[Freydom]

I feel like i've been definitely hitting my "wall" where I don't progress anymore. I went down to session today and it was terrible. I skimmed maybe about 6 crickets, I couldn't hit any of the freezes I practiced, and flares? They were the worst i've done in a very long time.

What do you guys do to get you hyped up/motivated? I feel like i'm hitting my slump and I can't get out. Sucks. Usually my motivation is ambition; the ambition to catch up to b-boys who are my age but are better than me. For now the ambition is there, but when I practice it feels like I can't do anything right.
Damn.

[Philosophy]

Maybe it was just an off-day today. Everybody has em every once in awhile.


To be completely honest, I watch youtube videos and I get inspired. I can be sitting, bored as hell, not even wanting to dance, and then I'll see a sick trailer or battle and I'll wanna get up and dance just because I saw some sick shit that I've never even seen before, or saw some cleanliness that I know I can achieve with a little bit more practice.

Also, maybe you should start practicing shit you know you can't do. For some reason, a friend and I have found out that whenever we practice shit and aren't able to get it, we move onto something else and then come back to it later, and find out we can do it all of a sudden. It really just might be timing, mood, mindset or whatever. Give yourself some more time. Everybody hits a wall. So, what are you gonna do? Stare at it? No.


You're gonna break through it.

;D

[chaoss]

yeah like philosophy said, i watch videos for motivation. but if all else fails, i take a couple days away from breaking until i get that inevitable urge to break again.

[Shadowflare]

one important thing about bboying, is that it takes a lot of time to learn something and improve.
sure the time varies, but for the most part it takes time. There are probably some days where you can even learn a new move in that session, but there's no way you can MASTER it in one session. It's all about dedication and practicing to get good at something.
One thing bboys need to know is that, since moves take awhile to learn, they shouldn't focus on one move. Yea sure that sounds weird, but if you focus on one move, you'll hit a wall, and you'll get frustrated. But if you hit a wall, you can switch to another move you've been working on, and make some progress on that, than switch to another. Soon you'll be progressing in all sorts of moves, and one by one you'll get them down and that's probably the best feeling.

Another thing is, DONT get frustrated. The reason you were probably not hitting most of your moves you know, is probably cause you were frustrated. Everyone performs horribly when frustrated, whether it's dancing, games, or music. Just stay relax, stretch it off, try something different, work on footwork to get your spirits up and attack that move again. I'm pretty sure there isn't a move you know that you don't work on.

I'm positive that every move I know, can be improved on in some way. And like philosophy said, it might have been an offday. If this is your first wall, then this is probably your first important lesson in bboying. You're going to learn to break down this wall, because what's behind this wall? Just another damn wall to break down.

But don't bboy to break down these walls. Bboy for a reason that motivates you. I have my personal reasons for bboying, and it makes the dance pretty passionate. but i also do it cause it's very fun. So like I said before, just stay happy and positive. Lift your head up bro, the moves will come to you naturally. Just dance without any worries or thoughts if you're having a bad day, and you'll see that you'll improve. Happened to me

oh and for motivations if needed, going with phil here, youtube vids are definitely an inspiration. Watching sick bboys go at it makes you want to try some of that stuff too. For me, music also inspires me. Hearing a song I like makes me want to just start rocking to it, and that always leads to more :P

[NiSenNen]

You need a strong reason to break in the first place or you must create one for yourself. You mustn't ever forget it or you'll hit one of those days where you feel down and don't want to continue.

I only concentrate on several select moves, not many all at one time. If you do concentrate on many, it'll take a much longer time to improve. If you focus all your time and effort on one move, you'll get it.

Also I divide my mental state from my practicing. It doesn't help me practice whether I'm pumped up or depressed. I'm still going to practice whether I get good results or bad.

Having a difficult time is just something you have to accept when you're executing difficult moves. The thing is, for me, I find difficult moves as a personal challenge. If bboying wasn't difficult, I wouldn't be doing it. If it weren't difficult, every average joe would be doing power moves.

[Shadowflare]

yea I agree a lot with what NiSenNen said.

and I never said "many moves." I just said more than one ^^ which I would've interpreted as several haha.

But yea, you just gotta keep working at it. I promise you, when you hit a move you've been working on for months, it's reallly rewarding.

[k1ng]

most people tend to believe that the biggest obstacles in life are external, rather than internal. however, the reality is that we are often our first enemies. i define 2 types of motivation below: artificial and pure.

artificial motivation is what you want at the moment.
it often comes from music, art, videos, footage, and social interaction. it is temporary and fades over time. it can help you set short-term goals and work toward achieving them.

pure motivation is what you want at the very end.
it comes from your chosen purpose which determines how you listen to music, what you listen to, how you interpret/process it, and everything artistic that follows. this purpose is never reflected in your words but always in your attitude.

the difference between these two types is enormous. artificial motivations should ultimately serve your pure motivation. if you are only artificially motivated, you will be deprived of any real meaning to continue life with.

for people who have become empty inside, they have to figure out what they really want in the end. just be honest with yourself. there are people in this world who deceive themselves into thinking that they can live without a purpose, that it doesn't matter... but don't be hopeless or stuck up like them.

[flying_steps]

Originally Posted by k1ng for people who have become empty inside, they have to figure out what they really want in the end. just be honest with yourself.

So then, what happens if you are unable to figure out what you really want in the end?

[k1ng]

if you can't figure out what you really want in the end, then you must look for it until you find it. the realest purpose for any human being is to seek the truth. if you don't know what you want, finding that out becomes your purpose.

we must understand reality as it is so that we can conform to it. "realness" is not just a hip hop value. it's an objective value that most of us recognize as honesty. without it, there is no order in the world or more importantly, in our personal relationships.

this is the reason why i am against recreational drug use. without getting into a big drug talk, my point is that it takes you away from reality, family and friends included. (i think a lot of people who do drugs are looking for purpose but definitely in the wrong place.) i bring this up because everyone has some kind of addiction they have to escape reality.

"escaping reality" is not the same thing as escaping a boring day at school or a long week at the office. this is denying or subtracting from what you know about yourself and life. in other words, what you want or think you need no longer becomes about purpose/what you want in the end; it becomes about what will satisfy your appetites, aches, and pains now, especially while you're young. even b-boying can become an addiction that takes you away from your purpose.

therefore, it is critical to reason and think in the best way that you can to sort out what will serve your purpose of finding out what you want...

HOW?

there are so many roads you could take but as long as they don't compromise what you already know to be true or the search itself, then you are on the right path. some examples of quality, active seeking:
examining your life. what are the best things in life? what habits, thinking, and activities do i need to cut out to be more open minded and honest?
listening to different stories, experiences, and lessons to expand your perspective/world-life-view.
learning new things and developing what you already know. (read books!)
remembering your purpose and sticking with it.

i don't think you have to be smart, strong, rich, or popular to find out what you want in the end... but you do have to be honest and willing. the effort doesn't come from your mother. lastly, choose carefully which influences you let into your life...

[johndudeno]

Thats happened to me a couple of times. Try dancing with some music on. (beleive it or not Ive seen Bboys that dont listen to music when they practice) Or if you already do, try listening to something new. Maybe then youll get a lil more hyped up and probably can endup getting the adrenaline in you to maybe pull off a new move.=]

Good Luck.

[iFly]

John how long have you been bboying? If you started recently I don't think you've experienced this wall yet.

[NyczFynest]

I cant say I ever hit a wall or anything im still a 5 month bboy...but as far as the whole moves getting worst thing i can relate...from the experience i have so far i figured that the moves u learn are going to be on and off until you truly master it...if you pick up a new move one day and dont continuously practice it its gonna get worse, but then one day randomly it might come back...happened to me with hollows/mills/crickets/toprock sometimes...
You just really have to keep practicing even through those bad days and try to drill all ur moves into memory...try to get them all in at least a little each session so they stay natural

[Spaceship]

ahh Freydom, your such a dope bboy, i want you to get even better. like someone else said, its probably just an off day. the thing that motivates me the most is just seeing people break infront of me. it just makes me think like dam im guna practice so hard to get as good as that. or maybe your just feeling down, there some practices where i cant do shit because im juz not feeling right.

[Jasian]

It doesn't matter where you are right now. Don't think of it like that.

Think about where you will be in the future.

Keep progressing bro,

Peace.

[gibo]

ITS NOT ABOUT YOU,ITS NOT ABOUT YOUR SKILLS,NOT YOUR LEVEL,NOT YOUR PERSONALITY...ITS THE MOMENT...

Same shit in a battle...bboys that battles are not judge by their personal life,not just their skills...its their moment..

like if you know a judge personally or even not, he is judging you the moment you're in that circle you're in that mode, you're who you are that MOMENT..cuz sometime they do great in a battle and other times they dont..you see its just the moment...sometimes they can hit that freeze for 1000secs one time they dont..thats it..its just that moment so dont take it seriously..

and another thing..dont think that you should catch up with other bboys,dont think about being the best,dont think about being famous etc as your motivation,your goal and your destiny when you're born as a bboy..its all about having fun,knowing yourself.your ups and downs..bringing out your true character..if you know that you're working hard and Proper..eventually you'll reach that point that other bboys will see you Fresh,See you differently unique,pure YOU...dont rush it have fun...you'll really have a hard time if you'll keep that mindset...if you're throwing down on that fuckin floor just be yourself ..dont mind everything,everyone around you..cuz it'll definitely show..

Goodluck hope i gave you a lil something..
Peace yo,Godbless

Keep it fresh,keep it you..Realest FreyDom