Breaking
Discover the inspiring journey of B-Girl Ami: From humble beginnings in Japan to world stage glory - and beyond.
B-Girl Ami is a two-time Red Bull BC One world champion and an Olympic gold medalist. She inspires b-girls worldwide and has a traditional style that covers the whole complexity of breaking. Below we bring you nine facts about the star b-girl that you'll want to know.
01
Ami was introduced to hip-hop by her sister
B-Girl Ami was first introduced to hip-hop culture by her older sister Ayu at the age of six, sparking a passion that's burning strong to this day. Ayu's and Ami's paths are still intertwined, with the sisters regularly competing in duo competitions and both of them judging and performing worldwide. A major win for them as a duo was winning the Battle of the Year 2vs2 B-Girl competition in 2016.
02
First steps into breaking and family support
While her first contact with dance was via hip-hop freestyle, Ami quickly switched disciplines when she saw the raw energy of breaking a few years after her initiation into dance. By the age of 10, she was fully committed to breaking and already mastered the windmill.
To improve quickly she was eager to train with the best and wanted to join b-boys for practice sessions at Mizonokuchi train station. The issue? The practice spot was two hours from home. She still made it to practice often, thanks to her mom.
“My mom always would be driving to go to that practice place and come back home."
03
Training, mentors and the development of her style
Seeing the commitment and dedication of the young b-girl, some of the best b-boys to come out of Japan – including Katsu-One, Taisuke and Wata – became her teachers or mentors.
Considering these teachers, it comes as no surprise that her style turned out to be clean, with smooth flow, razor-sharp footwork and explosive power moves. Ami takes her time to present all the elements of breaking in a balanced way, often spending time top-rocking instead of quickly hitting the floor, while showing a deep understanding of the music. On the floor, she seamlessly flows between footwork, freezes and power moves to create rounds that have it all.
04
She won Red Bull BC One twice
In 2018, Ami made history by becoming the first-ever b-girl to win the Red Bull BC One World Final, in the inaugural year of the b-girl category. This was shortly followed by becoming the first b-girl to join the Red Bull BC One All Stars. "When I won, I felt so proud to be representing my country and myself," she says. "At the time, I wasn't only focusing on winning the belt and making history but also having fun."
In 2023 Ami won her second belt at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Paris, becoming the second b-girl to win Red Bull BC One multiple times. The only other b-girl to do so is fellow Red Bull BC One All Star Kastet.
Check out what the two had to say about winning their original titles below.
05
Ami has her own episode in Rise of the B-Girls
Our Red Bull TV show Rise of the B-Girls has an episode telling Ami's story. Watch it below to find out how Ami got her teacher, Katsu-One, a shoutout by DJ Renegade on the live stream of the Red Bull BC One World Final 2018.
06
Her life outside of breaking
Despite a strict practice schedule, Ami still has ambitions and hobbies that go beyond the dance floor. She graduated in British-American literature and enjoys knitting, photography and cooking. One of her dreams for the future is backpacking around Southeast Asia.
Ami also has a love for nature and aspires to have a garden of her own in the future, reflecting her multifaceted personality.
07
Breaking shaped her character
Breaking became far more than an artistic outlet for Ami. It helped build nerves of steel while giving her the possibility to express herself. “Before, I got nervous really so easily,” she said. “So, the most challenging part for me is winning over myself and my nerves and doing my best on the stage.”
While winning is fun, Ami clarifies that it's just a part of why breaking is the thing for her: “Winning a battle, of course, is so amazing, but at the same time, meeting people from all over the world has become an inspiration for me," she told Forbes. These precious encounters and experiences with different dancers mean so much to me.”
08
She competed in Red Bull Lords of the Floor 2024
Red Bull Lords of the Floor was an iconic 2vs2 battle that took place in 2001 and 2002. It came back in 2024 to celebrate breaking and the culture. Ami competed with Taisuke, one of her mentors from back in the day.
You can watch the whole event below:
09
Ami became an Olympic gold medalist in Paris
In 2024, breaking debuted at the Olympic Games in Paris. Ami won the competition in a thrilling final against fellow Red Bull BC One All-Star Nicka, which made her the first female breaking gold medalist at the Olympics.
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