Rebreakable Boards--Which One?

[Cross_Trainer]

Although I box rather than do Eastern martial arts, board-breaking strikes me as a potentially useful method of power measurement. While I have experience in throwing punches, I have no background in breaking boards--although I intend to use bag gloves (as you see below) and handwraps to prevent hand injury.

http://www.karatedepot.com/catalog/images/items/bx-bg-10.jpg

I am about 150 pounds, and a somewhat harder-than-average puncher for my size. What thickness equivalent would you recommend I get?

Thanks!

[patusai]

I would not use the gloves. There is a metal bar in the grips which would give you an unrealistic assessment of your power. You don't need gloves to break a board. My 12 year old daughter can break a board.

As for power 12x12 inc boards 1 inch think -- three of them, no spacers held for you by two people so that they move less when you strike and have a better chance to go through them. Once you do this have only one person hold the three boards (one small step up from that).

Again, board breaking is not that big of a deal. It is impressive to those watching but less than impressive if the gloves that you mentioned are used.

Personally I would train so that my punches hit a heavy bag with such force that they knock the guy holding the bag for you back or, better yet, on his can!

[Meguro]

If your not accustomed to punching without wraps and gloves, do yourself a favor and condition your hands. Get a hand gripper and strengthen your grip and forearms. Do knuckle push-ups. Learn to punch with the two big knuckles. That being said, stay away from breakable boards.

[lordtariel]

That being said, stay away from breakable boards.

Is there really a significant difference?

[Meguro]

I can't speak about all rebreakable boards, but I have bad memories of one. I don't recall the brand, but it was a coffee colored dense plastic. The board's halves locked together in the center. Smack it on the seam and it will break. In that sense it's just like breaking a board with the grain.

The thing is, it does not feel like a wooden board. It is very dense. It's like hitting two inch thick, moist oak. Hit it off-center and it may not break. Instead you might injure your hand or foot. A wooden board will snap. A breakable board flexes until the seam gives way.

[bushido_man96]

When you break boards, you have to make sure to follow through. I know boxers have good power, but you may need to work on that follow through. As others have said, skip the gloves.

Also, I would just go the local lumberyard and tell them that you want boards cut for karate breaking. More than likely they will know what you are talking about, and will cut them for you. Traditionally, pine is used, #3 I think. But some may use different.

[aefibird]

If you're gonna have a go at board breaking then use wood, rather than re-breakables. re-breakable boards are good the first time you use them but each time they are broken it wears out the join.

Also, make sure that the wod you choose is dry and as free from blemishes as you can get it. Break with the grain, rather than away from it and start easily and work up - start with one board and work up to two, three, four.

You can get metal board holders that you mount onto the wall, this means that you don't need someone to hold them for you every time.

Finally, don't break with gloves on, especially the ones that have a metal grip bar in them (like the ones show above).

If you really want to use board breaking as part of your training routine, then ask at a local TKD centre. The instructor may be willing to give you some private lessons to show you the basics. Better to get a lesson or two than try it at home and end up injuring yourself.

[bushido_man96]

aefibird makes some good points about breaking with the grains. If you are going to do a horizontal punch, line the grain horizontally. If you break with a verical punch, run the grain vertically.

[Brandon Fisher]

I refuse to use rebreakable boards. To easy to injure yourself. Also stay away from breaking with gloves like that its a false sense of accomplishment. I broke 2in patio block with a punch through the metro yellow pages which actually weakens the strike.

[bushido_man96]

I refuse to use rebreakable boards. To easy to injure yourself. Also stay away from breaking with gloves like that its a false sense of accomplishment. I broke 2in patio block with a punch through the metro yellow pages which actually weakens the strike.

COOL!