# Karate Breaking

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-breaking/320060>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 4, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-breaking/320060 "2005-09-04T17:11:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![D.MacFarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@D.MacFarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.MacFarlane)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-breaking/320060/1 "2005-09-04T17:11:44Z")

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I was in Karate for over 20 years. The breaking of stone. wood , bricks and roofing tiles was only to test the developing product, that is, the strike. The same as a swordsmith would cut a bundle of straw with the new blade. What you see in demonstrations is cheating! Pencils between the boards is crap! Check out the Japanese when they do it right. Some can break a baseball bat with the shin of their leg.

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**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-breaking/320060/2 "2005-09-04T17:22:49Z")

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Everyone says this.

Now it is my turn. For the lova’ Og, please link to [the column in discussion](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050902.html).

Come to think of it, something more than a personal claim would be good, too. Something like a link to an article, or a study, or maybe a video of you demonstrating this skill.

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-breaking/320060/3 "2005-09-04T18:19:31Z")

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> [@CecilAdams](#):
>
> Am I quitting? No, merely taking a breather till the swelling goes down.

So part 2 will be breaking bricks? The letter did mention them.

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**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-breaking/320060/4 "2005-09-08T03:43:31Z")

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> [@Scott Plaid](#):
>
> Come to think of it, something more than a personal claim would be good, too. Something like a link to an article, or a study, or maybe a video of you demonstrating this skill.

Geez, a bit tough on the guests, no?

How about the first clip on [this page](http://www.okinawan-shorinryu.com/video_clips/)?

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**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karate-breaking/320060/5 "2005-09-08T04:02:12Z")

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Or the end of [this video](http://www.tsk.com/mediagallery/video/demos/waynegrandreopening/11-02-02/). Granted, they’re not Japanese…