Breaking
Breaking demonstrations are given for many reasons. One reason is to show a certain level of skill and strength. They are also used as a type of test in order to show a student’s readiness to advance to the next level of training. Another, rarely mentioned, use is the power these demonstrations hold over an audience. Awed by the demonstration, people may be motivated to become a member of the school, aware an untrained person attempting to break a board or brick could suffer serious injury. The three main points to breaking are: (1) POINT OF FOCUS AND SPEED (2) STRIKING SURFACE (3) BODY MASS POINT OF FOCUS AND SPEED: It is important that your hand move as fast as possible before you hit the object you intend to break. In order to achieve maximum speed you need to focus past the object to ensure your speed does not slow before the point of impact. Confidence is a big factor. If you do not have confidence in your self or are afraid of getting hurt you will hesitate and slow down. It is imperative you believe your hand or foot is going to pass right through your object. STRIKING SURFACE: The striking surface is defined by what you are attempting to break and what you chose to break with. If you are using your hand to break a board (whether it be one or many) start lightly: raise your arm up slowly and, using the fleshy part of your knife hand, focus on hitting the board along its natural grain. Make contact dead center on the board snapping your wrist and pointing your fingers up at the point of impact. BODY MASS: Getting your body mass behind your strike is also a must. This is done by lowering your center of gravity, pushing with your legs and snapping your hips. Combining these three ideas will put you well on the way to breaking. But remember, this section only touches the basics. There are many more keys to breaking: distance, position, striking angle, breathing, chi force, timing, aim, impact force and ending force, important elements which require proper preparation.
Breaking demonstrations are given for many reasons. One reason is to show a certain level of skill and strength. They are also used as a type of test in order to show a student’s readiness to advance to the next level of training. Another, rarely mentioned, use is the power these demonstrations hold over an audience. Awed by the demonstration, people may be motivated to become a member of the school, aware an untrained person attempting to break a board or brick could suffer serious injury. The three main points to breaking are: (1) POINT OF FOCUS AND SPEED (2) STRIKING SURFACE (3) BODY MASS POINT OF FOCUS AND SPEED: It is important that your hand move as fast as possible before you hit the object you intend to break. In order to achieve maximum speed you need to focus past the object to ensure your speed does not slow before the point of impact. Confidence is a big factor. If you do not have confidence in your self or are afraid of getting hurt you will hesitate and slow down. It is imperative you believe your hand or foot is going to pass right through your object. STRIKING SURFACE: The striking surface is defined by what you are attempting to break and what you chose to break with. If you are using your hand to break a board (whether it be one or many) start lightly: raise your arm up slowly and, using the fleshy part of your knife hand, focus on hitting the board along its natural grain. Make contact dead center on the board snapping your wrist and pointing your fingers up at the point of impact. BODY MASS: Getting your body mass behind your strike is also a must. This is done by lowering your center of gravity, pushing with your legs and snapping your hips. Combining these three ideas will put you well on the way to breaking. But remember, this section only touches the basics. There are many more keys to breaking: distance, position, striking angle, breathing, chi force, timing, aim, impact force and ending force, important elements which require proper preparation.