to break something that isn't moving? Traditionalwise.....now if you can drop a regular board and break it as it is falling, then that's slightly different in that it shows speed rather than strength.

If your dojo/dojang doesn't require you to break, then don't break if you don't want to.

**ADDED**
Brian H.: I don't suppose you have any video of your people doing this, do you? As I've never seen people break what you are saying they've broken.

Answer 5

Breaking to me, is a tool used to measure your focus and control of inner power (tenaga dalam, chi, bio-electricity, life force, etc). The breaking within my organization is not done by brute force and the mainstream laws of physics have little to do with the process. As such, I am sure breaking within other systems can be very painful and I would be pretty opposed to the idea if I was told to just swing and give it all that I've got. I am an official member of the Merpati Putih organization where we learn to build and harness tenaga dalam, and use our energy to shield our bodies when breaking. It is not uncommon to see our members break multiple 1 inch thick clay floor tiles (in a free stand with no brace on the top), steel mill files, iron plates of varying sizes, old fashioned iron well pump handles, poured concrete at least 3 to 4 times denser than cinder brick, and plenty more. Breaking of this nature is only done once we as students are ready and have enough energy to protect ourselves. We are taught the proper techniques of shielding ourselves and also practice breaking beforehand (a double or quadruple folded belt is an excellent training tool). One of my teachers trained in multiple systems and did all kinds of break training prior to discovering this art, and one of the only things to show for that training is damaged knuckles. Now he is able to break a mine cart track (about a square inch of metal) with no pain whatsoever. In short:
Breaking in other martial arts systems that do not teach you how to build, harness, and use inner power - I think you can keep the belt. I would like to continue practicing martial arts, playing video games, writing, typing, ok I just like being able to use my hands ...period.

Breaking with your energy - One of the most fun and effective ways of measuring your focus and control. To me, there is nothing better than conquering your own personal barriers and truly believing in mind over matter when breaking something that others will tell you is impossible.

I am still in my beginning stages (about 10 months of training) and I am breaking multiple floor tiles (with both hands free standing, and the classic horizontal) and recently a 10 inch steel file.

Merpati Putih is a humanitarian, non-sectarian organization. Along with the inner power that we develope, we can learn to heal ourselves and others. There are too many benefits to list. As my teacher put it: Everybody needs Merpati Putih, they just don't know it yet. Feel free to email me with questions and I will do my best to answer, but please visit http:www.mp-usa.org before doing so.

Answer 6

At my school, we do break boards up to black belt, then at blackbelt we break cinder blocks. All I can say is that there is a whole lot of satisfaction in correctly doing a technique and breaking a board or boards. But, it is about the technique and speed. That is the real key. Faster you hit it, the more likely you are to break it. Also, remember to punch or kick through the object. I would go for it if I was you.

Answer 7

i think breaking boards is the most pointless practice in the martial art... it shows nothing.... does a person just stand there with no arms or legs to be completely defenseless? no a person moves... i have been hit by some people who can break cinder blocks but it barely left a bruise... breaking boards in the martial art is like having a soon to be parent being trained with a barbie doll...that doll is absolutly nothing like a baby...c'mon!...if my instructor told me to break a board i'd look him square in the eye and tell him what i just told you...luckly i have a good instructor, one that is practical...hey u guys training with mr. muwgai... tell me when that death touch stuff actually works...

Answer 8

Do it only for yourself and no one else. If you feel like you are ready and want to experience an amazing feeling of power and mental control, then do it. There is much satisfaction that is felt after breaking a board. I would recommend that you try it to experience this for yourself, don't worry about impressing people. But if you don't want to, its okay, but it is a good experience to have

Answer 9

At my dojo we do not break boards, but at some Isshinryu schools they do. It is never part of the belt ranking system though in a good school. It is a suplimentary exercise and a demonstration of strong hands, wrists, knuckles and correct punching technique.

Answer 10

don't waste Ur time breaking things its all 4 show and doesn't prove anything but laws of physics. make the board an inch smaller stack the bricks without space between them and they ain't going to break.