Tameshiwari

By Tracy Warrener Van Kruistum

The Art of Breaking has been connected to the martial arts for many years. For certain types of martial arts such as Karate and Tae Kwon Do, it is a big part of the training. Usually used in competitions, demonstrations and even in belt testing, Tamashiwari is an exciting part of the martial arts training to watch.

Many records have been set and broken with the art of board and brick breaking- and many have even reached the Guinness Book of World Records. One very famous Tameshiwari practitioner was Masutatsu Oyama. He was famous for his power and strength. Oyama could break the horns off of bulls and trained his strikes on tree trunks. His conditioning and strengthening drills were something he was well known for.

Practitioners of Tameshiwari use different striking and hitting techniques with surfaces such as their elbows, fists, feet, knees and sometimes even the head. The most common breaking material used in Tameshiwari are wood, brick, sticks and sometimes even glass. The most purpose for breaking is to demonstrate and test a person’s speed and power. Once you have witnessed the anticipation and excitement of a breaking demonstration, it is easy to see why it never ceases to entertain people.

The actual practice of breaking requires power, speed, understanding of material being used, placement of materials and understanding angles and basic science of power and speed. There are different types of breaking techniques such as Speed Breaks, Power Breaks and Soft Breaks. Some require different techniques when stacking of the boards or bricks- with spacers or without.

A practitioner who studies and practices Tameshiwara must train and condition their body to withstand the hard and difficult blows it will take in order to have success when breaking boards safely. For instance, training the bones to withstand the impact will help to strengthen them, building calluses on the skin helps to toughen the skin against cuts and tears, and muscles to help develop mass and speed. Anyone who chooses to participate in breaking must follow the rules, train their body to gradually be able to hold up to the demand which Tameshiwari takes on the body and always take proper safety precautions. It is an amazing feeling when you see and feel how much strength and force it takes to be successful in a board or brick break. It helps to build confidence and strength of the body, mind and spirit.

Tracy Warrener has been fortunate to have been raised within the Martial Arts since the age of 4 years old and is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate. She has had the opportunity to study with some amazing Martial Artists. Sensei Richard Kim, Sensei Peter Urban, Professor Don Jacob, Sensei Jim Wilson, Professor Wally Jay, just to name several. Of course her main Sensei is her father, Sensei Don Warrener. Throughout the 40 plus years of her involvement in the Martial Arts, she has worked her way from being a student of the martial arts to a Martial Arts Sensei ,teaching hundreds of students. She has ran and managed martial arts schools teaching students of all ages, worked within the community teaching at fitness centres, schools, businesses and Women’s Shelters, the benefits of Karate. One the causes close to her heart is teaching and empowering young girls and women the importance of self defence and awareness. Her program called Look Strong! Act Strong! Be Strong! focuses on easy self defence techniques and mind self defence techniques. In 2013 she was awarded The Silver Lifetime Achievement Award in the Masters of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in California for her contribution to Women in the Martial Arts. She is also a Certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master. She has starred in three of her own DVDs produced by Rising Sun Productions on Reiki, Reflexology and her Look Strong ,Act Strong ,Be Strong Self Defence Program. tracy.warrenerentertainment@gmail.com

http://www.warrenerentertainment.com/makiwara-tamashiwara/