So You Want to Smash Something? Here’s My Take on the Noamus “Rebreakable” Boards

Let’s get this out of the way: if your idea of martial arts is shattering thick pine in front of a cheering belt-testing crowd, these Noamus rebreakable boards might leave you feeling a little shortchanged. But if your family dojo could do with a fun, mostly pain-free board-breaking session (that won’t send splinters through the rug), this set fits the bill… as long as your expectations stay honest.

First off, they come in a rainbow of classic martial arts colors, meant to track a student’s progress (although, in true martial arts gear fashion, the color order makes about as much sense as a chopped salad recipe—the “black” and “blue” seem to swap places depending on what day it is). It’s a nice attempt at capturing that “moving up the ranks” spirit. For kids, or folks starting out with their first confident side kick, it’s a treat.

Material-wise, you’re dealing with EVA plastic and foam padding—not chunks of real wood. And the thickness? Sorry folks, but it’s more on par with a thick notebook than an honest-to-goodness 1-inch breaking board. The yellow and red start comically easy to snap apart, and even the thickest black level one won’t wear out Rocky Balboa’s hands. Breaking these feels satisfying the first dozen times, but don’t expect to practice full power hammer fists: there’s a distinctly springy, plasticky give that says “training wheels,” not “hardcore.”

The rebreakable gimmick is admittedly clever: snap, pop it back together, and go again. For repetitive drills or confidence-building with kids, it’s better than recycling a mountain of splintered wood. If, however, you’re training teens or adults with any pretense of real-world force, these aren’t tough enough to challenge healthy, motivated grownups. High kicks from a burly martial artist? The board will break; your sense of accomplishment, maybe not so much.

Safety is where these shine. My fellow cautious mamas: the foam pads mean fewer bruises, less screaming, and a lower risk of accidental family ER visits. It’s honestly the best selling point. They’re idiot-proof to reset, light enough for preteens to handle without help, and you’ll burn more calories arguing about whose turn it is next than you will reassembling the pieces.

Downsides? Oh, plenty. The boards just don’t offer that solid “snap” you get from real breaking. That means you lose the tactile feedback so important for learning proper striking technique. For strong adults or advanced martial artists, it feels a bit like smashing styrofoam cups and calling it karate. And let’s be frank: in a couple of cases, repeated heavy use can warp the fit or make the pieces stubborn about snapping together perfectly. Don’t expect these to hold up for a season of dojo testing.

Final verdict: these are training tools, not bragging-rights trophies. Kids will love them, parents will appreciate the lack of mess, and beginners can build a little swagger without risk of injury. If you’re chasing that high-stakes pine board crunch or prepping for black belt testing, these won’t cut it. Basically, for parents running family classes in the living room (myself included): yes, throw them in the cart. If you want to drop jaws at a demo or train with real resistance, look elsewhere—preferably in the lumber aisle.

Save your real power strikes for a proper chunk of wood, but enjoy these boards for what they are: a safe, practical entry point for new martial artists with a little sense of fun and forgiving flexibility. Now, if only they made them thick enough to withstand a full-strength Southern mama crescent kick…