If martial artists can break bricks, does that mean they can break human bones that easily too?

Question

If martial artists can break bricks, does that mean they can break human bones that easily too?

Answer 1

defently that is the whole purpose they break bricks and boards to show there strengh and how simply from a karte chop they can break several bricks not just one so yes they could easly break human bones.

Answer 2

My size they can brake in half.

Answer 3

No. Human bones are strong and flexible. Bricks are brittle.

Also, we human beings, despite all the bravado, are pretty weak. A sheep can kick harder than we can punch.

If we could really punch and kick with tremendous power, then martial arts, MMA and boxing matches would all have very serious injuries every single time. Even boxers, who have the most effective punches, regularly land hundreds of blows during matches without fatal injury (usually).

The brick breakers and Muay Thai kickers secret is to kill all the nerves that register pain, and accept the gradual erosion of their hands or legs as they use them as mallets and hammers. (Solution: break bricks with a hammer when needed, and use padding such as gloves during sport fighting).

Breaking bricks makes you really good at breaking bricks. It does not translate into great sport fighting, which is a different skill. And, who needs arthritis at 30 and fists and legs that resemble cauliflower?

The brick breakers would lose to any good jujitsu, wrestler, or boxer.

Answer 4

The Question to that is YES, I wouldnt want that hand any where near my head, to get your hand like a sledge hammer it takes many years bout 5 to 10 even more some say my father is a grandmaster and he train iron fist, when he mastered the tech his hand looked like he had wrats all over it, big Knuckles and ugly looking fist I ever saw.

Answer 5

Yup, but I would not be too impessed by those who breaks bricks and such, as there is a science behind it, and a certain amount of showmanship and art also.

I always liked that one part of the Karate Kid when the other guy tells him, " Bricks not hit back ", lol

Answer 6

No.  Bones are usually surrounded by soft tissue, which pads them.  People also move around in a fight, so their bones aren't set and braced like boards and bricks are in a demonstration.

That being said, I love breaking as a training tool.  It teaches the kind of striking that really does damage, rather than the "blunt" sort of striking people get from hitting a bag.

And don't listen to all the "brick not hit back" parrots.  Thai pads don't hit back either, but people train on those without complaint.  Breaking is just a different way of training.

Answer 7

In theory, yes.  

It takes a mere 40 psi to break a "standard" 1" pine board.  However, it only takes about 8 psi to shatter your knee cap.  The thing is, the knee has to be locked out and immobilized for that number to be reality.

So, again, in theory...  there are just too many variables to take into consideration, though.

Answer 8

If the human bone were braced at two points with enough space between those points, it would be easy. However, in regular hand to hand combat, the mere act of hitting someone would not break bones easily because there is cushioning from the surrounding tissue, lack of resistance on the target area, and the ability of that area to move through space in the same direction of the force thus reducing the impact pressure of the force hitting it.

If this were not the case, boxing, wrestling, and martial arts competitions would be far more fatal on a regular basis (like pretty much every match would result in someone's death or severe injury).

Answer 9

yes and no... i can personally break a board as dense and thick as a human arm with ease... if it is braced. so if you brace a brick or a board it will break easier.. '

a human bone tends to be less stationary than a brick so when you hit it there tends to be some give which helps absorb the impact.. if you brace the human bone between 2 objects then you can go through it like butter... well not exactly that easy but you get the point.

Answer 10

a guy can break through 12 bricks at a time but can't break your ribs? does that make sense? lol

Answer 11

Ask Frank Shamrock after his fight with Cung Le.  That's only one example, but the first one that comes to mind.