Breaking techniques are a part of every martial art. They are done to show the martial artist's ability to strike a target with sufficient force to destroy it. There are two styles of breaking techniques--power and precision. Their key differences can be divided into material, setup, and technique.
Due to the differing objectives of power and precision breaking, different materials are used as targets. The materials used for power breaking include concrete, wood, and ice. The larger size of these materials makes them easier to hit, but they are much harder to break than the materials used for precision breaking. In contrast, precision breaking involves the use of such materials as apples, clay, and small containers as targets. These materials are chosen for the effect generated when struck--usually an explosion of material--and although these targets are easier to break, their small size makes them much harder to hit.
The quickest way to determine which type of break is being planned is to look at how the break is setup. Power breaking usually involves multiple holders per target. A person may hold the material, or it may require some type of stand to support its weight. The most obvious way to recognize power breaking is by the large amounts of material used for each break. The precision breaking setup looks quite different in comparison, since typically only one holder is needed per target. As a rule, the targets are quite small, with each break using only a single piece of material. What makes this setup unique is that the targets are held on top of the holders' heads, and sometimes even in their mouths.
The differing rationale behind power and precision breaking is noticed in the techniques used to accomplish each. For power breaking, the techniques are usually basic, forceful, and penetrating. Due to the amount of material being broken, these techniques tend to be much easier to execute than those used for precision breaking. Advanced techniques are avoided, as they tend to be more difficult to perform accurately and may not exert the required amount of force to break fully through the target. When multiple pieces of material are broken as a part of one target, the technique must penetrate completely through the mass of material. If the martial artist is only aiming partially through the target, some or all of the material may not break. Should this happen, both the kicker and the holders risk injury. Conversely, the techniques used for precision breaking are usually advanced, fast, and accurate. Advanced techniques are used to show the spectacular kicking abilities of the martial artist. In order to cause the target to explode when utilizing a precision kicking technique, the kicker must hit the target with the maximum speed possible. Precision targets are usually held in such a way that if the kicker misses, there is potential for serious injury to the holder. This setup, combined with the small size of the target and the speed of the technique, requires the martial artist to hit the target with absolute accuracy each and every time.
As martial artists become more advanced, and they begin experimenting with these different types of breaking techniques, each will find that he/she prefers one method to the other. However, both styles should be practiced, as each provides valuable experience, which is necessary to become a well-rounded martial artist.
Author:
Jeff McDonald
Master Instructor