TKD Breaking Competition: Have you noticed . . .

[Ottman]

Have you noticed that breaking competition has fallen in quality recently? Don't know who competes out there, but I love breaking, and I've noticed that even at the black belt level, the traditional inch thick pine boards are being replaced with some 1/4 inch balsa wood junk alternative specifically so that these crazy aerial techniques with flips and cartwheels and 720's can be preformed and the board still be broken. Strangely enough, the guys using the real boards and real techniques always seem to win anyways. This is why I love the judges in TKD competitions (at least the ones I've been to) they're not buying it. Having officiated, I know that the criteron behind judging board breaking always gives precidence to the guy who breaks the most wood (or cinder or whatever) no matter how much flare, flips and spins he/she uses. Difficulty of technique comes next, then maybe flare at a far distant third. Of course, if these high flyers were to start breaking real boards (and lots of them) then I'd be in trouble, but I have yet to see that happen. Anyone have any words on this?

[Kicks]

Anyone have any words on this?

ditto

[krzychicano]

Well I don't know much about board breaking but I am glad to see that it is based on technique and not on flash because then it loses something in the process....just my 2 cents.

[The Saint]

well put, flash is trash.

[tufrthanu]

Well I would just like to say that as far as board breaking goes we should admire a group of people that get no recognition...the holder. A good percentage of a breaks success resides with the holder. If they give even a fraction of an inch the boards, bricks, will not break. Also I would like to say I saw an awesome creative break once. The guy, I think his name is chip something, had put 2 cinder blocks vertically next to each other on the floor, one of those concreat lego type block things on top of those, and two more concrete slabs standing vertically on that. He then proceeded to break the lower pair with a side kick, rechambered and as the pair on top started to fall due to the loss of their base he did another side kick and broke those.

[Ottman]

Well I would just like to say that as far as board breaking goes we should admire a group of people that get no recognition...the holder.

 

Absolutely. The holders are invaluable to success.

[scottnshelly]

Not meaning to go off of the subject too much here...

 

I've been to a lot of national and international tournaments, but never bothered watching the breaking competitions. I did watch at a local level though.

 

I always saw the same breaks, mainly elbow drop or forearm smash on as many bricks as possible.

 

What is the most obscure break you've ever seen? also, has anyone here ever seen anyone that studied the iron palm do anything cool?

[Kicks]

What is the most obscure break you've ever seen?

 

We have a senior instructor, he's in his mid to upper 60s, that does a back hand slap (open hand) through several boards. I think 3, but could be 5. He gets down on one knee, and with out a warm up just back hand slaps the boards. Wham! Broken!

[Ottman]

Most obscure break: Stand on one foot, do a side kick through 2 boards and a punch through 2 boards at the same time, starting one inch away from the boards.

[mattyj]

well put, flash is trash.

 

well put.

 

it may just be my observation... but wtf (what ud usually see on tv) dont seem to have actual power test competitions and their breaking is just exhibitional? (balsa wood, flips etc)

 

i dont know if theres a video of it anywhere on the net... but nz's very own graham paterson (itf) does some awesome breaking. (not flashy, basic techniques - just incredibly powerful) It earned him the title of 'the man' at the ITF taekwondo world's