[charliExboI]

Ive been poppin for about 7 months now and ive always wanted to learn locking. I watch countless videos and practice on my own but i would like to know the best place to begin locking. like certain basic moves i should learn etc.

[kandyflip]

Most lockers I've spoken to seem to agree that the core moves of locking are:
1) up-and-lock
2) wrist roll
3) pacing
4) the point

Eventually, you will be able to learn moves that will get you up in the air, on the ground, and moving around the dance floor, but start with these!

My advice is to learn the correct technique of each of the above four moves, and eventually you will learn four or five variations of each. One thing you'll find with locking is that many moves you can do just with your right hand, you can do just with your left hand, or with both hands together. Some moves can be done both high up, and low down.

I'd also say that it's good to learn what these moves actually mean and where they come from, so you know what you are actually communicating, rather than doing moves for the sake of doing moves! this will add much more meaning and conviction to your dancing.

And I'd also recommend finding out what are the characteristics and themes of locking as a dance are, e.g. friendship and brotherhood, exaggeration, stop/start, up/down, inwards/outwards motions, stiff upper body/loose hips and lower body. Try to learn to apply these to how you do your moves, and how you join the moves together.

Good luck! If you want me to elaborate on anything feel free to ask.

Disclaimer: All of the above is my own interpretation of locking, and I am separated from the creation of locking by both time and geography. It's entirely possible that another locker on this forum would have a completely different perspective....

[wavedash]

Let me be very particular, given my own background:

I would argue that the four basics are:

1. Up/lock
2. Wrist rolls
3. Points and variations thereof, including but not restricted to paces or complicated point sequences
4. Give-yourself-5, claps, etc

In the beginning you must drill yourself for a period so that you find your comfort zone.
LEARN TO BE ON BEAT!!!!
Learn the difference between "technical" and "funky" lockers -- by technical styles I would say the difference between say, Gemini as technical and the Go Go Bros. as funky.
Begin to understand concepts like "lines" and "musicality".
KNOW YOUR HISTORY! Locking is a dance that revolves around culture and the history of the dance. Not knowing what you are doing and where the moves and terminology come from will really hurt your dance, no joke. Immerse yourself in as many instructors/teachers you can, go back to the source, and find out WHAT SUITS YOU BEST.
Be patient. Don't copy and mimic the GoGo Bros pound for pound... do what suits you best, not what you think looks cool.

There are a thousand things I would prescribe for beginners.

But most importantly... HAVE FUN!!!!

[azndannyxd]

anyone have vids/tutorials of these 5 basic moves?

[kandyflip]

I always thought the Groovaloos DVDs were excellent in teaching the detail of the technique of basic moves of locking. See Groovaloo Kingdom

Volume 1 teaches wrist rolls, points and the lock. Volume 3 teaches the lock, iron horse (a.k.a whichaway) and the stop and go. They really break it down, and they're also very big on beginners feeling the music rather than just doing the moves.

[charliExboI]

thanks for the help. really useful stuff. i admire locking incredibly

[boiiwonder]

1) up-and-lock
2) wrist roll
3) pacing
4) the point

these are the 5 things i learned first so yeah start here then build off of it

[blue steel]

i would agree that the aforementioned moves form the core of locking, however, for someone that's new to it, i highly recommend learning how to be funky first without doing locking moves.

essentially, you should drill the "feel" of locking more than anything when starting out, otherwise you can do all the points, blasts, wrist-twirls as sharp as you want and it isn't gonna look like locking--rather you're gonna wind up looking mechanical instead of funky.


by this i mean work on being animated --- from the shoulders, torso, hips, head, and neck . . . and of course legs as well (as you'll want to be dynamic, yet defined with your posture and level changes). i can't get into too many details as to how to do this, as then i'd just start rambling, but just watch how the lockers like the go-go bros. move to the music minus the "locking moves" and you'll see what i mean.

when you have that "feel" down, it slowly becomes more natural to maintain that feel when you do the fundamental locking moves. one thing for sure though, is that it's not gonna happen overnight, so don't get discouraged. i for one am still taking my lumps in the circles, but i'm learning and loving every minute of it.

[HKflame]

hm i'm not much of a locker althought i've been learning how to lock with my popping because that's the way it's taught here in brisbane. i love locking but i don't perform it much because i'm not that gd a it. anyways
the basic things that i learn to start of was

rhythm
points
claps
paces/punches
locks

the thing with points and paces is that there is a specific route you have to follow through your hands. eg: points. when you point you point from your body and outwards. like you don't point from mid air, you have to bring you hand back to your chest and then throw your arm out again to point.
its' hard to explain by text, if you want to i don't mind posting up a clip for you dude, but remeber i'm not that gd at locking although i know the basic techniques.

[kandyflip]

Originally Posted by blue steel essentially, you should drill the "feel" of locking more than anything when starting out, otherwise you can do all the points, blasts, wrist-twirls as sharp as you want and it isn't gonna look like locking--rather you're gonna wind up looking mechanical instead of funky.

I really agree with that.

One of the things I know that seems to frustrate some beginners, though, when they start dancing is getting at what funky actually means. They can see with their own eyes if a same move is done in a funky way or not done in a funky. But often struggle to figure out what it is that makes something funky.

I've spoken to a dance teacher who says she can teach moves and routines to a class but can't teach funkiness because it has to come from that person.

Which begs the question, what actually is 'funky'? And are there tangible ingredients of what makes something funky? Is it something you either have or don't have? And is it something that can or cannot be taught?