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Safe and Successful Breaking Practices

23 Jul




Safe and Successful Breaking Practices

By Master Chris Edwards
World Record Holder (Most Concrete Broken with 1 Strike)

master-chris-edwards-scissor-kick

Master Chris Edwards

 

 

 

 

In Taekwondo, Hapkido, Karate, Kung Fu and other styles worldwide, breaking or in Korean Martial Arts “Kyuk pa” is a common practice. It builds confidence, gauges proper execution of technique with speed and power, gives a practitioner the ability to penetrate past the surface of a target and develops the ability to focus Ki energy into and through a target.

Even though breaking is so common would wide there are many procedures that must be followed in order to have a safe and effective breaking experience. Also there are many pitfalls to be avoided.

First of all not doing any of the 6 procedures mentioned in this article can cause serious injury and at best a failed break. Most importantly fear overcompensated with foolish cockiness is a very dangerous combination. Breaking should never be taken lightly, else the practitioner will be broken and not the board, brick, etc. Lastly never attempt to break anything unless instructed by a skilled, qualified and certified Master Instructor. This article is mainly slanted toward success for power breaking (multiple pieces of a given material broken with 1 strike) but can be applied to all forms of breaking.

1. Conditioning

Without conditioning the journey of breaking cannot truly begin. If your implement of destruction is weaker then that which it attempted to be destroyed, i.e. hand vs. concrete slab then the hand will break and not the concrete. So when it comes to conditioning there are several proven methods: Makiwara boards, striking sand and iron palm bags. Concerning the Makiwara, most strikes can be used against it, i.e. punch, palm, elbow, etc.

Many Dojangs worldwide have this mounted somewhere. A typical device will be made of wood with foam mounted on it covered with leather, vinyl, or canvass. Other varieties can be fashioned my wrapping chord around a wooden pole. Striking sand should be done with the sand filled into a bucket or container. This method works well with punches and palm strikes and only elbow if the container is of proper dimensions to accommodate your entire forearm. Iron palm bags typically canvas bags filled with mung beans, sand and even iron shot. This device works best for palm strikes. With conditioning Wolfe’s Law is taking place. When you strike something harder then your bones, microscopic fractures occur. As the bones heal they grow back denser and stronger. For improvement in conditioning of flesh, muscle, tissue and bones rest and proper nutrition must supplement regular, daily training until desired level of proficiency is obtained.

2. Stance/Alignment

Proper stance and body alignment is key in obtaining balance while producing power. The body must support the exertion of force’s direction. If a practitioner is executing a downward overhand elbow straight down into a stack of board, but the stance is too narrow and the body is too close to the stack it probably won’t break. The wider the stance the more balance. The more exacting of skeletal alignment the more force can be generated. If muscles contract out of sequence this will also misalign the skeletal system and lose value energy meant for the target. When water flows through a firehouse it starts from the source, goes down the tube and finally out the nozzle. So should Ki energy be: like water.

3. Striking Technique

This procedure is very important for injury prevention and breaking success. Every strike has strength and weakness. Some strikes are more or less powerful according to the angle that they are being executed. For instance it would be wise to use a spear hand to break a stack of concrete. Read the rest of this entry »


 
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Posted in HapKiDo, Kung Fu, Martial Arts, TaeKwonDo

 

Best Strength Training Exercises for TaeKwonDo Athletes

23 Jul




5 Best Strength Training Exercises for TaeKwonDo Athletes

By Master Chris Edwards

master-chris-edwards-taekwondo-kick

Master Chris Edwards

 

 

 

 

 

Strength training will push you to your limits of what you are capable of achieving and pushing past limits of pain and failure. The very core of who you are will be tested while practicing true strength training exercises. You may want to give up some days and not push yourself, but that is where the “strength” of strength training lies – in its inner strength. Developing a character to never give up is critical to achieve limits you never thought possible.

  1. Push Ups
    1. This exercise is common in almost any type of physical training not just TaeKwonDo. None-the less, it is vital in developing upper body strength for muscle endurance, striking power and overall fitness.
    2. Military units from all over the world have used this exercise to develop mental toughness, ability to push beyond pain limits and overall physical power. In TaeKwonDo we use this often as punishment for unruly children, but is so much more than a method for behavior control. If done regularly you will see a difference in body shape, increased power in strikes and better posture.
  2. Pull Ups
    1. This exercise, like push ups is common in many other physical training regiments, but its benefits are overarching and tremendous in developing true total body strength. The military also uses this powerful tool to develop strength both physically and mentally in soldiers. Most people in the U.S. cannot execute a proper pull up, so therefore in TaeKwonDo we constantly strive to be leaders in all aspects of our lives.
    2. This is not an easy exercise to perform especially if you’re over-weight, but with constant practice and an attitude of “never giving up”, you will soon yield tremendous total body strength. Proper form and complete range of motion is also very important gaining true strength from this exercise.
  3. Leg Throw Downs
    1. This exercise helps in developing core and abdominal strength, which are much needed for kicks. This exercise is best practiced with a partner, using someone of similar size to best maximize this drill. Throwing to the left, right and center will work best in creating complete core strength, working the upper and lower abs and well as obliques. If you have lower back pain be cautious before going into full ranges of motion with this exercise. As you increase in ease and confidence with this exercise you should have your partner begin to put more force into the throw downs.

Read the rest of this entry »

 
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TaeKwonDo Kick Speed

13 Nov

TaeKwonDo – Increase Kicking Speed

5 Ways to Increase Kicking Speed for Taekwondo Athletes

From an article by Master Chris Edwards in World Martial Arts Magazine
By Master Chris Edwards
Body Martial Arts
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Speed is something that is very important in becoming a proficient kicker in Taekwondo. We are known for our fast kicks in Taekwondo worldwide and there are a few reasons for this that will be covered in these 5 aspects. Speed helps in all areas of Martial Arts training from self-defense, to competitions and even demonstrations. Speed helps to give a special type of confidence, knowing that you can connect to a target within a blink of an eye. Speed by definition is swiftness. So the less we hesitate and commit to the technique the faster it will get to the target. Speed in its simplest form is a tool and this tool helps in performing any aspect of the Martial Arts. If you are faster then your assailant or competitor then your opportunities are more abundant. Speed is a doorway that you must choose to walk through with proper instruction and hard work.

master-chris-edwards-taekwondo-high-kick

  1. Plyometrics – Plyometrics are drills to develop the small twitch fibers in ways that are conducive to gaining faster kicks. These drills develop explosive speed in which you hit your target in a blink of an eye. They help push your muscles in ways that teach what level a body is truly capable of attaining.
  2. Eliminate Wasted Movements – Wasted movement is a common mistake made by many Martial Artists at all skill levels. This causes a loss in potential speed. By eliminating any movement that doesn’t produce a faster kick must first be recognized, then corrected. Having a qualified USNTA instructor teach and watch your kicking technique will bring you the best results.
  3. Visualization – Visualization is an ancient tool that has been used by many great Martial Artists for thousands of year to “become one” with your training. When you visualize executing a fast kick, you are more likely to actually do so. Seeing yourself do something faster or better than you’re capable of doing now, has a way of helping you along your path to improvement.
  4. Resistance – Resistance can often help in increasing speed by building strength in your leg muscles. The two most common methods are using ankle weights and resistance bands. Ankle weights can help by increasing strength in the execution of kicks by providing a higher level of resistance. This over time will make it easier to kick at full speed. By using resistance bands it develops total lower body and core strength. This will cause a type of explosive speed to occur over time.
  5. Focusing on Retraction – Retraction is often the forgotten aspect of developing true speed in kicking. Most practitioners focus only on the extension of a given kick. It is an easy tendency to try to kick a given target as fast as possible, but true speed is how fast you can kick a target and return to your fighting stance. So by focusing on the “back half” of the kick total kicking speed will Body Martial Arts.

     
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