Breaking
What’s a biter? Toprock or uprock? These terms sound alien? Let’s get familiar!
There's no doubt about it: breakdancing isn't for the weak. No, it literally requires an incredible amount of strength and control. But with some strength building and lots of practice, you could be the next best B-boy or B-girl on the block. The best way to start is to learn what kind of moves you'll need to start practicing. Keep reading to learn some of the top moves and tips to get you started.
The Breakdancing Basics
Here are some of the moves that can give you an idea of what B-boying is all about:
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1. 3 Step
Didn’t understand any of those terms? That's exactly why you must read below to get an understanding of what the style ‘Bboying’ is all about.
This move is truly a beginner basic for any hopeful B-boy. This move consists of three steps (surprise, surprise) that you do in a circle formation. Here's what to do to get started:
- Get on the ground in a crab walk position, facing up with your arms behind you and your knees bent. Extend your right leg in front of you while the other leg remains down to support you. Bring the extended leg back inside while lifting yourself into a crunch pushup position, where your knees are bent, your arms are on the ground below your shoulders, and your soles are on the ground.
- While still facing the same direction, switch to the left side, extending your left leg and placing your left hand on the ground at your side.
- Return to the crunch pushup position, while turning 90-degrees and continue the steps while moving in a circle and alternating between extending both legs.
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2. Corkscrew Up
When you're breakdancing, you can't just get up off the ground normally. You need to do it with style. That's where the corkscrew comes in. To do this, you:
- Support yourself with one hand.
- Cross one foot in front of the other.
- Push off with your hand and feet.
- Twist as you return to standing.
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3. The Toprock aka Shuffle
From a freeze over nose and a mill over the belly, this is the base to everything in B-boying. A Toprock is an introduction to what you serve on the floor. This usually starts in a standing position moving onto presenting what you feel to the song through movement. And next? BAM! “Throw down” those moves on them!
To practice a beginning toprock move, you can:
- Stand with your feet about hip-length apart.
- Point your left toe to the right side to the beat while moving your arms and bouncing at the same pace.
- Return to your starting position.
- Do the same thing with your right foot.
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4. Downrock
As opposed to Toprock, a Downrock is an element of breakdancing which is normally performed with the hands and feet on the floor. By performing footwork combinations the dancer here proves his proficiency in having immense control over the foot speed. Downrock combinations occasionally transit into athletic moves also called as the power moves. The foundational downrock move is known as the six-step, which is a variation of the three-step.
With the six-step, you can either move clockwise or counter-clockwise, and it takes you three moves to get to the back and three to get you to the front, resulting in a total of six steps:
- Start in a crouching position.
- Hook your right foot around your left leg and place your right hand on the ground to stabilize. Transfer your weight to the ball of your right foot, freeing up your left leg and extend your left leg behind you, taking almost a runner's stance with your right hand on the ground.
- Put your left arm down on the ground and spread your left leg, making a frog-like position.
- Put your weight on your left arm and right leg and cross your left leg diagonally, slightly past your left arm.
- Move your right leg into the crease of your left knee, drop your left leg, and put your weight on your right heel.
- Step out with your left leg, returning to the neutral, starting position.
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5. One Hand 99
Intriguing, isn't it? Okay, this is pretty crazy. It starts off with a handstand with legs around, putting all your weight on that one hand you want to spin on. Using both legs to maintain balance, keep wrapping them around and keep spinning. Aligning your balancing hand with the centre and the body is crucial.
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6. Freezes
Similar to the game ‘Statue!' Freezing for a couple of seconds during any sequence of moves is what defines a Freeze! A really popular move is the baby freeze, where you use your upper body strength and balance to elevate yourself off the ground. Once you're ready, you:
- Get on your hands and knees.
- Bend your right arm at a 90-degree angle, pressing your elbow against your hip.
- Place your left hand on the ground in front of you.
- Lean forward, take your legs off the ground, and place all of your weight on your hands and shoulders. Hold this position for a few seconds.
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7. Turtle
Tucking your elbows under your body, transferring your weight on both hands simultaneously and spinning over your wrists is what a Turtle is. And you thought wrists are utilised only for accessorizing it?
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Tips for Beginners
Breakdancing requires strength, agility, and balance, so it's super important that you keep a few things in mind:
- Master the basics first.
- Practice regularly so that you can get in the flow and build off of what you have learned.
- Build up your strength and endurance by regularly exercising in addition to practicing.
So, when we see you at the Red Bull BC One Cypher, we hope you will have done your homework well.
