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September 4

Breaking boards

(Follow-up to a question at the science ref desk) What kind of wood(s) is (are) used for breaking by martial arts schools, especially karate schools? When I broke boards for my black belt test (a long time ago, because I've changed dojos after that and my new dojo doesn't do breaking at all), I remember that the boards were light in color and unfinished, but I don't know what kind of wood it was -- does anyone have more precise info? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:4E8:FDC:7D20:30AB (talk) 05:26, 4 September 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Board breaking is something they use to give little kids more confidence, it is not a real training technique. People tend to use pine; it is cheap and easy to break. Dry, Eastern White Pine, pine. Pine is weaker and easier to split when dry and brittle. You can cook your boards in the oven before striking them (or simply store them for a long time in dry conditions). The instructors can hold the board so that there is tension already in the board. Another option is using spacers between boards, they make it a lot easier (ask your local physics teacher). Make sure the board is split parallel with the grain. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 07:56, 4 September 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Sometimes, the board is a rebreakable board. There are lots of these around for martial arts training. --Jayron 32 00:42, 5 September 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Let's see them try to break a breaker bar. StuRat (talk) 20:38, 6 September 2017 (UTC) [reply]