Breaking
Breaking
Learn how to perform the shoulder spin, a ground move in breaking
B-Boy Wildchild describes the fundamental shoulder spin and explains how he discovered his personal move, the wildspin, accidentally when practicing.
The shoulder spin is an intermediary level ground move in breaking.
It used to be one of the important moves of Red Bull BC One Cypher India 2021 B-Boy Champion Wildchild, until he accidentally discovered his own variation to the move.
“One day while training with my crew and friends, I was doing a shoulder spin and accidentally got my hand stuck in a position that I have never tried before. This led to the invention of the wildspin. It took me a little over two months to recreate the same mistake and make it my own signature move,” says Wildchild.
Wildchild conducting a workshop in Hyderabad
© Focus Sports
After a lot of trial and error, he finally perfected the wildspin the way he envisioned it. He debuted the move at the Red Bull BC One Cypher India 2016 during a battle with B-Boy Flying Machine. From thereon, he has improved on his execution of the move and further evolution.
“Very recently I have managed to do a wildspin six times. It’s taken a lot of patience, dedication and hard work to develop it to a point where it’s become my identity,” he says about the move for which he is recognized around the world.
Wildchild was recently part of the Red Bull BC One Local Hero Tour, conducting workshops in cities across India. Here he describes the shoulder spin, which forms the base of his wildspin, and how you can learn the original.
01
Getting the basics right
Before you get into the shoulder spin, it is recommended that you perfect the moves headmills (windmill that uses your head) and shoulder freeze. These two moves help you have a strong base for the shoulder spin.
02
Step 1
Your starting position for the shoulder spin is the same as the starting position for the headmill –head and right shoulder in contact with the floor with your legs spread wide upwards in the air. But you want to come into this position with momentum.
03
Step 2
Tilt your hips to the side, giving your body the momentum to twist on your vertical access. At this point, your right arm can either be spread out wide, bent at the elbow a bit, or hold your right wrist with your left hand – whatever is comfortable. While twisting your hips, also scrunch your legs in tighter to help generate the turning momentum.
04
Step 3
Keeping twisting with your hips to continue your circular momentum, and pump with your legs if you need to generate more momentum. Avoid spreading your legs out as it will reduce your momentum. Keeping your arms and legs tucked in tight will help you spin faster and generate more spins.
Menno performs a shoulder spin at the Red Bull BC One World Final 2014
© Romina Amato | Red Bull Content Pool
05
Pro tips for the shoulder spin
- Keep your head touching the floor while spinning; it will help you have better control and form.
- Keep your pelvis up in the air and not bent downwards. If your pelvis is low, you might lose control of the movement.
- Only the upper part of your shoulder should be making contact with the floor, not the back or side of the shoulder. A common mistake is balancing on your back which then makes the move a back spin instead of a shoulder spin.
- It is recommended to wear padded and low friction clothing so you are comfortable while performing the move. Nylon in the outermost layer and cotton underneath it can help reduce friction and load of impact.
Wildchild conducting a workshop in Siliguri
© Focus Sports
06
Wildchild’s variation on the shoulder spin
Once you perfect the shoulder spin, you can practice variations or combos to create a more personal and interesting routine. WIldchild says that while his wildspin was born out of practicing the shoulder spin, he developed it to be an entirely new move.
“The wildspin is totally different from the shoulder spin. When I do the wildspin, I spin on my wrist and not on my shoulder,” he says.
Having a unique move in his arsenal also gives Wildchild a huge advantage.
“I can combine the wildspin with any other move, but my personal favourite is going from the knee slide to hop hook to wildspin,” Wildchild says about his unique routine.
