Taking Board Breaking to the Next Level
Board breaking can be a feared portion of martial arts training, or it can be the most enticing part. The planning of a board breaking training regimen is what determines whether you will love it or fear it. The following information is meant to bring board breaking into a whole new light as well as encourage you to take on new challenges.
The A, B, C’s of Board Breaking
Types of board breaks:
- Single breaks – when you are using only one board. For example: front kick through one board.
- Multiple breaks – additional boards to a break. For example: front kick through two boards.
- Rapid breaks – continuous board breaking repeatedly; ongoing board breaking using one technique. For example: single break front kick 5 times in a row.
- Progressive breaks – breaking with the same technique, but with a stronger board strength each time. For example: single break front kick through 3 different strengths of boards.
- Combat breaks – breaking at several different stations with several types of breaks at each station at random, or pre-selected.
Additions to each type of break:
- Jumps – any type of jump kick. For ex: 180’s, 360’s, 540’s, 720’s, double (two techniques at once), triple (three techniques in one jump), quadruple (4 techniques in one jump), and back flip kicks.
- Obstacles – jumping over targets and breaking board with hand or foot.
- Spins – any type of turn kick.
- Blindfold – breaking while blindfolded.
- Supported speed break – when the holder holds the board on both ends out to the side.
- Unsupported/ speed – when the board holder only holds one side or portion of a board.
- Insteps – kicking with the instep of the foot.