What does karate chop in a french bread dough mean?

http://www.steamykitchen.com/75-baking-the-perfect-loaf-of-french-bread.html
Now do a little “karate chop” lengthwise down the middle of the bread and stretch out the long ends again. Fold over in half. The karate chop helps get the middle tucked inside.
I didn't understand this "karate chop" thing. What exactly does it expect me to do after I fold the sides of the dough?
Best Answer
In context, it means to press down with the blade of your hand, to facilitate folding into thirds:
I put an orange line near the part of the hand you would press with.
This is not a standard culinary term, by the way—the recipe author is being cute.
In practice, you could use the handle of a wooden spoon, or press a little groove in with your fingers, as well.
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Quick Answer about "What does karate chop in a french bread dough mean?"
http://www.steamykitchen.com/75-baking-the-perfect-loaf-of-french-bread.html. Now do a little “karate chop” lengthwise down the middle of the bread and stretch out the long ends again. Fold over in half. The karate chop helps get the middle tucked inside.Why does French bread have slits?
Why Score the Bread? Scoring is generally done after the bread's finally rise and just before the loaves go in the oven. These intentional splits give the bread more room for their final rise in the oven without splitting the carefully closed seams. Slashing can also be done for purely decorative reasons.Why do you cut slits into the bread dough before baking?
Scoring is the process of cutting a slash in the surface of bread dough before baking. Bread dough rapidly expands when it is first placed in the oven (an effect known as \u201coven spring\u201d), and scoring controls this expansion. Bakers score their loaves to prevent them from cracking\u2014and to give the dough a helpful boost.What are the slits on bread called?
Scoring is a way of making shallow cuts in the tops of the unbaked bread dough right before baking it. What you see as a result when the bread comes out of the oven is anything from a simple curved ridge to an elaborate array of leaves or even stalks of wheat.Why do you poke dough?
The poke test, which is just what it sounds like, is an easy way to tell whether a shaped dough is ready for the oven, and it goes like this: Lightly oil or flour a finger or knuckle, then give the dough a gentle but assertive poke, as if you're trying to get its attention.How to properly roll a French bread 🍞
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