Hong 10
South Korea
·
Breaking
Birthplace | South Korea |
|---|---|
Nationality | South Korea |
Career start | 1998 |
Disciplines | breaking |
Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, three-time Red Bull BC One champion Kim Hong-Yul, aka Hong 10, has achieved legendary status on the worldwide breaking scene.
A member of 7 Commandoz crew, Flow XL, and Red Bull BC One All Stars, Hong 10 earned his iconic reputation through unbelievable, competitive performances and an ability to constantly innovate moves within breaking.
Hong 10 was inspired to start breaking in 1998, at the age of 13 years old, when he saw a friend practicing the dance and believed that he was also capable of doing it.
His early teachers taught him to create his own style, instead of looking like other breakers. He's carried this mindset with him throughout his breaking career, which has resulted in a number of signature moves that he's known for. Some of these moves include his famous 'Hong 10 freeze', a variation on an inverted headstand freeze that he made so popular it was named after him.
Another is his unbelievable upside down ‘two-fingers freeze', where he uses only two fingers on each hand to support his body while freezing upside down. Plus, there are his many variations on the breaking power move known as a ‘halo', which is a move that's a mix between a windmill and a head spin.
Hong 10 earned his legendary status through years of standout performances in solo competitions and crew battles, winning championships all around the world. His proudest solo victories are his three Red Bull BC One championship titles.
He won his first Red Bull BC One title in 2006, in São Paulo, Brazil, and then won his second belt in 2013, at the 10th anniversary of the Red Bull BC One World Finals.
This second Red Bull BC One title was extra special for Hong 10, because the World Finals that year were held in his home of Seoul, South Korea, plus the invited, competitors’ line-up included all the previous Red Bull BC One champions, invited back for the anniversary.
In 2020, he took on the challenge of a 32-round call-out battle in Taiwan against one of the country’s best b-boys, Harricane, and, in an incredible display of stamina and creativity, he didn’t lose a single round. Then, in 2021, he took on the challenge of battling 10 breakers in a row, doing back-to-back rounds, without a break, in Las Vegas, USA, and won the battle 6 rounds to 4.
He won his third belt at the Red Bull BC One 2023 World Final in Paris, making him the second b-boy to win thrice. In the same year, he took second place at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
In 2024, he returned to Paris to compete in the Games, when breaking celebrated its debut in this grandest of sports arenas.
To add more fuel to his legendary status, Hong 10 has proudly been taking up and conquering big challenges from breakers worldwide.
Hong 10 is without a doubt an icon in breaking. When it comes to the dance, he always develops his skills, his body, and his mind. Through his storied breaking career, he has learned that he can do anything he puts his mind to, knowing that all it takes is consistent work and effort.