Okay, we need a one of those obligatory disclaimers, maybe one like check with a doctor before you attempt this death defying stunt. Or maybe one of those psychology doctor types. Or maybe just make sure you've seen to backing up your skull and intelligence on external hard drive.

Back in 1967, I had just start Kenpo Karate, one of the Tracy Brothers offshoot branches, and the head instructor decided to put on a breaking seminar. I don't know what he was thinking, maybe he had a side business selling insurance or something. At any rate, the potential for disaster was looming.

On a saturday morning a dozen students entered the school and big stacks of freshly cut pine boards were waiting for us. As a group we were taught all the fine points of focusing your energy, of punching through the target, and all that sort of thing, and we were all truly excited. Then we took turns breaking short planks of lumber, one at a time, as the head instructor watched carefully.

One of the guys, a fellow named Jeff, asked if it was possible to break a board with your head. The answer was yes, but it shouldn't be attempted until one was well trained. We then went into another room to break boards, and none noticed that Jeff wasn't with us.

We were in group discussion, and suddenly there was a tremendous wacking sound. It was such a sickly sound that we all stopped what we were doing and stared at the entrance to the other room. The other room, where the sound came from, where Jeff had stayed to do whatever it was he intended on doing.

Suddenly, Jeff appeared at the door, he was standing aslant, and the look in his eyes was like little birdies singing. We all held our breaths as Jeff crossed the room, walking aslant, the birdies circling his head in a neat, little circling pattern. Jeff settled, well, sort of plonked, into a zen seated position, and the head instructor, with an eye on Jeff, continued his speechifying.

Now, if you're going to break a board with your head, and I don't care if you study Uechi or Tae Kwon Do or Choy Li Fut or whatever, work up to it. Start with skinny boards, even an eighth of an inch, then work your way through a quarter, through 3/8s, and so on. Heck, even wear a some kind of protective helmet the first few times, the potential for injury is that great.

Oh, and at the end of that breaking seminar? Jeff approached the head instructor after it was all over and asked if is it possible to break a board using just your head. Maybe he should have concentrated on developing the hardest punch instead of just a hard head!