By using servo control shear loading system, specimens with non-coplanar rock-like intermittent joints were tested by the way of forward and reverse direct shear, rupture mechanism and shearing law for rock bridge with non-coplanar intermittent joints were studied under direct shear. The experimental studies showed that five apparent stages are presented in the process of rock bridge rupture under direct shear, which are linear elastic stage, initiation and extension of crack, fracture and transfixion of rock bridge, climbing and occlusion of shear plane and residual friction. Rock bridge presented profile fracture plane under forward direct shear. While under reverse direct shear, band form fracture plane is showed which penetrated along with the direction of forward shear, and the shear strength of initiation and peak shear strength under reverse direct shear are bigger than that under forward shear. Crack angle, normal stress and lap proportion among adjacent joint are the main factors that influence the initiation strength and peak shear strength. The FLAC 3D simulation for the process of non-coplanar intermittent joints rock bridge rupture and formation of shear rupture surface under forward and reverse direct shear was conducted. The results of numerical simulation agreed well with those of experiment. The simulation results revealed tension crack failure of non-coplanar intermittent joints rock bridge and shear yielding mechanism of fracture plane.