Shield breaking

Local customs regarding what constitutes a shield-breaking strike can vary noticeably, however most groups who regularly attend major events consider a good shield-breaking strike to include one or a combination of the following criteria: 1. Was the hit delivered with shield-breaking intention? 2. Did the hit connect solidly and cleanly with the shield, or fall short and glance off? 3. Did the hit displace and rock the shield, or was its momentum simply arrested? 4. Was the hit partially or fully blocked by a weapon, and if so did the hit power through the block and still deliver a solid blow? 5. Relative physical size and strength is also usually taken into consideration when judging shield-breaking blows.