Question: Is there any advice you can give me in regards to breaking bricks? In less than two weeks, I will be testing for my second degree black belt and one of the things I have to do is break two bricks. I plan on doing a hammer strike. I've been conditioning my hand for almost three months now and have noticed the tissue build up on my hand. I've been practicing the break lately, but I am not having much luck. I've tried at least 6 different bricks. I did break one, which surprised me because it seemed so easy. The other bricks I feel I am striking as hard as the one I broke, but my hand just stops and my arm vibrates all the way up to my shoulder. When I strike the brick my hand doesn't really hurt anymore, so I feel I conditioned it pretty well. I feel like I'm striking with much power and mentally I feel like I can break them, so I don't know what I am doing wrong. Renee Verg
Answer from Sang H. Kim:
Dear Renee,
It seems that you have worked very hard so far with a specific plan to prepare for your testing. So far, good job! Don't get discouraged because you are on the right track. First, aim to the center of the target or slightly above the center. Adjust your breathing - inhale when your chamber your strike and exhale explosively at the moment of impact. Remember to bring the entire weight of your body down at the moment of impact.
If you are still having difficulty, try jumping slightly with your chamber and landing on impact to increase your momentum.
Sincerely,
Sang H. Kim
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sang H. Kim is an internationally respected author of 13 martial arts books, including his new book Vital Point Strikes and the best sellers Ultimate Flexibility, Ultimate Fitness through Martial Arts, Combat Strategy and Teaching: the Way of the Master, and star of over 100 martial arts instructional DVDs and video downloads programs including Self-defense Encyclopedia, Knife-defense, Power Breathing, Junsado Training Series, and Complete Taekwondo Series.
He won the 1976 Korean National Championship and was named Instructor of the Year by the Korean government in 1983. As a special agent during his military service, he developed tactical combat methods for hand-to-hand and hand-to-weapon combat for covert operatives.
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