Martial Arts Physics of Striking
translated as “the way of the empty hand”) has become popular in the western world.
Karateka—practitioners of Karate—often break boards, cinderblocks, and other solid
materials in order to demonstrate the strength that their training develops. Much can
be said of the history and culture associated with the expansion of martial training, but
this essay—it is, after all, a physics paper—will examine the collision mechanics of a
hand strike to a solid target like a board.
2 Force, Momentum, and Deformation Energy
That large objects moving at high speeds hit harder than smaller objects moving
more slowly goes without saying. In attempting to break a board, a karateka seeks to
hit the board as hard as possible. It therefore follows that the karateka should move
his or her weapon (for the purpose of this paper, the hand) as quickly as possible in
order to hit as hard as possible. But what makes for a “hard” strike? Two ways exist to
answer this question, both equally accurate. The first looks at the collision in terms of
force and momentum; the second looks at the collision in terms of energy.
Karateka—practitioners of Karate—often break boards, cinderblocks, and other solid
materials in order to demonstrate the strength that their training develops. Much can
be said of the history and culture associated with the expansion of martial training, but
this essay—it is, after all, a physics paper—will examine the collision mechanics of a
hand strike to a solid target like a board.
2 Force, Momentum, and Deformation Energy
That large objects moving at high speeds hit harder than smaller objects moving
more slowly goes without saying. In attempting to break a board, a karateka seeks to
hit the board as hard as possible. It therefore follows that the karateka should move
his or her weapon (for the purpose of this paper, the hand) as quickly as possible in
order to hit as hard as possible. But what makes for a “hard” strike? Two ways exist to
answer this question, both equally accurate. The first looks at the collision in terms of
force and momentum; the second looks at the collision in terms of energy.
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