Posts Tagged ‘Karate Students’
A person goal of mine has been to break a board with a one inch punch. Is the one inch punch a fact or a myth? Bruce Lee popularized the term when he perfected the mechanics of this punch. Many have demonstrated it since that time. But just because it exists does not mean that it is easy to do.
So, what is a one inch punch?
Board Breaking is a good test of your power and technique
Any adult black belt should be able to break a board with a punch. It’s not that hard to do. That is, if you do it right. If you don’t do it right, it hurts. A LOT. You might even break a bone in your hand.
Now a normal punch starts from the chambered position or just pulled back by your ear like a boxer. When you punch you put every part of your body into the punch. Your fist, shoulder, hips and even your foot as you push your way through the board.
A one inch punch is different. The idea is to hold your fist one inch from the board. Then without pulling your hand back (winding up) drive your first through the board. What this takes is a perfect alignment of the body and the proper use of hip torque to drive your entire body wait through the board with very little movement. It is a perfect example of economy of motion and energy used in karate and other Martial Arts.
OK that is the theory. In reality its more like a 3 or 4 inch punch. The way you set it up is to place your extended finger tip right on the board. Then rather than drawing back you simple fold your hand into a fist just before you make contact with the board.
Here at Ward’s Family Karate in Colorado Springs we do not require our students to break boards or bricks. However, I may consider making this available to advanced students. Karateka (karate students) often wonder how much damage their punch or kick could do. Of course the real test is what happens when you hit a person! Karateka are generally peaceful people. Even though karate and other martial arts may look violent, the practitioners of karate seek peaceful solutions over violent solutions. Think of it as “armed deterrence”. We don’t like to use violence but the threat of it is always there.
Breaking boards does provide a non violent method of putting striking power to the test. Let me repeat this here. Done wrong this can be a very painful test!
That being said I have found board breaking an intriguing way not only to test the power of ones punch or other strike but also a valuable tool to refine the striking effectiveness.
One of my goals has been to perfect my technique in order to break a one inch board with a one inch punch. It has always eluded me, ending in my fist striking the board with a very unpleasant and even painful THUD!
Today was different. Today the technique was properly applied and the board broke.
Another goal of mine has been to break a suspended board. That is a board not being held by someone or something. This could be dangled from a string or simply balanced on edge.
Well today I achieved that goal as well breaking a board free standing.
Too make things even sweeter I broke the free standing board with a one inch punch.
Unfortunately I did not have my video camera with me to record this. We did think about this but the camera was at home. However I do have a witness. Chet, one of my assistant instructors was with me. So feel free to ask Chet about it.
I was fortunate that Chet was there. He made an interesting observation. He had positioned himself directly to the side of the board. He stated that my fist did not go through board. This is consistent with what I felt as I hit the board. Rather than driving my hand through the board like I mentioned above as a boxer might do I only drive my hand into the board.
This had the effect of transferring all of the energy of the punch directly into the board. If I had tried to punch through the board I might of actually pushed the board away without breaking it. The end result was that the board essentially exploded.
This is what makes the precision strikes of karate so powerful without a follow through. Learn this technique of transferring power into an object and you will be able to break boards and bricks also.
A word of warning: don’t try this at home. One mistake can result in a very painful injury. Kids, make sure you talk to your parents, and please talk to your Sensei. Breaking must be set up correctly to keep it safe as possible.
It’s good to achieve a goal. Perhaps next time we will talk about setting and achieving goals.
Sincerely,
Scott Ward, Sensei
Ward’s Family Karate, LLC
Providing the finest training in Karate and Martial Arts in Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs martial arts: http://www.wardsfamilykarate.com/colorado-springs-martial-arts/
Web site: www.WardFamilyKarate.com
Email: scott.ward@wardsfamilykarate.com
Blog: www.wardsfamilykarate.blogspot.com
Our eXtreme Fitness / Self Defense program at Ward’s Family Karate in Colorado Springs CO is under way and looking great. I had a change recently to stick around and watch Sensei Tony Duenas’ class for a few nights. All as Ican say is this eXtreme class is fantastic. Tony likes to work his students hard, and he does with a great Kettle weight program to build their strength, and calisthenics to build their endurance. Then the fun starts. Tony teaches a uniques style of street self defense. DO NOT come this class without a cup on! Tony believes strongly in attacks to the groin. Whether it’s a hand strike or a knee strike Tony will show you how its done and then there will be plenty of practice. Tony showed his studetns stand up techniques, take downs, how fight on the ground from the top and from the bottom. Remember all of this was just from a coupled of classes I watched. The great thing was to watch how much fun everyone was having in the class.
If you really want to get in shape and learn effective self defense this a great coarse to take. We start our students our will free week of classes and their first month for only $69. If any of my adult (14 up) Karate students want to take this program along side of your traditional karate training you can do so for any additional $55 a month.
If you would like to get hold of Sensei Duenas you can call him at 719-243-3787. He would love to talk to about eXtreme F/SD or call me Sensei Ward at 719-659-2106.
We also have Traditional Karate and Cardio-Fit Kickboxing to help get you in shape this holiday season.
Now check out this great video of “eXetreme Fitness / Self Defense“.
Sincerely,
Scott Ward, Sensei
Ward’s Family Karate, LLC
Providing the finest training in Karate and Martial Arts in Colorado Springs.
eXtreme Fitness / Self Defense
Colorado Springs martial arts: http://www.wardsfamilykarate.com/colorado-springs-martial-arts/
Web site: www.WardFamilyKarate.com
Email: scott.ward@wardsfamilykarate.com
Blog: www.wardsfamilykarate.blogspot.com
Hi karate students and Parent of Ward’s Family Karate.
I wanted to remind you that we have our Awards dinner at the Dojo at 6:00 This Saturday night. Please bring a main dish and either a side dish or a dessert. (I am getting hungry all ready). Also bring you own chair. With all the Family coming the seating on our lounge will go fast. Don’t forget to bring your camera you will want to get pictures of your kids will those big smiles as they receive there award.
I can’t wait to see everyone.
Sincerely,
Scott Ward, Sensei
Ward’s Family Karate, LLC
Providing the finest training in Karate and Martial Arts in Colorado Springs.
Web site: www.WardFamilyKarate.com
Email: scott.ward@wardsfamilykarate.com
Blog: www.wardsfamilykarate.blogspot.com
Team Ward of Ward’s Family Karate in Colorado Springs, CO attended the Family Karate Association inter-club tournament on Saturday November 14th. Our team consisted of Keri, Garrett and Benjamin. Everyone competed in Kata, Kumite (sparring) and Stick Fighting. We captured Gold, Sivler, and Bronze medals.
Keri, Garrett and Ben bring home medals for Team Ward.
Every one had a great time and learned a lot. As usual our association tournaments are the best run tournaments any where you go. We started promptly at 9:00 AM and finished right at noon.
We will be attending an invitational tournament in January. To encourage more students to come out and compete, we will spend the week prior to the tournament working in kata and sparring.
I encourage all karate students to come out a play with us at our nxt tournament. Just as Keri, Garrett and Ben how much fun it is.
Sincerely,
Scott Ward, Sensei
Ward’s Family Karate, LLC
Providing the finest training in Karate and Martial Arts in Colorado Springs.
Web site: www.WardFamilyKarate.com
Email: scott.ward@wardsfamilykarate.com
Blog: www.wardsfamilykarate.blogspot.com