Martial Arts World

9 Comments so far (Add 1 more)

1. Yes, it is unfair, and No, is in not a necessary rule. In fact this rule should be thrown out altogether.

   The only thing that board breaking does is show off ones strength, which does not matter in a fight. Skill is the only thing that matters. A martial artist can strengthen their body through training and private practice and not show off.

   It is important to make sure that your body is strong and stable in order to not break while in a fight, but board breaking is a little overboard. Punching a heavy-bag is more than sufficient in strengthening the body.

   An opponent is not going to just sit still for you to punch them and see if they break, like a board. They move around either rolling on the ground, jumping around, bobbing and weaving, etc. So the student's skill in being able to defend themselves against opponents efficiently, is the only physical thing that should be emphasized, along with the growing level of respect, humility, and moral understanding of living the martial way.
   References :
   17+yr yudansha
   http://martialistlifestyle.blogspot.com/

   1. Aaron J on November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am

2. Breaking is something we do not practice specifically for. Yet we insist that breaking be part of testing. I was very frustrated when I was a student by this and my instructor always say if your technique is correct the three inches of pine are easy. Well now that I'm an instructor I see the value in it. Nothing says you got it right like that break. For our second dan you have to break using the three inch punch (you can substitute a palm strike). We also require speed breaks at all black belt levels.
   How the wood thickness is decided: One plate or board is equal to a rib bone, two is equal to a tibia, and three or four is similar to a thigh bone.
   I know this is hard to believe until you do it, when you get it right you won't even feel the break. What pains is failing the break, the sudden stop.
   References :
   TKD instructor

   2. SiFu frank on November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am

3. This is exactly why most American gyms gives black belts right away. Some people complains that it's unfair and too hard to do so. The reason why they're strict is because they don't want people who are not capable/unskilled to earn any black belt. Saying it's "unfair" also indicates that you don't know the real meaning of black belt. It's to indicate that you're "actually" good.
   Real Karate organizations would make the test even harder than what you have mentioned in order to earn a black belt because they don't want to make their style look bad. Yes, giving away black belts right away to unskilled practitioners are only going to give a bad name to their style. You're good, therefore you earn a black belt. Nobody gives you a black belt just to make yourself look good. My dad did that once when he was a kid. He just bought a black belt and just tied it around his waist and jogged around the neighbor. Later, his teacher found him doing that and beat him up and shaved his head and gave him a white belt and made him start all over again.

   PS: Here's an easier example. Real black belts will be irritated when they had to work real hard for the black belt and someone clearly unskilled just earns the right to wear it. Similar comparison would be the US policy that the majority disagreed to. Which was giving out free licenses to illegal immigrants. Citizens had to pay for it, take a driving test and pass it and finally earn the license. The feeling of the black belts are actually "somewhat" similar to that of the citizens' feeling of illegal immigrants earning a license for nothing.
   References :

   3. Reaper on November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am

4. "Boards don't hit back" - Bruce Lee

   I don't think breaking is that important. Yes it can be used as a measure of power, but it is mostly unnecessary. I'd prefer someone not be able to break boards but is able to defend themselves than the other way round, wouldn't you?

   I just don't think in the overall scheme of things breaking is that important. Power has its merits but I'd rather fight a strong man than a fast man.
   References :

   4. Hugh Jass on November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am

5. yes i believe so. its a test of a minimum required strength or skill that is required in obtaining the rank. If one cannot complete the feat then he is not ready. Thats why the training is so much more devalued her in the United states. We give black belts to kids who don't deserve them. Yes its hard, yes it takes training, but big deal, Continue training untill you can complete the task. I am sure one will feel much more accomplished when one can complete the task and fully earn the rank, then if it is handed to them when they dont deserve it. Just my opinion though. i respect everyones strategy.
   References :
   my own shotokan training.

   5. Chris A on November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am

6. Since when was martial arts training ever supposed to be easy?? It's actually refreshing to hear that your school does have such a rigid testing policy in place and I applaud them for that. I agree that it is tougher than what the majority of black belt candidates have to go through, but when you consider the fact that so many black belts perform at closer to a green belt level, rather than black belt level, then the rigid testing standard will help you to become a better martial artist. If your school charges testing fees though, then you should only have to pay the fee once and if for whatever reason you decided to give up (and I hope that's not the case) then the test feel should be refunded. My advice to you is to train hard and prepare to break the boards, otherwise you might want to look into a school that will promote anyone to black belt regardless of how poor their technique and conditioning might be.
   References :

   6. SilkSalt on November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am

7. Tamishiware ( breaking) is part of the curriculum in most martial arts dojo/dojang. Personally, I don't think that it should be used as the main factor to represent pass/fail aspect of a shodan test.

   Despite that fact that Tamishiwari represents the test of strenght and spirit, in my dojo we used kumite to measure a candidate ability to become a yudansha.

   Keep in mind that every school sets their own standards of excellence. It would not feel right to be critical of that school because of having a strict requirement such the Tamishiware .
   So the bottom line is that if your academy requires you to break 3 "wooden" plates, then its best that you should made every efforts to be successfull in that area.

   Good luck and hope it helps !
   References :
   Prince Loeffler
   Shugyokan Shorin Ryu Dojo
   http://www.alljapankarate.com

   7. Prince Loeffler on November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am

8. I personally prefer a teacher to tell me I can't test if I can't do the techniques correctly. I don't want to pass just because. Breaking is a way to prove you have all the aspects of the technique you are doing right. Hips, shoulders, torso, all twisting as one, the arm extending and wrist twisting into position as one with the rest of it. Proper breathing with the exhale coming at the right time. If the point of impact matches all of these things together the boards should take care of themselves. Breaking any less then that you could probably get away with some of that not coordinating. Just my opinion on it.
   References :

   8. Big Dog on November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am

9. First off I am not into breaking defenseless wood or brick. I have never met a brick or tree that has ever jumped out and attacked me, so I guess I'm not the one to answer but I will anyway. IF your style has req. that are to be met then they need to be met, period. If your style requires you to break these things to gain a rank then so be it. I do not think it is unfair to req. this to be done and done right, if it is part of the test. In truth this is just a mental challenge for those who seek the "black belt". As far as hard, I do not think this is abnormally hard request to gain such a rank. I've heard and seen a lot worse. I'd say that it is not necessary as far as real life skills but it seems that your style finds it necessary when testing so suck it up and drive on. Anyone can do such a thing with a little skill and the mind set that you will. Just as a side note, or question. are there spacers? Reason I ask is I do not train or practice breaking skills, at all, but I can break eight cement patio slabs (with spacers). And I don't even train in such things. If I can do that then someone who trains, should be able to go through 3inches of wood. But there again I admit I do not train those skills so I may be wrong. My brother trains breaking and I goof around with him sometimes.
   References :

   9. Zenshin Academy on November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am