BREAKING FREE
The power of the empty hand is synonymous with martial arts. As we all know, that power is often the product of endless encounters with padded posts and sand-filled buckets, after which it’s frequently tested on boards, bricks and concrete slabs. The art of breaking goes by many names, including tameshiwari in Japan and gyeok pa in Korea. But just how important is this traditional practice for martial artists in the 21st century?
This article will help you answer that question for yourself by looking at both sides of the issue through the eyes of experts.
OPINIONS
MARTIAL ARTIST: Leif Becker
ART: tang soo do
RANK: fifth-degree black belt
Leif Becker never met a piece of wood he didn’t want to break. He holds multiple world records in all sorts of endeavors related to smashing boards and blocks, and he’s built a business on his success.
While his demonstrations are certainly entertaining, he insists that mastering the art of breaking is an integral component of martial arts training. “I think the greatest attribute that breaking brings to individual martial artists is what it teaches them beyond the break itself, which is the study and practice of proper body mechanics,” he said.
