Things You'll Need:
- Martial arts practice board
- 12-inch by 12-inch pine boards
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Step 1
Consider wrapping your arm just below the elbow or wearing a long-sleeved shirt or karate top to protect your skin from scratches or gouges when the board breaks.
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Step 2
Start with the practice martial arts board. You can use this board repeatedly while perfecting your strike, putting it back together after every break. Save the pine boards for tests and demonstrations.
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Step 3
Ask your assistant to hold the board firmly in front of him at shoulder height with both of his arms fully extended. He should brace his body by standing with one foot in front of the other, and he must hold the board with one hand on the top and one on the bottom. Make sure the grain of the wood runs horizontally.
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Step 4
Position yourself in front of the board with a solid fighting stance. For this break, you will use your elbow or rather, the large bone of the forearm just in front of your elbow. This bone is directly in line with your upper arm bone and you will generate a powerful impact. Avoid using the point of your elbow when striking.
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Step 5
Step forward quickly with the foot opposite your striking arm. If you are using your right elbow, step forward with your left foot. Immediately bring your elbow strike in towards the target. This should be one swift movement.
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Step 6
Strike the board in the middle and focus your impact at least 6 inches past the surface of the board. In this way, you will ensure that your strike goes through the board and doesn't stop on the surface. It takes practice and concentration to get the hang of this feeling.
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Step 7
Retract your arm quickly. The forward elbow strike is difficult to pull back immediately because your shoulder is committed to the action but recover as quickly as possible and assume your defensive stance.
