Breaking

[blackbelt22]

I am 15 years old and i can break 8 scalloped bricks with spacers and my sensei thinks i can do 10.Is this good?

[angus88]

For a 15 year old? Maybe.

And not to be a killjoy, but if you're going to get into breaking, do it without the spacers. It's a much better indication of form.

[orion82698]

Without spacers? OMG....

[blackbelt22]

yeah my sensei wants me to start doing it without spacers once i get ten with them

[karatekid1975]

I agree. Try it without spacers. With spacers, it's a bit easier. But much harder without them (I should know, I broke my hand trying without spacers ..... not that many either).

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Not wanting to be a killjoy or party pooper here, but at 15 years of age, you're still growing and your bones are still forming. Breaking one board is one thing, but what you're talking about can cause PERMANENT damage to your bones or joints. Are your parents aware of what you're doing?

[SANCHIN31]

Not wanting to be a killjoy or party pooper here, but at 15 years of age, you're still growing and your bones are still forming. Breaking one board is one thing, but what you're talking about can cause PERMANENT damage to your bones or joints. Are your parents aware of what you're doing?

+1

[yamesu]

Shorinryu Sensei hit the mark IMO.

I woulnt even start teaching breaking to a student until they were at least 16 years old.

[karate kid 1]

thats pretty kool but i go along with wot Shorinryu Sensei says

[angus88]

I have to half-agree/half-disagree with Shorinryu Sensei. It depends.

A downward chop break doesn't "work" your hands the way a straight punch does. A chop break is 100% form. This kind of breaking is perfectly safe for a teenager or even younger. Of course if you do the form wrong, you can break your hand. But karate is not exactly basketweaving. Bones break, bruises happen, etc.

For a straight punch, however, you really ought to work your knuckles first. Form is still involved, but as I said - you should work on your hand a little first. And it's working the knuckles that can do irreparable damage to a growing hand. Those kinds of breaks should not be tried until the bones in your hand stop growing.

So in my opinion, it depends on the break.