Okay, from now on, I will be addressing them (B-boys/girls) as b-boys. And no, I am not sexist.
What is a b-boy you ask? A b-boy stands for boys that break. Some other people might have different opinions on what it means, but this is the most correct out of all of them.
Style- Many people compare style to power. But there is nothing to compare between the two. Style is something you have. Power, footwork, and freezes are something you learn. Those are the categories that should be compared instead of style and power. You incorporate style into your power, footwork, and freezes.
Style is the way you dance, the way you move. It is your style. Not anyone's other than yours. It is a unique way people express himself or herself through the dance. That is why it is your owns. Style can be made in plenty of ways. Dance however you feel like, like no one is watching. Accidents happen. But you can progress your style from them. Never be embarrassed when you mess up. Be creative, and be yourself.
In most cases, all b-boys have style or else they wouldn't be much of a b-boy. Don't forget, the floor is yours once you step on it, so do anything and everything you want to do while youˇ¦re on it.
Also remember that style is what defines yourself as a b-boy, it doesn't have to be completely unique and defferent, as long as it is yourself.
Power- Power is what most people know about, whether they are in the b-boy community or not. Power is what you would probably see on television more than anything else of the aspect of b-boying. Power are moves that involves skills, and knowing the basic concept of the move. The most common powers are: Windmills, Flares, Headspins, and Swipes. You will probably hear this a lot.
Yes, there are those who are called powerheads, but they still have respect from other b-boys. Although all they do is power. Any b-boy who stays in one component of b-boying won't be your greatest b-boy. It is always better to have all aspects of b-boying in your arsenal.
Footwork- Footwork is what you mostly see how some b-boys start off. Some either do footwork throughout the whole thing, and end it with a freeze, or do footwork to get momentum for the power they are getting ready to bust. Those are the two main ways b-boys use footwork. When you think of footwork, you also think of style, simply because style is more common with being incorporated with footwork, than power, and freezes, although they can be easily be in all.
Footwork is when the b-boy starts walking his legs on the floor (hard to explain). The most basic, and most heard of footwork move is the 6-step. There isn't as much footwork move since it has more style. The amount of style, and made up moves people have in footwork, is too much, and somewhat too complicated to be made a move. That is why there are very few footwork moves, which include: 2-step, 3-step, 4-step, 6-step, helicopter, sweeps, and pompo. Those may not be all of them, but it is the majority of them.
Freeze- Freezes are what you see when someone gets into a certain position and holds it. It may not be held for at least 2 seconds, but it is still a freeze. This category can have style just as well as power and footwork. When you think enough some of the harder freezes like planche and airchairs need more strength than some power, which most people don't know.
Toprock/ Uprock- These two ˇ§movesˇ¨ don't really have their own category since there's just not enough of it. But it is one of the most important factors of b-boying. It is told plenty of times that it is for starting your circle, or getting ready to bust your move. But truly this is where most of the style goes. This is your dance. The dance you do without getting down on the floor, without flipping around, and without standing on your arms. It is the b-boys typical dance.
Toprock is still different than Uprock, but not in many ways. It is mostly different, because Uprock is truly a completely diff. form of dancing, out of bboying. To find more info. on uprocking, check out
www.dynastyrockers.com
Now that you know what the aspects of b-boying is, let's move on.
Labels:
Many people are labeled as certain things in b-boying. Some that have a positive message, and some that have a negative message. But the most important thing to remember as a b-boy is RESPECT. I will get to this later.
Powerhead (-)- This is just the disrespectful way (to me) to label someone who does ONLY power. Although it is bad, you have to give the b-boy respect for what he does.
Footwork Fanatic (+-)- This one doesn't have too much of a bad or good meaning. It is basically labeling someone who LOVES and adores footwork. The reason why this is good and bad is because, the fact that it is good is because it shows that you want more of the basic foundation, and improve upon your style, since style is probably the easiest to incorporate into footwork. The reason why it is bad is because you are also saying, you so much time working on footwork, and don't have any power, freezes, or anything else.
Biter (-)ˇK. Pause, I just realized most of the labels have a negative meaning, back to where we were
Biter (-)- A biter is simply someone who Bites. Someone who bites is someone who copies (almost exactly) a move from someone else.
But of course nowadays it is very hard not to bite, since so much has already been done. But for those who are still working on their style, and trying to make it the most unique it can be, those people will be the ones who start the new world of b-boying.
Stylist (+)- A stylist is someone who works on style constantly, whether it is in footwork, or any other of the aspects. This shows how much ones self as a b-boy wants to be unique, and have his own way of dancing.
Well I cant' really think of anymore but you can add any if you want, and I will edit it, but the upcoming label is one used by so many people, and I don't understand it
Poser (---------)- Well, I do not know the actual definition of this word, although I (in a way) know it means someone who says he can do something he can't. I can understand that, but the usage of it used in context that I see have so many people calling people posers, who AREN'T saying they can do something they can't. I'd personally like it better if this word had no meaning so no one would use it. It doesnˇ¦t do any good to call someone a poser, when you yourself don't know what it means. But to me, I would have to say the actual definition is that someone who says they can do something that they can't do.
Feel free to add any
What do you think about when you hear hip hop? Most likely the music, the mainstream hip hop. Examples: Eminem, Ja Rule, 50 Cent, P Diddy, etc.
Instead, Hip Hop is the culture itself. Now yoou might be thinking, then what are the elements?
The Four Elements of Hip Hop
Graffiti- the litterature
Emceeing- The language
Deejaying- The music
B-boying- The dance
RESPECT
Respect is one of the MOST, and when I say most, I mean the MOST important thing in b-boying and Hip Hop as a whole . In most cases, you show respect when you're given respect. Therefore, in hip hop, mostly, everyone has respect for one another which makes it such a wonderful community. But still, outside of bboying, show respect to others.
Little lessons in between
I'm sure yall know about the whole fact that the word breakdancing was made by the media, and the actual proper way to say it is b-boying instead. But it doesn't matter that much what you call it since, its basically the same thing all in one. But it wouldnt hurt calling it b-boying.
Confused Terms:
Footwork, Floorwork, Downrock- These are all the same things, just different names for them.
B-boy & Breakdancer- Most people think both mean the same thing, but they aren't. A breakdancer is someone who breaks, but doesn't know anything about the culture itself, and doesn't care about it. A b-boy is someone who breaks, but at the same time, they stay true to the culture, and have respect.
Turtles, Crickets, & UFOs- These moves are not the same. Turtles is the basic, where you "walk" in circles, Crickets is when you "hop" in circles, and UFOs are when you "walk" in circles, except your arms should be straight.
Airflares & Airtracks- Many people have their own way of explaining their way on how these are different and the same. I personally think they are the same. Simply because people changed the name during history. I can not explain as thoroughly enough, but just trust me. Another reason is when you see Airtracks, it's usually done off of windmills or flares, and they usually do it one at a time, unlinke Airflares, which are usually done contunuosly. Therefore, they are the same move, but people get them confused on how many rotations are usually done with the move, or many other things.
Flares and "Flairs: They are one and the same thing, the correct spelling is flare.
1990s, 90s and 2000s: 1990s are when you spin on one hand very fast, 90s are just a short version, but 2000s are when u spin on BOTH hands very fast.
feel free to add any
SURFACES
In this section I will be telling you about the common breaking surfaces.
Lino- one of the most common breaking surfaces, although it cost at least $10 itz a really good surface
Cardboard- another common breaking surface, this one is probably the best (in my opinion) simply because even though itz free, since you find it while you walk down your street, when assembled into one big peice, it is a great surface to break on, not as great as lino, but it is still very good, the biggest downfall is they mess up quiker and you have to find more and assemble another one
Other- If you don't prefer either above, try using something you already have, for examples:
carpet, wood flooring, tile flooring, cement(basically anywhere), etc.
also, if you are able to, gym floors are great for breaking
B-boying is an art form, not just a dance, or an extracurricular activity. Always remember that about b-boying.
Well, I hope this tells a little bit to all of yall beginners.
~AznBreaka
jus tryin ta do my best for the b-boyz
Feel free to put down any suggestions.
EDited by DMD: just added some stuff ite
IMPORTANT: NEWBZ READ HERE FIRST
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