# Karate(and other martial arts) Technique **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 2, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-and-other-martial-arts-technique/319756 "2005-09-02T17:25:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AM\_Dagoski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9d8465/32.png) [@AM\_Dagoski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AM_Dagoski)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-and-other-martial-arts-technique/319756/1 "2005-09-02T17:25:05Z")
I think Cecil’s doing pretty good with the board breaking, but there a little bit more to it than he mentions. Most hard, that is striking martial arts, have techniques that get your whole body behind the punch, putting more m into the F=ma equation. Typical movements include tiwsting your hips on a horizantal punch so that a goodly portion of the torso muscles contribute to the overall force. And at board breaking demos, you usually see the martial artist punching downwards. Usually these guys sink in their stance as they punch, lending a whole lot more force to the blow. I’m betting Cecil would break that seventh board doing that. Board breaking is usually a stunt though so don’t use that as a guide for martial arts effectiveness. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-and-other-martial-arts-technique/319756/2 "2005-09-03T04:46:00Z")
The key,\*\* AM\*\*, (by the way, welcome; you can pay your dues at the gate and, trust me, it’s money you will only regret spending because you’ll find you’d rather post here than sleep) is theat Cece beat his kid. Screw the shopping for chi, **Cecil** , save your money for when your kid starts catching up. For now, you’re a god and he’s scum, which is as it should be. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-and-other-martial-arts-technique/319756/3 "2005-09-04T22:28:30Z")
Link to Column under discussion: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050902.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050902.html) Also, please note, there are several threads devoted to the same topic. ---
**Author:** ![ubu99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ba9def/32.png) [@ubu99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ubu99)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-and-other-martial-arts-technique/319756/4 "2005-09-05T01:57:12Z")
i wonder if he has the final board elevated off the blocks or do they have direct contact