Breaking
Breaking
B-Boy Flying Machine: Breaking records with Red Bull BC One India wins
The breaker from Mumbai speaks about his sixth title, the Indian breaking scene and his efforts to make breaking a viable career option for everyone.
B-Boy Flying Machine secured a record-breaking sixth win at Red Bull BC One Cypher India earlier in 2025.
As he gears up for the Red Bull BC One World Final in Tokyo this November, he’s chasing more than just medals: he’s building a legacy as a force that’s shaping India’s breaking scene.
Here’s what he had to say about competition in breaking and beyond.
B-Boy Flying Machine celebrates winning Red Bull BC One Cypher India 2025
© Focus Sports
You set a record by winning Red Bull BC One Cypher India six times. Do you know any other breaker around the world with a similar record?
Yes! There’s B-Boy Jester from Turkey. I think he won the national title seven times. We’ve met many times and are good friends now. I remember that after I bagged the fifth title, he said, “You’re competing with me in winning the titles one after the other. You’re getting there.”
Have you two trained or cyphered together?
We have not trained formally. You know, before a trip we all hang out in the common training area, doing cyphers and that’s when we got to discussing how he has competed and won multiple titles already.
What were you thinking going into the national final? Were you confident that you were going to take it home?
To be very honest, this time I was in a very different mind space. Personally, I was chasing my financial goals – I’ve recently bought a house of my own – and a lot was going on. I still kept up my training while managing a lot of other things in life. Time was moving fast, so I knew I had to grab all the opportunities that I could.
In this career, if I don’t sustain for a year, people’s opinions will change. It can easily go from, “he’s the best” to “he was the best” if I don’t win. What is trending this week might not trend the next. I’ve worked with a lot of brands, so I know they will work with the best, and the best is whoever is trending now. I knew that I had to win the title, to be at the top. Winning Red Bull BC One Cypher India for the sixth title would be record; after this, everyone will always think of my name when they think of a B-Boy in India. Winning the sixth title wasn’t just an ordinary win; it was paving a way for more opportunities coming my way, almost like building my own brand value.
B-Boy Flying Machine at Red Bull BC One Cypher India 2025
© Focus Sports
This year, who do you think gave you the toughest competition?
I never think of who I’m competing against, but always about the outcome. When I was backstage, I was just trying to appreciate everyone. One of the B-Boys guy who competed against me was actually a student of mine, and I’d met many of the breakers when they were just starting off, and all of them have improved.
I was in a positive state of mind, but once I got on stage, my mindset changed, and I didn’t care who I was up against. I made eye contact with the crowd so that they could gauge the energy I was channelling and feel my presence to the fullest. After that, when the battle begins, I know my job: to compete, to give it everything I’ve got, and once it’s done, I’m gone. I disappear and go rest and sleep just to stay grounded. I keep reminding myself that I’m here for a reason, I’ve to claim the moment and I’ve to show the crowd that I’m the best!
What aspects of competitive breaking do you think about aside from daily training?
I always try to battle with a good spirit. I like it when my opponent feels good as we both share energy on stage. That’s what sportsmanship is, and I maintain it diligently. I focus on using the whole stage and keeping it dynamic so that even non-dancers, who don’t necessarily understand technicality, can directly connect with my performance.
How do you deal with the competition in the Indian breaking scene altogether?
I’m here to make a change, whether it’s through endorsements or by showing people that breaking can be a real career path. I’m not just trying to have the mainstream audience watch our dance; I’m trying to associate with people on a higher level to ensure that breaking is given its due recognition. For me, breaking is a whole different world; I do it every day, I gather knowledge from different types of people I come across and I also make music, which keeps me locked in rhythm. I don’t think anybody can compete with me on that level; that’s my mentality.
B-Boy Flying Machine at Red Bull BC One Cypher India 2025
© Focus Sports
Did any of the B-Boys or B-Girls impress you at Red Bull BC One Cypher India 2025?
The quality was impressive this year. Even though I didn’t watch all the battles, there was a B-Boy from Jamshedpur who really stood out. He’s trained in our studio in Mumbai; he would travel from Jamshedpur and stay with us for a week each time. His dedicated hard work paid off; seeing him on stage was really impressive. Even Benman performed well. Speaking of Bar-B’s performance — what a comeback! We’ve trained together, and I know how massive of an effort she puts into her breaking. When I watched her battle this time, I knew it in my bones that she’ll bag the B-Girl title at the national cypher!
What are your thoughts on the current state of the breaking scene in India?
There is insane growth in the scene, and if you watch the young kids, your mind will be blown. You wouldn’t expect at face value that these kids can pull off what they do. In 2024, at the jam that I organize called The Essence, we had 60 participants under 16 years of age, which is a solid number. I’m actually working on something with Red Bull called Under My Wings, that focuses on grassroots development. We want young breakers to see this not just as a passion, but as a real career path. The scene is growing fast in our country and there are more B-Boys in India compared to other countries.
