Tae Kwon Do Board Breaking Basics
Resolving Problems by Getting Your Distance
Pushing and bouncing are two issues that are commonly encountered when a tae kwon do student attempts to break boards. Both these problems often share a similar root cause – failure to stand the correct distance from the target.
This article is intended for any martial arts practitioner who has the supervision of a qualified instructor. This information is applies equally when breaking wood boards and plastic re-breakable boards.
Bouncing Off the Board
The most common problem when learning how to break is bouncing off the board when attempting to break it. There are two root causes to this problem. The first is standing the wrong distance from the board; the second is recoiling too early.
If you are standing too far away, your arm will not be able to extend far enough to break the board, resulting in a bounce or a hand slapping the board. Distance problems usually do not hurt because the striker is too far from the board to have much impact. A slapping sound and slight reddening of the palm or foot also indicates a distance issue.
The second cause of bouncing off the board is recoiling instead of accelerating through the board. Instead of driving the force through the board, the striker recoils and the energy is dispersed. Recoil is caused by a fear of hurting a hand or foot. The way to overcome this is to know that it is less painful to break the board than to fail.
When a practitioner is learning to break they should never recoil. Instead they should always accelerate through the board. Recoil is easy to spot because the hand jerks away from the board at the point of impact. Recoil can even cause the board to be missed entirely. If the striker recoils after contacting the board, a stinging sensation will accompany the striking surface (hand or foot) as it retreats from the board.
Pushing the Board
Pushing the board is another common issue with beginning breakers. Pushing the board results in the holder’s arms bending or their whole body being pushed back. Like bouncing off a board, pushing also has two common causes. The first is again distance, and the second is lack of acceleration.
If the striker is standing too close to the board when attempting to break, the arm cannot extend fully. When the hand reaches the board, the striker will push in an attempt to follow through. Pushing may or may not hurt, depending on the striker’s mass compared to the holder’s. If the holder does not move during a hand technique, pushing can result in a jammed wrist.
Standing too close is the most common reason for failure to break with all kicks. When kicking, the striker should stand a little farther back than they feel is necessary. A kick can always be extended by rotating the hips. When striking, the striker should resist the urge to step or scoot forward. This is often the reason for distance being off when kicking.
If the distance is correct and the striker is still pushing the board, there may be a failure to accelerate smoothly. This comes from an attempt to strike harder at the point of impact. The result is pushing instead of striking, dispersing the energy of the strike. To rectify this issue, the striker must accelerate smoothly throughout the strike.
Improved Breaking Techniques
Distance, acceleration and follow-through are all important parts of breaking. Learning to perfect these techniques will result in clean breaks every time.
Doug Noël: palm heel break; Mike Pruett holder
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