The physics of breaking stuff with your fists

iO9 recently ran a story on how martial artists are able to break boards and cement blocks, using their hands rather than mystical powers.

I thought it was pretty neat, but then I read an interesting counter-analysis by science journalist (and, significantly, martial arts practitioner) John Rennie.

iO9 is right about the lack of magic powers, he says. But they got the physics wrong. Key slip-up: Assuming martial artists strike like a cobra&mda

Source:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/09/03/the-physics-of-break.html