Chopping Wood

This section of the site shows various demonstrations involving wood breaking.  This is popular at demonstrations, but is also used for grading a practitioner's performance.  Specially designed pine boards are used.  It is said that one of the reasons that martial artists break wood is one of tradition.  Long ago, warriors wore wooden armour, so warriors needed to practice a way to break through the "armour".  Wood breaking is spectacular at demonstrations, but in my opinion "overdone".  I now find it much more interesting to see martial artists smash tiles or bricks, or break balloons, but wood breaking is a great grading tool, as it shows a student's abilities.

Board Breaking Photos:

Board Breaking Clips: