Breaking bricks

[Mu Ryuk]

They're real. I'm sure there are ways to make them easier to break, though.

[Squawman]

I've done 4 which isn't too hard. it's all about technique. You use patio blocks which are about 8 inches wide by 18 inches long and about 2 inches thick. Plus you put spacers between the bricks at the ends. Thats the big secret because once you break the first one then it's force helps break the rest. We do it for a fund raiser every year and if the students donate enough money we light the bricks on fire its great for a demo.

My instructor said the most impresive brick break he ever saw was his instructor break a house brick with a knife hand strike while it was sitting on the palm of his hand. He blew the top of the brick off and the bottom didn't even move.

[JusticeZero]

It's real. Though certainly not easy to do, it's not as hard as it appears to be to a layperson. There's physics and such involved. It's a challenging feat that calls for precision, focus, and good body dynamics but which, because of people's perception of the materials and such involved, looks downright superhuman. In ways it falls into a similar category as ripping phone books in half in that regard.

Once you've learned the focus, precision, etc. and as long as you are able to maintain those aspects - which is a reason to practice breaking - it's mainly great for convincing the yokels that you're Goku, Johnny Cage, and Dhalsim wrapped up in one, IMHO. =)

I don't break, by the way, i've already had enough people get angry at me for denying magical mystical supernatural powers in doing basic tumbling without actually -trying- to do something that appears superhuman in public.

[Sam]

Granmasterchen - thinking of getting more into breaking so would be very appreciative if you could send me some details on training techniques, and regime for conditioning, etc.

Thanks.

Back on topic - there are a lot of breaks you see that seem impossible [like a foundation support brick] but actually arent, ive seen these done, and even attempted to break on before the guy went on to break it in 2.... so i was pretty sure it was real.

I imagine there are people out there [as always] who do fake difficult breaks - there was one person i remember[no names] who tried bullet proof glass in paris but actually used a different plastic compound which breaks much easilier.

Anyway my point is yes people can and do break bricks [and lots of them] but also be wary of demonstrations where it looks 2 easy .... remember theyre still bricks.

[frightmaster]

I was instructed that breaking wood is about the same as breaking bones in a fight. It is MOSTLY used to demonstrate how well a student focuses as well as follows instructions from thier master and knows how to use its art. When breaking a brick it is the perfect execution of a move (that is if you do not want it to hurt). I have heard that my school does bricks for the 1st Dan test but we are not permitted to attend unless already a black belt. As for me, I love to break and I do hope to get that chance to confront a brick. I use this type of test to show myself how well I am able to perform my art.

[Sam]

frightmaster - you have to remember when breaking it is a performance [im not saying you dont].

Im just saying that breaking is and always will be a test of focus and technique under conditions you control.... thats why i think its good for practice but only trains you in certain parts of MA.... i really do advocate its practice though.