It’s funny how some people perceive the Martial Arts. But how do you perceive your Martial Arts training? Is it only useful in your mind? Or is your training a real value to you?
I am not a big fan of breaking boards since I have never met a board I didn’t like. That doesn’t mean there isn’t some merit in learning to break stuff. Breaking can help a student learn to overcome their minds desire to protect itself from sudden impacts. Breaking can help a student understand the physics behind the art. Breaking can help a student realize their inner strength in addition to their physical abilities. While the masses at large may joke at what seems to be a useless and showy desire to break stuff. Let them laugh.
One note about breaking stuff. Breaking can help a student build their confidence however this I feel is a bad reason to break stuff.