Basics

GET STARTED
As opposed to most beginner’s opinion, Breaking can’t be learned just within some weeks, it takes several years to get some good skills!

The foundation of the dance is based on steps in standing position (toprocks), steps on the floor (footwork), spins and so called freezes. If you haven’t any clue about these basics here are some possibilities to check them out:

  • Go to an event that features B-Girls/B-Boys.
  • Go to a place where B-Girls/B-Boys are practising.
  • Check out videos of Breaking events, crews or dancers.
    (recommended: DMC B-Boy Foundation – instructional video / The Freshest Kids – documentary video )

As soon as you visualized the basics try to engage in the moves, find out how they work and develope them to the next level. Breaking is about finding your own character, your own style….is about being creative!

And don’t forget, there are so many different aspects of style and originality: toprock; drop down into footwork every time differently; footwork with little steps and tricks and not just plain six step; freezes (creative and not trendy stuff); different and new spinning moves; end all of these moves with something; get up and make all one piece, one whole story!

HINTS TO MASTER SOME MOVES
Breaking is about coordination, technique, momentum and strength. All of them work together. To improve your moves you can only practice them over and over again. There is no other possibility!

Here you can find some hints:

Backspin

  • Spin as high on your back as possible.
  • Try to make the “spinning-point” as small as possible.
  • You should feel the momentum in your legs.
  • If you feel the momentum in your legs (this happens when you are fast and stable enough), you can try to spin faster by closing them more and more.
  • Try to do it out of a windmill (then you can spin really fast and quit a long time).

Flare (Thomas-)

  • Keep your legs spread.
  • Keep your hip always on the same high (in the front not too high, else you will fall down in the back..).
  • Take the momentum with the leg which is nearer the ground..
  • Make fast changes in the front and in the back with your legs and your hip: The leg which was nearer the ground is after the change high in the air..
  • Be also quick with your hands (placement).
  • When you are in the back, never look to the front but try to look at the floor and try to push your hip upwards. This will help you to keep your hip high and thus you won’t hit the floor with your legs. And you will also have enough space for taking momentum to the next turn!

Headspin

  • Keep your body in one line and thus watch your head, neck and back position!
  • Spread your legs. Balance and take momentum with your hands.
  • Try to be as constant as possible with the hand-placement (time between two tips).
  • Begin slowly and increase your speed not too fast.
  • If your leg suddenly dips down, try to angle your leg a little bit.
  • If you feel the momentum in your legs (this happens when you are fast and stable enough), you can try to spin without your hands..
  • The most important thing: Practice again and again for getting the feeling of balancing on the head and also for getting the muscles in the neck!

1990, 99

  • First you should know that this move is one of the most difficult ones. You need a lot of practice and feeling to be able to do it..
  • Practice a lot the handstand that you get a certain feeling of being on your hands and also the power to hold yourself. If you can’t stand for a certain time you can support yourself at a wall by doing the handstand right next to it.
  • First get on both of your hands. Then take momentum with your legs and displace the weight on the hand you want to spin on.
  • Your arm (on which you spin) should be in one line with your body (near to your head).
  • Take care that your legs take equable momentum (else you don’t spin on one point and you fall down).

Turtle

  • Practice a lot balancing on your hands (without rotation). For this move you must be able to balance on both of your hands!
  • Do only little steps with your hands at the beginning of the rotation.
  • Don’t forget to breath!! This may sound funny, but if you do not breath, you will always suddenly end up with the move and you don’t know why
  • Try to find a certain cadence (rhythm) and be as constant as possible.

Windmill (Continues Backspin)

  • Spread your legs and keep them stiff (the muscles have to be strained)
  • Start on your hands and not on your back.
  • Go from the hands onto your shoulder and not onto the side of your back or onto your hip!
  • Try to be as high as possible when you are turning over your back. It would be perfect if you turn only over your shoulders. But for that you have to be fast enough..
  • Try to turn over your head, but put it early on the floor. Go with your head to the floor when you are on the back or at the latest on the side. When you are in front it’s too late and you will hit the floor with your head.
  • There are different possibilities to improve the speed of your windmill:
  • Try to take momentum also with your hip.
  • Angle your legs a little bit.
  • Turn all the time over your head and take momentum mainly with your hip and your upper part of the body.
  • Practice again and again and thus improve your technique…

Check out the B-Boying Dictionary to learn about even more moves.