How are you judged in a board-breaking competition?
Hi Lynne,
Well, I have competed in many board breaking tournaments over the past few decades, and have judged thousands. Each host organization, and tournament organizing committee will have some rule variations and set criterion.
Here are some that we have typically used.
1. First, you are graded on a successful break. Whether you are breaking one board at one station, multiple boards at one station, or breaking at two or more stations, you must break everything on the first try. In most cases, you will be allowed to repeat attempts with one point deduction from your score for each unsuccessful attempt (Judges might decide to waive the penalty if the fault was from the board holders moving, but as for the material - it is the responsibility of the breaker to bring wood that is not too green, and not tampered with to facilitate an easy break).
2. The correct execution of a technique will score higher. A sloppy technique that breaks two boards will not usually score higher than a clean, proper technique that breaks one board. If you break with a hand technique but your stance is not well grounded and reinforced, then you might lose points. If you kick and break successfully, but stumble and lose your balance, or even fall, then you will lose points.
3. The difficulty of the technique. Most hand techniques will score about the same, but in a Taekwondo Tournament, a basic kick will score higher than a basic hand strike. A spinning kick, or a jumping kick will score higher than a basic kick on the ground. A Jump spinning kick, or a flying kick will score higher than most others. Remember that a difficult kick that fails to break on the first attempt will most likely lose to a basic kick or punch that succeeds on the first try.
4. The number of boards broken at each station. This is where judges have to make a judgment call. If one competitor breaks two boards at one station without fail, and another competitor breaks one board at two different stations, the higher score will probably go to the two station break because there is a chance of missing twice. Even though breaking two boards at one station requires more power, the skill of transitioning from one board to the next (or one opponent to the next in real life) is considered more valuable if done correctly. Again, remember that attempting to break more boards might result in a miss, which would lower the score and might lose to a single break that succeeds.
5. Breaking multiple stations. As mentioned before, regardless of the number of boards at each station, breaking more than one station increases the risk of missing, and will earn a higher score if successful. However, it is a gamble as to what you are good at, and what the other competitors do. If you break one board at two different stations, but someone breaks three or four boards at one station, they might receive the higher score. If you break at multiple stations, you should be able to start and finish within 2 to 3 seconds. Taking time to re-align yourself between breaks, or aim again at the next board before breaking will lower your score. Each hit should come quick and successive, with no pauses or hesitation between breaks.
6. Simultaneous breaks. This is mostly for Black Belts, or very advanced breakers. If you can strike two different stations at the same time (a punch and a kick, or jump with two front kicks), this will earn a higher score. Some breakers will run and jump, then begin kicking and punching multiple stations. Even though they are not striking the different boards at the exact same time, they complete all breaks (4, 5, or 6) before landing on the ground.
7. Unsupported Speed Breaks. There are a multitude of ways to demonstrate this, and it increases the difficulty along with the risk of failure. A single board speed break done well will probably out-score a two board break at one station, but maybe not breaking 3 or 4 boards at one station. It will depend on how well each technique is performed.
8. Added difficulties. If it is allowed at your tournament, some breakers add special difficulties such as jumping over people on a flying kick, doing a back flip while breaking a board over-head, or doing the splits while breaking a hand strike. Some will even do a break blind-folded.
What you do in preparation before a break is usually restricted by a time limit, so be good at setting the boards up where you want them as quickly as possible. Some people like to break quick with no apparent preparation, meditation, or advance kihap. Others will build up the suspense to show that it is a difficult break which requires mental focus and concentration. An audience will often be impressed with a display of serious preparation as long as you don't go over-board. The judges know exactly how hard the break is, so you are showing them that you realize focus is important.
We can get good enough to just snap into action, and break with no prep, but this can also work against you. Judges are Black Belts, and most have broken boards many times. They know that quick breaks are good, but if you make the break look too easy, it might not be given the points that go along with what impresses an audience.
For example, I could set up ten stations of one board each, and casually whip down the line with kicks an punches to break all ten without missing. Then, my opponent breaks five boards in a stack with palm strike, only he builds up the suspense for about a minute and yells several times before he blasts through the boards. He will probably win. On another day, I break the stack of five boards, but I just walk up and pop through them with no prep (not an easy thing to do). My opponent breaks ten stations with one board at each station, but takes a few moments to build up his focus with some kihaps and showmanship. He will probably win again. It all depends on the judges, and what they like to see.
Good luck, and let us know what you learn from your breaking clinic.
