[skysthelimit]

Sup everyone.

Yup, yup, I do know that there is a practice thread. But I think it's not informative enough. Only knowing how long one practices isn't enough for me! soooo... therefore I made THIS thread!!

In this thread, you can obviously post how long, how many days a week you practice, but you must also tell us HOW you practice. in other words... your environment, where you practice, who you practice with, music, etc. Get my drift?

Now...I don't know if this thread is going to get deleted or not.. (crossing my fingers for the best) But i'd love to just hear how everyone practices. (I feel ambitious today heh heh)


Ok.. now with that outta the way.. I practice for 30 minutes today... Being down right honest, and not gonna exhagerate, a good ol' 30 minutes. Reason being, that my practice environment is pretty boring.. (and crappy)

My practice area is located in my basement! But it's not any ordinary basement. It's pretty much crappier then most basements ever made out there... It has a dirty, dusty cement floor that I barely sweep, cracks on the floor and walls, and very poor lighting (which makes me have to carry around my huge light post thing around with me everywhere)

My practice environment is boring as HE--. I ENVY the people with nice wood floors, and good lighting, along with good air! (my basement is stagnant)

So pretty much, that's my practice area. (at least my NORMAL practice area) and my weeks consists of...

Monday: Usually a 50/50 chance to practice. 10th grade is not that easy my friend
Tuesday: I usually practice everyday on Tues. (like today) just cause im getting used to the school week again, and the desire to improve
Wednesday: No practice. EVER. because of special things i would not like to post here =]
Thurs.: BBOY CLUUUUB. about 2-3 hours usually. The practice is located in a dance studio near our school, or sometimes even in our own gym. Thursdays are by far, my FAVORITE days. Obviously. (did anyone notice that almost all schools have bboy clubs on Thurs?? I dunno. most schools in my area holds it on Thurs.)
Friday: Oh yes. My favorite of all days. With school over, I literally throw my backpack and head out immediately. To either chill, or MOST likely, practice.
Saturday: 2 hours of practice. It's usually 1 hour, then another hour later.
Sunday: Church. Gotta praise mah lord =]

EDIT: Oh by the way, I meant to ask this. For all of you guys who have been saying you practice like, 3 hours a day, or 2 hours a day... how do you do it? Usually by an hour, I'm exhausted as hell... so what makes you guys able to practice 2-3 + hours??



whew. Now, I would love for ya'll to post your types of practice. Remember, your location, environment, the people, etc etc. get moving!

[BbOyJeOpArDy]

wtf is this gay shit

[NiSenNen]

Seems like an interesting thread for once.

My club's practices schedules are Tues and Thurs for 2 hours each.
But most people arrive one hour late so sessions are effectively just 1 hour.
Honestly, I don't think practicing for twice a week will get you anywhere in BBoying. As the people I practice with have been at the same skill level for almost 2 years.
Still, the guys I practice with are pretty good to start with and the atmosphere is competitive. I kind of ignore that atmosphere though and I go at my own pace.

For me, I practice as often as I can. Usually it's 2 entire hours every day. Weekends, I get lazy, so I take those days off.
But recently school has been getting in my way, so I can only managed like 3 days a week and 2 hours each of those days.

Before, when school wasn't my concern and I concentrated on BBoying instead, I noticed that the more you practice consistently every day, the longer you can practice in general. I started with 2 hours regularly every day of the week, then I moved it up to 3 hours or more. Everyone at session gets tired after 1 or 2 hours while I keep on going. But since I stopped practicing that routine, my stamina has decreased back to normal levels.

Recently though, I have been practicing a different way and I think I'm getting more positive results than I usually do.

[Bboywhiterice]

kwl but should be in the moves guide somewhere.

[skysthelimit]

Originally Posted by BbOyJeOpArDy wtf is this gay shit

Do you really think that?


Yeah NiSensen I hear ya man. For me, endurance isn't always my thing. I think when I first started, I practiced like.. 10 minutes, with a 5 minute break. Then another 20 minutes, but it was really slow, meaning like, it wasn't intense practice. As time went on, 30 minutes is no big deal really.

ANd true that dude! in my club, there are people who've been breaking 1-2 years. for me, it's around my 2-3 month, and I'm already better then them.. (not to brag, but it's true.. some members of my club can barely do a 4 step, and don't even know how to do a 12 step.) I think it's mainly about how serious you take bboying, and how much it impacts your life. for me, it's pretty huge.

School is also pretty huge.... It's definetely a big obstacle, but also necesary. it's hard keeping up the grades, a school sport, and your bboy life. I actually dropped out of my basketball team because I just couldn't handle it all.

And also, describing your practice environments would be interesting =] just to add some spice to the thread haha. Like I said..my main practice area is in my basement.. with cracked old dirty cement floor.. ugh.

[iFly]

Just because someone doesn't know how to 4 step or 12step doesn't mean you're better than them, in my opinion 4 step isn't really something I would use in any set

[NiSenNen]

As someone who has breaked for a period of time, I believe having knowledge of the core foundation steps will benefit one's footwork style greatly whether or not you actually use the steps. However, that is a discussion for another day.

[skysthelimit]

Originally Posted by NiSenNen As someone who has breaked for a period of time, I believe having knowledge of the core foundation steps will benefit one's footwork style greatly whether or not you actually use the steps. However, that is a discussion for another day.

You took the words out of my mouth bro =]

Let me put it like this.

Bboying is like.. MATH!

imagine this. so you see a student in pre-calc, doing crazy brain-bustin equations, when he doesn't even know how to count his numbers. It's kinda like that.. (i had a better metaphor.. but i forgot it)

But learning the steps is FOUNDATION. you have to have knowledge of it.

It's kinda like Trying to build a skyscraper on sand. it's impossible. It's just like trying to learn power moves, and complicated footwork without knowing your basics. if you don't have a solid foundation, the WHOLE skyscraper comes falling down.

but I do agree with you, just because I know 4 step and 12 step does not make me better then them. But because you don't know ME or my other friend, I don't think you can really judge that just putting that out there.

[iFly]

I'm not saying that you should not learn the foundation I'm just saying just because you're friends can barely do something you can do, doesn't make you better as he might have a lot of things he can do, that you can't do.

[BbOyJeOpArDy]

Originally Posted by skysthelimit Do you really think that?

lol
i thought it was funny to say


my practice schedules are fairly loose... participation depends upon my workload of the week...

monday: lunch @ school bboy club 30 minute session, then 6-10 pm MITCHELL PARK, PALO ALTO, sometimes headhunters come (ie nasty ray, bobby vie) and other local bboys (hybrid crew, tofu house)
wednesday: MITCHELL PARK, PALO ALTO 6-10 PM
thursday: lunch @ school bboy club
friday night: 1030-3 crew practice, occasionally with other bboys or hybrid crew

[LX-treme]

eh.. lets see
since its winter I only practice 3 times a week sometimes 4 not counting random dancing when I'm bored

monday: I could actually practice somewhere from 5-8pm but I always forget about that spot so I never even been there. When the weather's less cold ( so in the spring and summer) I usually call people to ask them if we're gonna practice at this mall like thing

tuesday-thursday: practice at some local hip hop center for 2 hours a day, they have laminated flooring there with a few mirrors so its a pretty good spot. Only down side is that it's a little bit small compared to other places. So if there's a decent amount of people there, it gets a bit crowded and you have to wait your turn. You either have to practice in cyphers or find a small spot for yourself and do some tops footwork and freezes, but you can't always find a spot so it's usually in cyphers. Most local bboys come here to practice, ranging from noobs to big names.

thursday: practice at the sports center at my university, depending where I am, I either go here or to that hip hop center. It's a lot bigger over here but since this bgirl gives a class there its mostly noobs. Doesnt matter though cause there's enough space so the better ones can just practice on the side.

friday: kinda like mondays when it isn't cold outside, I call people to practice somewhere

saturday: eh.. work, or sometimes I go to a jam

sunday same thing as saturday, except that I can practice at the hiphop center again but this time for 4 hours, though I rarely do that because I have to go to other places in the weekend

[skysthelimit]

Originally Posted by iFly I'm not saying that you should not learn the foundation I'm just saying just because you're friends can barely do something you can do, doesn't make you better as he might have a lot of things he can do, that you can't do.

I feel you bro. But just remember, I wouldn't say that unless I haven't known them. The people in my club have probably been my friend for about 5-6 years, way back in elementary. ANyways, I wouldn't judge someone if I don't knwo them. If a stranger showed me his moves, but didn't know the 4-step or whatever, i have no power to judge them, just because I don't know them, their style, and how they take bboying in their lives.

I only said I was better just because they have done it earlier then me, and I basically caught up.

But i understand you. it was my fault for saying that, i feel you.



haha bboy jeapordy. it was funny.. tough love much? haha sike =]

You guys have intense schedules.. I envy you guys.. for real. In my area, (sort of suburban) bboying isn't as widely known, and there aren't many jams around.. which is one of the main reasons why I wanna move to the CITY.

hah LX-Extreme, that's sick. Practicin in the MALL?!?! that's SICK son!!! Once again. i envy you.. =/ it's probably cause I live in the suburban area, but I never heard of that haha.

[LX-treme]

well it's not exactly a mall cause we dont have malls here, but it's the next best thing. Security doesnt mind us practicing there as long as we dont make too much noise same goes for the cops.

Btw I live in a suburban area too so that's no excuse

you have to look for bboys yourself. I never practice in my city, usually in the city next to me (this sounds real far but it's actually 5 minutes away). Most jams (over here) are never in the same city all the time. you have to be willing to travel a bit unless you're lucky enough to be living right next to the place, but that's not always the case because they're all spread across the country

[BbOyJeOpArDy]

Originally Posted by skysthelimit You guys have intense schedules.. I envy you guys.. for real. In my area, (sort of suburban) bboying isn't as widely known, and there aren't many jams around.. which is one of the main reasons why I wanna move to the CITY..

where are you from? i live in the suburbs but i can still make it out to jams

and if you get good enough and well-known around the local scene, you can host your own event in the suburbs and people will come out for it... ie teck/hybrid crew & their events payin dues and big payback, which part 2 will in may
http://freestylesessionboard.yuku.co...CA-5-2-09.html

[Chucky]

Originally Posted by NiSenNen As someone who has breaked for a period of time, I believe having knowledge of the core foundation steps will benefit one's footwork style greatly whether or not you actually use the steps. However, that is a discussion for another day.

I concur, you have no know as much of whats already there to be able to figure out whats not. As ab would say "foundation is the key to creativity".

But to answer the question most of my practices look like this:
1) Warm up
2) Drills
3) Freestyles

Warm up is basically doing a few drills to get the blood pumper and then stretching. So a little running and shoulder twirls, do a handstand and then shake the wrists about. do like 45 seconds of footwork to really get hot and then go into some hamstring and groin strethces.

Then I move into drills. I keep a journal where I write basically any idea I feel is worth writing down but its mostly breaking moves. I write about what Im lacking and what I should work on. Then I basically loop the move, so I can do it over and over again. This usually involves just doing a certain footwork move on both sides. The goal here is to work on form, endurance and flow. And also to get my footwork away from 6 steps and CCs everyime I come around. I want to drill these little moves into me so much that when i hit the floor without even thinking of what Im gonna do, I just start doing them and they look natural and effortless. Theres also freeze drills to which is like going from baby to handstand to elbow to baby. For freezes I usually try and do them nice and slow and steady, see how long I can go without feet touching the floor.

Then I move into freestyles. Now is when Im not doing freezes slowly, Im snapping into them and then jumping out. By this point Im pretty tired and take big breaks inbetween moving. So on my downtime I stretch. Im really lacking bridge and shoulder flexibility, but that takes too much energy so I will just sit on the floor in the splits or stretching one hamstring and breath deeply trying to get my wind back. This is good because by now my muscles are really hot and Im not just stretching to prevent injury, Im tired and hold them for like a few minutes which will actually increase your flexibility. While Im stretching and breathing Im thinking of moves. I will pick like 3 moves that I want to do, get up start rocking and just moving in any which way trying to just flow between these 3 moves. I can rarely do the 3 moves good so I usually get up and try them again, try getting into and out of the 3 moves differently each time. I just try and do a decent, full throwdown without messing up or anything, pretend like im on stage or cypher and have to do it right until I get it right. Then Im usually really tired and go stretch breath and think some more. You've got to think about thinking, the moves wont just come to you. You have to consciously keep your focus and think or all the little moves you know. Usually I try to do about 10 full throwdowns.

And then I have seperate practices where I just work on power. And also try to get out to the club every now and then and bust out some house moves all night long! Also i just wanted to note that for a lot of footwork moves, I feel like when i really get better at them it when im not really practicing but just around the house relaxing and might think of some little detail i missed out and just get up and try it really slow to see how it could work.