I have to admit it, there’s something immensely satisfying about breaking a board with your own bare hands, or feet, or other handy body part.
There’s actually a lot behind a successful board break. And also a lot behind an unsuccessful one if you take time to think about it.
To begin with, why you are doing it is important. If you’re doing it to show off then you’re probably don’t have the right mind set. Breaking a board simply to impress someone else, or yourself isn’t the purpose of a board break.
There’s a quote from Enter The Dragon by Bruce Lee at the beginning of his first match in the tournament. His opponent breaks a board on his head and Lee simply responds, “Boards do not fight back.” Breaking a board on your head just before you are about to fight someone may not be the brightest move in the world. If you’re doing it to intimidate your opponent then you probably have your priorities mixed up.
Breaking a board is used to demonstrate technique, power and focus.It is commonly done at seminars, tests and public demonstrations. They may appear easy to some but a person can create a good number of barriers between themselves and a successful board break. Completing one is quite an accomplishment.
Conner Goan Performing a flying sidekick board break.
Conner after the successful break.
There are three basic types of breaks, each with their own unique challenges. Difficulty can be increased by breaking multiple boards or combinations of breaks.
- Power Beak – Using raw power to perform the break. Examples of this are a simple hammer fist or knife hand through a board or boards supported by cinder blocks. It is interesting to note that breaking multiple boards without spacers is much more difficult than breaking more than one board separated by spacers.
- Speed Break – While speed is important in all breaks a speed break relies solely on speed and good technique. The student substitutes speed for power, going through the board fast enough to break it. The board is unsupported and can even be dropped or tossed.
- Chi Break – Possibly the hardest break to understand, the chi break uses energy built up inside to explode out of the body and break the board. The hand or foot rest lightly on the board, supported by blocks or holders and when they are ready allows their hand or other weapon to break through the board. This break requires the ability to focus and direct your energy. It may sound strange but I have done the break and the board did break.
Obstacles that prevent a student from breaking aboard other than the board itself are primarily internal. There are instances where the student doesn’t have the physical aspect to break a board – they lack the strength or have not developed enough to properly perform a certain technique. As one would guess this is usually in the younger students and it is the instructor’s responsibility to insure the students safety.
Distractions, fear, doubt, over confidence are all factors that can contribute to an unsuccessful break. Before a student performs a break I will ask them a simple question, “Are you going to break this board?” If the answer is anything other than “yes” the student and I take time to insure the student knows they can perform the break.
As an instructor I try not to let my students attempt breaks I know they cannot perform. This isn’t to say I know every break a student can and cannot do, but after doing this for over ten years there are certain breaks that I know are simply beyond certain people at certain periods in their training.
The student attempts the break and if everything comes together and if all goes well, the board breaks. If not, well the best that can be hoped for is a little embarrassment on the student’s part. Worst case is an injury. This is why any break should be performed with appropriate supervision.
The student practices the break, they bow to the teacher and . . .
“Crack!”
They’ve triumphed over fear and doubt. They have taken what they have learned and demonstrated it to themselves and others. It is immensely rewarding, especially if the break has been one that the student has been unable to do in the past. Even those watching can feel the exhilaration and triumph.
And you now have kindling for the winter months.
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