Hey everyone who's tryint to get windmill, just starting this thread wit buncha tips/problems that I have seen + encountered. Feel free to ask about certain tips or post ur own:
Starting – There are basically two versions of starting windmillz. There is the handspin position which I favor a lot and the martial arts spinup version. With the handspin position u r basically resting ur entire weight on ur elbow and kicking one of legs up for elevation and one of ur legs under for power (look up mothergoose guide 4 in detail explanation). I can’t do the martial arts version, but its basically where u kick into a windmill from ur back.
Windmillz are ROLLING actions - a lot of ppl c that millz are spinz. NOT TRUE. When ur milling, ur rolling over ur upper back. Do not roll over ur shoulders since it just hurts and u lose all power from going up too much. The motion is rolling from upper back to ur hands (for stabbing) to ur upper back to ur handz. This is an essential idea to get since ur are rolling round in a circle and not staying in one place. A lot of movement and control iz involved (btw in the breakdance.com dvd, the tutorial describes it as a continuos backspin, which I can't really agree wit since it throws off the concept of rolling and not spinning)
For stabbing: the collapse - the collapse in the fundamental part of the stabbing millz. This is how you link individual millz together. I c that many ppl get stuck after rolling back onto thier hands from their back. The point here is the hand position, which is placed in ur gut (usually round spot where u place the elbow for handglides). Ur haf to find the best position for urself that when u get back onto ur handz, u can just roll over it. DON'T INJURE YOURSELF BY TRYING TO COLLAPSE IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION!!! The best position for the collapse through hand placement comes through practice. Keep at it!!!
One leg kick up, one leg swinging under – the windmill is powered by kicks. Also, there is an element of going up and over at the same time. U need to elevate ur body in order to allow one of ur legs to swing under and u need to swing a leg under to get enough power to roll. So, u haf to kick one leg up for elevation, while at the same time swinging under to get power. This is a coordination issue and it only comes with practice. I highly recommend the Mothergoose Windmill guide (sorry don’t have the link) to explain the stuff in more detail. U can’t windmill if ur whole body falls flat on the floor. The leg, along with the stabbing of the elbow gives u elevation to swing ur leg under.
Swinging + Kicking ur legs give u power - speed iz an important part of getttin sick millz. For speed u need power and that comez from ur legz whipping around. Ppl complain about gettin stuck on their back and that is becuz they lose all their momentum and power. It is essential that ur keep ur legs in a V position but don't let them just hang there. By leaving ur legs out in the V position, ur getting a lot of momentum which addz to the power or ur kick effect which speeds up ur millz like crazy.
Tips for nutcrackers/munch millz/barrels – I can’t do these yet (getting’ there) but the real key to these moves is whipping ur body around the front since ur aren’t using ur hands any more for stabbing and support. U will still be rolling on ur back as usual. But when u start rolling to ur front, ur haf to push off/bounce with shoulder ur rolling over so u “jump” completely over to ur other shoulder. Think of it as stabbing millz but instead of stabbing ur bouncing from shoulder to shoulder. I can only get these will a lot of speed since it feels like ur whipping across ur front. For nutcrackers ur head doesn’t haf to tounch the ground but 4 barrels and munchmillz u put ur head on the ground and use it as a pivot point.
Summary:
power = kicking + coordination
linking = stabbing + collapsing + ROLLING (not spinning!!)
Can't think of any more rite now, let me know wut u think!!!
...
