x 2

When I walked into the gym for taekwon do yesterday, I immediately noticed the pile of freshly cut 1" boards and a metal stand. I had a major flashback to the last time we had boards in class-- I ended up with a HUGE bruise that lasted for a few weeks and even prompted a visit to the dr. to see if my wrist was broken.

This time around, all the kids broke plastic board that simulate varying board strengths and when it was my turn the instructor said, "Miss van Komen, I think you have to use the real thing." All the kids gave me an "Ooohhh" as he placed the 1" board on the stand and I prepped to brake it with my elbow. I lined up, practiced my arm swing a couple times, took a deep breath, relaxed my back leg so it would bend, and BAM! I swung and it cracked! Immediately the kids clapped and the watching dads nodded and smiled.

After using our elbows to break, we had to practice kicking. All the kids broke the plastic boards and again, when it was my turn, I heard, "Miss van Komen, you get the wood board." Up the board went and I practiced a front soccer-like kick to get my courage up, then WHAM! It cracked and the wood hit the wall. Again with the applause!

Then, much to my surprise, the instructor said, "Miss van Komen, I want you to try kicking two boards." Huh???? TWO??? Are you freaking kidding? That's 2" of wood where the synergy principle applies... Up went 2 boards and I prepped to use a backward kick. I was pretty nervous and the "audience" got pretty quiet as I took my final practice kick and then, I aimed my foot, kicked, closed my eyes . . . the next thing I knew, I heard a crack and my foot was caught on the elastic band that was holding the wood and I was hopping trying to get my balance in order to free my trapped toes. There were four wood pieces laying on the floor!

Wahoo!! I did it :) I actually broke two boards with my left foot!

* My only injury from this whole thing is a purple bruise on my right knee where it hit the floor when I broke the board with my elbow (you have to bend it all the way down to get the right force).

* The picture is just to show how I kicked the 2 boards to get them to break. When you use your elbow, the frame is put on the floor.