capn_midnight Posted March 2, 2003 Posted March 2, 2003 I like to look at the example of Muay Tai kick boxing. These guys have some of the most powerful kicks, and they block them solidly with their shins, which doesn't have any muscle on top of it. Yet, their shin bones don't break (most of the time. When they do, it's from stress fractures from repeated abuse). These same shin kicks are used to break baseball bats. So, using wood to train us to break bones is rediculous, in my opinion. About the baseball bat break. I broke my first bat at age 8. I hit a baseball along with the grain of the bat. Bats are very week with the grain, but very strong against the grain. The baseball bat break is always with the grain, and is only impressive to people who don't play baseball and people who haven't studied physics. Arguing with an engineer is like mud wrestling a pig. After a few hours, you realize they both like it.
DokterVet Posted March 2, 2003 Posted March 2, 2003 "board breaking to me is usless im in shotokan and we will never break boards boards dont hit back" I think this argument is flawed. Air doesn't hit back, so why do you punch and kick the air? Katas must be useless because the air doesn't hit back. Not every excersize needs to perfectly simulate a fighting situation, just a few/one particular aspect(s) to focus on. I don't break more than once a year, and when I do it's just for demonstration, but I think it is useful in demonstrating the stability of your striking hand/foot/whatever, and testing your aim and power. I think it is more of a benchmark test than an excersize. (like a max bench. Doing it doesn't make you stronger, but it measures whether or not your training has increased your strength). The board break 'tests' your accuracy, focus, and power. That said, I play guitar, and can't risk hurting my hands, so I don't push myself in board breaking. I think the risks outway the benefits in my case- because I need my hands for other things. But the logic in discounting breaking entirely because they don't hit back is flawed. 22 years oldShootwrestlingFormerly Wado-Kai Karate
Maestro Posted March 2, 2003 Posted March 2, 2003 "Air doesn't hit back." Well said, I like that. Might as well take my advice--I don't use it anymore.
TKDLadyInSC Posted March 2, 2003 Posted March 2, 2003 Interesting point capn_midnight. This brings up another factor in bone strength. Muay Thai fighters condition their shins with repetitive strikes. Generally, this does not cause a break in the bone, but does cause trauma to the bone, creating calcification. Kind of like if you break you ribs, once they have healed (years down the road, not immediately after healing), their calcification makes them stronger than they originally were. 1st Degree Black BeltTaeKwonDo
ZR440 Posted March 3, 2003 Posted March 3, 2003 I'd rather just drink more milk. It's happy hour somewhere in the world.
Shotokan_Fighter Posted March 3, 2003 Author Posted March 3, 2003 very good point on the air dont hit back i like that and it makes sense "When I fight, I fight with my heart,and soul. My heart, and soul is Shotokan Karate."Shotokan_fighters creed"karate has to come natural in a fight, if you have to think about using karate in a fight, you will loose the fight"3rd kyu brown belt - shotokan karate
DokterVet Posted March 3, 2003 Posted March 3, 2003 Good stuff. I don't think board breaking is essential, but I think it definately has its uses. 22 years oldShootwrestlingFormerly Wado-Kai Karate
Ti-Kwon-Leap Posted March 10, 2003 Posted March 10, 2003 Boards don't hit back and incidentally people who have been snapped in half don't either. Ti-Kwon-Leap"Annoying the ignorant since 1961"
ZR440 Posted March 11, 2003 Posted March 11, 2003 Boards don't hit back, but if the person who is supposed to spin heel kick a board in half misses and crushes your thumb it's just as bad as if they did hit back. It's happy hour somewhere in the world.
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