Things You'll Need:
- Practice board
- 12 by 12 inch white pine boards, 1 inch thick.
- Assistant to hold board
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Step 1
Practice the strike you will use to break the board. If you plan to punch the board, the most common strike is the Reverse Punch, where your fist begins close to your body and twists just before impact. Use a punching bag before trying it on a board.
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Step 2
Concentrate on your withdrawal. In order to make the punch "snap," you must withdraw it very quickly. If your withdrawal is slow, you will end up with a pushing motion and the board will not break.
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Step 3
Have your assistant hold the practice board, suspended from the top. His fingers should stay away from the center of the board to prevent injury. Ask him to hold the board firmly. A practice board is made from a composite material and can be broken and put back together an indefinite number of times.
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Step 4
Punch through the board as opposed to punching on the surface. Imagine a spot six inches past the board and concentrate on that spot when you punch.
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Step 5
Generate speed with your punch. More important than power is the speed at which you punch. A slow punch will only push the board. Remember to utilize your quick withdrawal to increase your speed.
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Step 6
Switch to the pine boards. When you're breaking a wooden board, it is important to hold the board so the wood grain is parallel to the assistant's hand. If your assistant is holding the board from the top edge, the wood grain should be horizontal.
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Step 7
Break the board just as you did the practice board. As long as your punch is fast and your assistant holds the board still, it will break.
