Comments on: The Physics of Martial Arts: Breaking Boards

By: Howard B

Howard B — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:30:59 +0000

Don,
I agree generally with your statement, and I appreciate the equations.
I studied marshall arts almost 50 years ago. Yun Mu Quan (flower style)
taught by a former Shao Lin monk.
We had a weekend seminar- practice, sitting, lots of sparring, and board
breaking. We had to break 2- 1 x 6 inch pine boards using our chi.
My method of accessing my chi was through visualization, to keep seeing me
doing it overr and over. Just before my turn, I decided to change my aim point to a few inches behind the boards.
That had the effect of increasing my arm speed, and I shattered those boards,
as well as sending the two black belts holding the boards flying backwards
about 10 feet. They could not believe it- the Master was doubled over
laughing.
Having done this I appreciate the physics to further understand.
Chi is amazing and real.
Howard B

By: Danuta Drish

Danuta Drish — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 17:21:56 +0000

Howdy! This is my first visit to your blog!We are a team
of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a commujity in the same niche.
Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have
done a outstanding job!

By: Some Basic But Important Fine Points in Performing Taiji Forms | Don Tow's Website

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:04:33 +0000

[…] In general your elbows are almost never completely straight and locked, including the elbow of your striking hand. This is because you want your striking hand to penetrate your opponent; you don’t want your striking hand to stop or slow down significantly when it reaches your opponent’s body. Because the energy transfer from your striking hand to your opponent’s body is proportional to the square of your hand’s velocity, you want that velocity to be as large as possible. If your striking hand is completely straight or your elbow is locked when it reaches the opponent’s body, then at that point the striking hand’s velocity is zero or near zero. From a health perspective, a slightly bent elbow also makes the hand more relax. Aiming to penetrate your opponent’s body with your striking arm (or leg) is the same reason that in breaking boards one aims below the board (for more discussion about breaking boards, see my website article “The Physics of Martial Arts: Breaking Boards.”) […]

By: Don Tow » Blog Archive » Underlying Foundations of Taiji Movements: Perspective from Martial Applications

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:08:45 +0000

[…] To maximize the force of a strike, the Taiji practitioner wants his hand (fist or palm) to penetrate the body of his opponent, i.e., the hand doesn’t stop upon contact with the body of the opponent. This means that the arm is not fully extended (or the elbow is still slightly bent) upon contact with the opponent. Otherwise, his hand would be slowing down when getting close to the opponent’s body, thus reducing the force of his strike. This is the same reason that in breaking boards, the martial artist aims his strike at a point that is below the board. (For an explanation of breaking boards, see my archived article “The Physics of Martial Arts: Breaking Boards“.) […]