How to Break Bricks With Your Hand

Everyone is familiar with the image of the karate student breaking bricks with his fists. It can take years for martial-arts students to learn how to break bricks with their bare hands, but there are methods to make it easier for them. It's common for modern martial-arts tournaments to hold brick-breaking challenges. However, you should not try to break bricks with your bare hands without proper training. You risk serious injury otherwise.

Instructions

1. Select a dry brick. Moisture in the body of a brick will absorb impact and make it harder to break. Bake the brick in an oven at 350 degrees for at least one hour and up to two if you have any doubt about whether it is fully dry (baking bricks also makes them more brittle and easier to break).

2. Set up the brick with one end leaning on raised solid ground and the other on top of another brick. With one side more absorbent over the other, the brick will crack in more places. Make sure the top of the brick is level.

3. Line up a fist with the top of the brick. Lay the fist on the brick flat from the knuckle to the first finger joint. Practice the movement of punching the brick and the fist landing flat against the brick. Make sure the wrist and elbow are completely straight when connecting with the brick.

4. Punch the brick when ready. Keep the arm stiff and straight when making contact. Punch as hard as possible and keep the punch going straight down even after contact to punch "through" the brick. Exhale when punching.

Tips & Warnings

• Most martial arts practitioners study for years before breaking bricks. Don't be discouraged quickly.

• Breaking brinks with your hand is very dangerous.

• Consult a physician before starting any exercise regimen, including martial arts.

References

• Healers Alliance: Using Martial Arts To Break Bricks
• Heavy Fists: Why Karate Guys Can Break Brickshttp://heavyfists.com/karate-break-brick