Breaking Boards

Rob Kolenc · Post by **Rob Kolenc** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:51 pm

Hi, this is my first post.
I've been working out at a club where we don't break boards. My kids and I were watching a karate video where a master was breaking boards. I think they'd get a real kick out of seeing their dad break some boards with his hand, and so would I - if I can get away with it without a major injury...

Could anyone point me to how to get started on this? Any particular techniques or things to avoid?

Thanks!
Rob

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:43 pm

The secret is you want to cut the wood in a manner that it isn't structurally sound. You want it cut so the grain is running along the short dimension of the board.

I'm not sure it's worth it. This was something used to get people excited so they would sign up. But it doesn't have much to do with traditional karate or self defense. I did this over 30 years ago when I couldn't fight my way out of a wet paper bag. I'm not sure it meant anything, other than the fact that it made me think I was accomplishing something.

There are other "tricks" involved in doing breaking. But therein lies the problem. In the end, it's smoke and mirrors.

- Bill

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:23 pm

Use a palm heel so you don't bust any fingers.
Find a good solid person to hold the boards for you.
Or put them on a solid surface with the edges held up and strike down with a palm heel.

Go see any good hand specialist at a hospital and they can tell you a million stories about stupid people breaking boards.

Proceed with caution.

F.

Griffin · Post by **Griffin** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:50 pm

I wholeheartedly agree with Bill. Breaking boards has absolutely nothing to do with Martial arts or self defense.

I very goofy 80's movie said it best:
Daniel San, "How many boards can U break?"
Mr. Miyagi, "Don't know. Never been attacked by tree."
That's right The Karate Kid.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:53 pm

I loved that movie... hahhah... the 2nd one wasn't bad either.

Now this was a goofy movie...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:58 pm

The breaking of boards and other hard objects is known as "Tameshiwari."

"Tameshiwari" requirers an advanced level of physical conditioning and an acquired mental toughness. Typically, in Uechi, 2 x 2 poles about 5' in length are broken across an extended forearm, across the mid-section, the sides of the shoulder, over the thigh and across the shin as a demonstration of advanced Sanchin conditioning.

The same 2 x 2's are broken with the Uechi toe kick. Larger boards, 2 x 4's are mounted in racks and broken with roundhouse kicks as are baseball bats. The record is about 5 bats mounted in a rack snapped with a single roundhouse.

The recent book by Alan Dollar, SECRETS OF UECHI RYU KARATE" contains many photos of Uechi masters and students participating in these breakiing demonstratins.

Dollar writes:

Uechi ryu masters are known for amazing bfreaking demonsgtrations. The extraordinary level of body conditiong developed over years of rigorous training is demonstrated by breaking boards, bricks, roof tiles, poles, two by fours, and baseball bats. ...

"The degree of body conditiong discussed here does n ot apply to children. Muscular and skeletal develoment from karate practice is good for children, makiwara training is not. Children's bones are still growing and should not be subjected to repetitive striking of hard surfaces."

Sensei Dollar also has a 3 volume video training series which shows and explains the purpose of numerous tameshiwari techniques as demonstrated by Sensei Dollar and some of his advanced students.

Volumes 1 (Sanchin) and 4 (Training & Conditiong) of Shinyu Gushi's 7 vol. video series Pangai Noon Karate show Guishi Sensei and his son among others demonstrating board breaking.

Breaking was introduced to our dojo through the teaching of Toshiyuki Itokazu, "Master Tosh" who was a senior student of Uechi Kanei Sensei and who introduced Uechi-Ryu Karate to several Florida locations in the 1970's.

Dollar also states:

The poles are cut short and the boards are cut long. An enormous amount of force, focus and technique is necessary to break wood in the humid climate of Okinawa.

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 10:42 pm

Haven't seen that one Tony.
If you run into Zatoichi the board breaking won't do you a bit of good.

Rick Wilson · Post by **Rick Wilson** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:07 am

My favourite board breaking clip is one of Alan Dollar’s done to the music of the Masochistic Tango (none of the boards broke.)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:21 am

here's another grin for you!

http://www.yangmian.com/videos/22b.wmv
http://www.yangmian.com/videos/34.wmv
http://www.yangmian.com/videos/17.wmv

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:05 am

f.Channell wrote:Haven't seen that one Tony.
If you run into Zatoichi the board breaking won't do you a bit of good.

Whats that one about Fred? Looks pretty good...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:06 am

uglyelk wrote:here's another grin for you!

http://www.yangmian.com/videos/22b.wmv
http://www.yangmian.com/videos/34.wmv
http://www.yangmian.com/videos/17.wmv

Amazing feat of strength!

Rob Kolenc · Post by **Rob Kolenc** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 1:34 pm

uglyelk wrote:here's another grin for you!

http://www.yangmian.com/videos/22b.wmv
http://www.yangmian.com/videos/34.wmv
http://www.yangmian.com/videos/17.wmv

Oj! That's very funny.
Thanks for the posts everyone.

I thought I might get some ribbing - especially given that its my first post - and this is more of a parlour trick than karate...
I get it that that I won't be attacked by trees and this won't be helpful against normal "bad guys", however I'm up against some fearsome villans that the rest of you probably don't have to mess with... like Bugs Bunny, Nintendo, and Miss Sony. I'm sparring with these guys on a regular basis to get my kids off the couch and involved in more physical activites. I've also parried with fishing and soccer, but I need more moves.

I promise to ask about more serious things next time, like sanchin breathing or the meaning of different moves in kata

The video of the guy bending a metal rod with his throat reminds me of a business seminar I once attended. The speaker had old ladies breaking arrows with their throats on stage after about a minute of coaching. Speaks to Bill's post about about it being smoke and mirrors.

Rob

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 1:36 pm

He's a blind swordsman Tony who comes into town and kicks everybodys butt. Kill Bill must have borrowed the blood pumping machine from this director.
He chops through the ocasional wall and granite lantern as well.
F.

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 2:04 pm

Just don't do like that anti-drug ad a few years back, where the karateka does several seconds of breathing and mental preparedness, only to strike the end of the board (rather than the middle) causing it to flip up and hit him in the head. Disoriented he then turns around in an en-garde pose, thinking that someone had hit him from behind.

I've got the clip saved at home, but cannot locate it on the web offhand.

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:54 pm

Found it. It's the 3rd one down, entitled "karate"
http://www.hot-blooded.com/Commercial_v ... rcials.htm

Breaking Boards

Breaking Boards

Board Breaking