[Ziveeman]

Chrisstyles, you've proved to us that you have no idea what you're talking about.

Abstract != flexibility.

Abstract = Paranoid Android
Flexibility = Rubberlegz

The most extreme example. There are some that combine both abstract and flexibility, such as Cracker Zacks and Law.

And to those who don't know abstract, or what it really is...here's what Yoga Monkey (ex-Sour Patch member) said:

okay, heres the deal with abstract bboying, you have full knowledge of foundation and you understand that rules, and then you can break them and actually develop your own unique style of dance, thats not really traditiona(using 6 steps and stuff like that). I noticed that you used clips of P.A. when he was in Sour Patch (I battled with him, Im in 4:00 and also 1:34: the timecode counts down and yes, I was in Sour Patch Reborn) he's a good example of abstract. Abstract isn't lotuses, your leg behind your head(which Law should be given credit for bein one of the first to develop his style from moves of that type)

Story telling is like this...what story telling is, is you create a story in your set by using text, suspense, and a climax in the set. text usually being unique movements that are simple or complex, but not too flashy. then the suspense is the transition through your movements which lead to the climax or the blow up, P.A. called it an ender. so however you wanna complete the set and leave a lasting mark on the story that you told is the idea. Do something thats unique so that people don't forget what you just did, even after the battle. I can name off combinations that I've through the years from jams that I've been to all over the U.S. that have been abstract and really played the label well.

hope this somewhat helps. so basically tell a story through your movements but using simple original movements that transition well and lead to your ender.

Peace
Yoga- ex SourPatch

The reason why abstract cats don't use the traditional foundation is because they're bored with it! For them, the 6-step, CCs, 3-step, etc aren't enough. So they break away from that to make their own "foundation." The thing is that these abstract cats KNOW foundation, they just don't do it in battles because they don't like it! How many times have you withheld a move during a battle because you don't like it? Is there a move that you learned and never did again because you don't like it? That's exactly their reason why they're abstract.

[dbaznxdragon]

chrisstyles supports traditional bboying

i respect that and i understand that

but chris, u need to respect other dance styles nonetheless man, that's their way to express themselves...jus do what you do and let them do what they do and all is good.

and ziveeman understands, abstract is to PA as flexibility is to rubberlegz

[bboyshigatsu]

I always thought B Boying and B-Girling was also about showing respect to other breakers and the way they move wid the beat...Its thier own foundation in any way lol and yes I AM a abstract bboy

[Zes]

I've been in that kind of breaking.

Abstract ain't better or worst than any other kind of breakin.

I actually CAN do a lot of shit that looks abstract, but as some guys said, abstract doesn't mean flexible. I can kick my leg behind my head, do lotus almost in any position, shit, i can even put my right foot under my left arm with my leg behind my back...

Abstract style is something that's really fun to watch too, it's another atractive and style, it's hard to perform properly and it's also something that all the bboys should respect as much as any other style.
It's not just some people doing weird shit with their legs, it's something that they had to work on and it's their way of expressing themselves through dancing.

I've met a lot of abstract bboys in my country, they tried to get me into it 'cuz they said i had talent for it, but it just wasn't fun for me...

There's a lot of disrespect to this kind of dance.

There's a video of Machine/Ajax/Kareem talking about abstract style on YouTube that you might wanna check.




And by the way... Has anyone seen bboy Tazmo from Terrorythm on "IBE 2005 Germany vs. France"??

The silence from the audience when he comes out and does his shit is terrible. o_o' He must've felt like shit after that set.

[StevEFreeze]

A lot of people think that Bboying has to look a certain way. Which isn't true. Art has lots of forms, from surrealism, to abstract. Bboying is like an art form, to express yourself. Why can't Bboying be that way either?

To me, that's style because you want to tell your own story. In battles, your going to have audiences, and some people are going to like your abstract style, and some people arent.

But it all starts with foundation. You don't have to do foundation in battles if you choose not to, but you should have a solid foundation before you break into other styles.

You can't ride a bike without walking, you can't paint without knowing what lines are. Everything starts from the beginning..

Powerheads use power all the time, you rarely see them use Foundation, do you? They know it, but the thing is, maybe they don't want to use it?

Same goes for Abstract bboys. =)

[StruckDET]

I would have to agree. Big time with the power heads refusing to do power.. I mean use Omar from Zulu Kings. He was a huge power head with Jive turkeys and we he first started, But then he broke away from it and realized he loved power. So I mean som power heads hate the basic foundation of the beginnig, with the 6-step-3-step. so on.. but everyone is different thats what makes this style of dance very intriguing

[Rath]

This is a hella old topic, but whatever...

I respect that abstract b-boying is new and to me, at least, it's not near polished enough to flow with the music. But everything starts somewhere and I don't doubt that sooner or later an abstract b-boy is going to come out and murder the beat whilst showing how much of a funky cat he/she is.

Foundation to me is expression, not toprock/footwork. So it's only a matter of time before abstract finds its identity.

[bboyjevon]

taught by and trained with this cat - Crazy al.

[Dups]

Yeah Crazy Al always was a bit.. crazy.

But he got me doing fresh moves i had never thought about before.

Its also nice to see people pushing the boundaries and creating different styles. Its dancers like that who don't leave you thinking same old, same old.

But having said that i agree that you need solid basic techniques to build upon.

[dragon29125]

i respect abstract because they are trying to create soemthing new. If everybody thinks like crhis,there wont be powermove invented because everybody are too narrow minded to think of any new move =X

come on,bboying is practically something you should experiment on.Nobody says what your set must be like or not like.That is what makes it different from other dance.

If you can;t think out of the box,I think you should just learn ballet lol

[Nooodles]

lmao.. im tired of hearing pplz saying shit about abstract bboys. well every abstract bboys do know the foundations; sixstep, ccs, three step, ect but they wanna create a new style. sure u guys dont think its not bboying but its really unique. but there is no limits to bboying. its good to bring something new to the table. its like the same arguments how the stylists(styleheads) are bitchin about powerheads not having foundation. if the whole world was all about just toprocking and footwork, bboying would be dead! let everyone do their thing as if they let you do yours.