Breaking bricks...
Actual bricks vary from 7 to 105 MPa (depending on materials used), regular concrete is at about 10 to 40 MPa, high strength concrete is 40 MPa and above.
That's compressive strength measured in Pascal units ( 1 Pascal unit = 1 newton meter squared). 1 Pa = 6 894.76 Psi....how hard do you think a punch is???
The 'bricks' used in breaking events are generally concrete cinder blocks which probably fall below 7 MPa as they are quite brittle in comparison to concrete alone or red brick.
Scoring causes the block to break at a specific point ( instead of where the block is weak), masons use this concept to break blocks and not have to use a saw.
Spacers allow the momentum of the strike to continue through to the next block, along with scoring so the block breaks in the middle.
Like any magic trick showmanship is key.
On a side note, ancient greek pankratists used to break granite slabs (allegedly), granite compression strength is at about 15-20K psi.
Sapere aude, Justin.
The map is not the Terrain.
"Wheather you believe you can, or you believe you can't...You're right." - Henry Ford