How to Karate Chop

Last Updated: June 13, 2022

Can your friend chop a piece of wood that you can't? Did you ever imagine yourself chopping a brick in half? Following these steps and you can quickly learn this fun and famous karate move, the karate chop!

Steps

1
Place the wood (or brick) on two stable chopping blocks, with the wood grain running in the same direction as the way your hand is facing to chop. Chopping with the grain makes the wood easier to break.^{[1]
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- Choose thin, smooth board for chopping, such as slim pine boards.
- Don't try to chop anything that is too thick or hard (3" maximum is suggested to start). A cinder block may be possible if you have been training for a few weeks and yell very loudly when making contact.
2
Get into the stance. This involves either standing up, with legs shoulder-width apart or kneeling with your knees vertical from your shoulders, two feet from the chopping blocks.^{[2]
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3
Prepare for the strike by staying calm. Freaking out will not help since the key to successful striking is the mind, you want to stay as calm as possible before you strike.
- Imagine your hand going through the wood or brick. If you can't see it happening, chances are it won't happen. This could be bad if it doesn't. Remain positive. Be one with the chopping motion.
4
Put your thumb next to your pointer finger.
5
Bend your fingers slightly to the left (if you are right-handed) or right, if you are left-handed.
6
Lift your arm high up into the air, ready to slam down and strike.^{[3]
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7
Shoot your hand down, thrusting farther until you break the block. Do not remove your hand from the chopping blocks immediately––your hand needs to go all the way through to make the break.^{[4]
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8
If you don't chop it, check on how you feel. If you feel very little pain, try to improve your speed. A little extra strength is also helpful for successful karate chopping.^{[5]
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- The edge and heel of the hand can take quite a lot of force provided they are the parts of your hand that contact with the wood. However, as a learner, it is best to have someone mentor you or, if that is not possible, to bring down your hand gently and with repeated practice, increase the force.
- If you feel great pain, stop for the day. If any serious damage to your body has occurred, see a doctor immediately.
9
Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the better your accuracy and ability to hit.

Community Q&A

Question

When I chop will I break my hand?

TheThinkingPanda Zhao

Community Answer

No, the human bone is strong, but it will require lots of training. Do not attempt this if you have not been trained to do so.
Question

Is karate chopping boards going to help me fight in real life?

Community Answer

Yes, it allows you to add diversity to your combat skills and is a fast technique to execute in a fight.
Question

What if I get a thick splinter in my hand after chopping?

Community Answer

It is not likely that you would get a splinter from the types of boards that most karate schools use. If you try to break a random bit of wood, you will most likely get a splinter. If you do get a splinter, you can remove it with tweezers.

Warnings

Do not chop anything that you obviously are not able to chop. If you are not very strong, do not try chopping boards greater than 3 inches (7.5cm), and less than 1 inch (2.5cm) of brick.

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If you are a beginning martial arts student, NEVER attempt breaks of any kind without supervision. Generally speaking, the martial arts are not a "self teaching" opportunity. Not a good time to learn by trial and error- even our teachers have teachers.

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Don't be afraid to seek medical assistance if you think you may have injured yourself

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Do not attempt thick boards of wood or anything else hard. Professional training is a must for thick and dense boards!

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Do not karate chop people for no reason. Although this may sound silly to think about, it could cause someone serious hurt or get you in trouble. Karate is self-defense, not to be used as offense against innocent others!

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