How to Use Karate to Break a Board
If you're wondering if you're strong and fast enough to break a board, you might be surprised.
You Will Need
- 12-in. long, 3/4-in. thick pine boards
- Partner
- Pencils
- 2 cinder blocks (optional)
- Visualization techniques (optional)
- Plastic training board (optional)
Steps
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Attempting to break boards is potentially dangerous and may result in injury. Try it at your own risk and use caution, especially if you are not formally trained.
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Step 1
Get the right wood
Use a board with grain that runs the width of the board instead of the length.
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It will take practice to gain the strength, speed, and accuracy you'll need. A plastic training board can help you before you try to break an actual board.
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Step 2
Get a partner
Have someone hold the wood lengthwise at either end with their arms extended and feet apart, ready to take the force of the blow.
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If you don't have a partner, set the board between two cinder blocks.
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Step 3
Position yourself
Stand with your dominant foot forward, hand balled into a fist.
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Visualize hitting an imaginary point a few inches behind the center of the board so you will follow through instead of stopping at the board.
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Step 4
Warm up
Practice making several blows without actually hitting the board to warm up.
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Step 5
Strike
Pull back your arm and tighten your core. Then strike through the board with the heel of your hand or the side of your fist.
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Step 6
Stack multiple boards
Stack two or more boards separated by pencils and break them using the same technique.
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Step 7
Side kick it
Learn to break the board with your foot. Execute a side kick by standing sideways, kicking your leg straight out, and landing your heel in the center of the board.
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Karate champion Leif Becker broke 415 boards in 1 minute on David Letterman's television show in 2004. He's since broken his own record with 487 boards in a single minute.
