Apparatus for holding a martial arts board and related methods

Abstract

Fixtures are provided for holding one or more martial arts boards while resisting undesired contact with the holder's hands. A pair of fixtures will each have a manually engageable handle secured to a base and adjustable strap structure to receive at least one breakable or re-breakable board and intimately secure the same. The base is preferably fixedly secured to the handle with a portion of the adjustable strap therebetween. A related method is also disclosed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 636,270, filed Apr. 20, 2012 and incorporates the same herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to apparatus for manually holding a martial arts board during an effort to break the same by a martial artist and methods associated therewith.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]In connection with the breaking of wooden boards or re-breakable boards made out of synthetic material in the context of martial art competition, training, practice or for recreational purposes, martial artists require another individual to hold the board or boards securely such that they can be broken by the martial artist with his hand, foot, arm, knee or other body parts used for striking. Frequently, however, the martial artist impacts the hands or one of more fingers of the holder, or the holder is injured by t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]The present invention has met the above-described need by providing a pair of fixtures which each have a manually engageable handle secured to a base and an adjustable strap structured to receive at least one board and secure the same to the fixture in intimate relationship therewith. The handles, which are preferably positioned at opposite ends of the board, permit the holders to firmly secure the board without having the holders' hands or other body portions exposed to the front or impact face of the board which will be struck by the martial artist, thereby minimizing the risk of injury to the holder or holders. The adjustable strap preferably has a portion interposed and firmly held between the handle and the base. The adjustable strap preferably has portions which contain male and female hook and loop fasteners, such as those sold under the designation “Velcro”, to facilitate effective securement of the fixture to the board in intimate relationship therewith.

[0020]In one embodiment, the face of the base which contacts the rear surface of the board has enhanced friction properties to reduce relative movement therebetween.

[0022]It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient, mechanically effective structure and related method for securing one or more boards to be broken by a martial artist, while resisting injury to the holder or holders.

[0026]It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a board holder which may readily and rapidly be intimately secured to the board and removed from the board and related methods.

[0028]It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such fixture securement of boards which readily permits the board to be in the desired orientation so that the martial artist can break the board with the grain.

Problems solved by technology

Frequently, however, the martial artist impacts the hands or one of more fingers of the holder, or the holder is injured by the edge of the board or the force from the board on the hands.

It provides rigid connection between the board and the handles with the board remaining in the holder, thereby increasing the likelihood of injury to the “practitioner” who is doing the breaking.

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