THE PHYSICS OF KARATE STRIKES

Introduction

In recent years, the ancient eastern art of Karate-Do (a Japanese word, literally

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.