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Shaolin monks perform demonstrations of their skills that seem almost superhuman. The one that really has me stumped is breaking a sharpened spear by putting the point in their neck, the other end on the floor and then pushing forward until the shaft snaps.

How do they do this? Weak shaft?

Does anybody have any conclusive answers?

Link to the shaolin wheel of life show where they perform the spear breaking trick

Ardesco
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    I just found this video where alleged Shaolin monk teaches us how to break spears with our necks for SELF DEFENSE purposes which made me keep laughing for good five minutes. I would pay to see how someone in real life street brawl situation tries to self defend by breaking spear with the neck. Darwin Awards guaranteed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmW0F58ngc8 –  Apr 27 '11 at 18:36
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    I saw something like this in National Geographic's "The Science of Martial Arts". I didn't like the comment from the "scientist" in the show: "This is something we as scientists can never explain". She didn't even *try* to explain it. – Shathur Jan 26 '12 at 10:01
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    @Shathur: I think the term you are looking for is "the lady with a lab coat" :) – nico Jul 08 '14 at 20:11
  • I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because simply asking "how do they do this?" isn't on-topic for this site. Is there any specific (explicit or implicit) claim being made, of which you're skptical? – ChrisW May 31 '15 at 20:27
  • I'm sceptical of people having superhuman powers that allow them to break a spear with their neck. I suspect that it's some clever magic trick, but I don't know how it is done; hence the question. Isn't 4 years after the original posting a bit late to close it off for not being on topic? ;) – Ardesco Jun 01 '15 at 05:56
  • A flagged the (only) answer as not-an-answer, because it doesn't cite any evidence/references what for it says. Re. the question "how do they do magic tricks?" is not really in scope (see [here](http://meta.skeptics.stackexchange.com/q/1875/2703) and [here](http://meta.skeptics.stackexchange.com/q/3200/2703)). Can you be specific about what you're skeptical of: what is it that you don't believe? Is anyone claiming that they're literally "superhuman" or "magic" and if not what is it that you disbelieve? – ChrisW Jun 02 '15 at 00:30
  • So you're telling me you're going to close a 4 year old question referencing something written 2 years ago and implying that I should have known better... – Ardesco Jun 03 '15 at 07:32
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    I would also point out that Shaolin monks do not claim that breaking a spear with their neck is a magic trick, they claim that it is their training and mastery of chi that allows them to do this. I'm skeptical of people claiming to be able to use mystical powers to perform feats that seem almost superhuman and I would like somebody to provide and explanation if they can. I think you'll find that this makes my question in scope in regards to the first link you supplied. – Ardesco Jun 03 '15 at 07:35
  • Finally why should a question be closed because it does not have a satisfactory answer. You'll never have any open questions if you close things that don't have answers... I agree that the only answer so far is not an answer because it does not have any evidence and is anecdotal, that's why I wrote a comment saying so and haven't marked it as correct. – Ardesco Jun 03 '15 at 07:37
  • Sorry to trouble you. I found the topic because I wanted to know the answer. I flagged the answer as not-and-answer because it contains no references so it's useless to me. Then I read the question. It won't be closed unless a moderator closes it or 4 other people vote to close it. – ChrisW Jun 04 '15 at 06:33

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Pliable Wood + Elongated Shaft = Easily Bendable/Breakable Spear

This video demonstrates step by step on how a Shaolin Monk breaks a spear. Look at how easily the shaft bends as he applies his weight to it. This is misleading as a deadly weapon, because if a spear did this during combat, it would be rendered useless very quickly. Listen closely to the 'hollow' sound of the wood hitting the ground in the video upon breakage. Dense wood, such as that of a real spear, does not sound this way.

It doesn't stop with mere bendable spears.

This video demonstrates a Shaolin Monk bending rebar with his neck as well. One key thing to realize isn't his many years of perfecting his mind and body in a temple - rather his hopping up and down to create a bending point for the rebar.

Penn & Teller: Bullsh!t (Episode 109 / Self-Helpless) actually show quite well the breaking of an arrow, the bending of rebar, and even walking on hot coals - and how the average person can achieve this without needing to practice within a Shaolin Temple.

The word of the day is Buckling.

Buckling is characterized by a sudden sideways failure of a structural member subjected to high compressive stress, where the compressive stress at the point of failure is less than the ultimate compressive stress that the material is capable of withstanding.

Here are some videos of 'regular people' bending rebar with their necks.

Here is a video of a 'regular person' breaking a spear with his neck.

Most telling of all, is this "Qi Gong Master" bending 3 spears at one time (notice how he pushes the tips with his chin into his breast bone.

Ruut
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