Board Breaking (Kyukpa) is part of our testing curriculum. Boards are not typically broken during normal classes. Kicking and hand techniques are practiced against padded sheilds and hand targets. Board Breaking is done to practice and illustrate the formidable power, precision and great mental concentration developed through Tae Kwon Do Training. This area of practice developes internal and external strength, derived from a confidence in one's ability to overcome normal limitations. The thickness of the boards varies depending on the age and size of the student. Low ranking belt levels must break one board for their test using rather simple, but powerful, kicks such as a side kick or back kick. It is not until you reach the red belt level that you will be required to break a board with a hand technique. Black belts perform more difficult breaks such as two or three boards at once and speed breaks.