Move Descriptions

FOOTWORK and UPROCKING, stuff like that

six steps

\---animation by Aquarius---/

How To Six Step

What up, new breakers?? A lot of you have been askin' about how to do a six-step, and have never gotten an answer, this is for you. The six-step is basic footwork that you should practice, everytime you break. You should be able, eventually to improvise your six-step with extra movments and steps (sometimes referred to as Techs) for style and originality. As you learn power moves (windmills, flares, etc), you should strive to be able to go into them from a six-step, and come out of them into the six-step (in addition to the other methods of starting and ending them).

For counter-clockwise six-steps, start from a push-up position with your legs spread (this seems kinda silly, but it's the easiest way to explain it, you can start from any position).

1) Lift your RIGHT arm, and move your LEFT leg through so it's in front of your RIGHT leg.
2) Move your RIGHT leg so that your RIGHT foot is BEHIND the LEFT foot (your legs will be crossed LEFT over RIGHT).
3) Move your LEFT foot in a small arc so your legs are uncrossed. At the same time switch your hands (pick the LEFT one up, and put the RIGHT one down.
4) Extend your RIGHT leg and sweep it around (wide) in a counter-clockwise arc so that your LEFT foot ends up covered by your RIGHT knee joint and your RIGHT foot is almost touching your butt (NOTE: Steps 3 and 4 shoud be done in quick succession).
5) Put your LEFT hand back down on the ground, and move your LEFT leg back to where it was in the push-up position.
6) Move your RIGHT leg back to where it was in the push-up position, and you find yourself back at the beginning. Now, go back to step one, and repeat.

That's it. If you want go clockwise, just reverse all the LEFT/RIGHTs. One more thing, don't try to do this fast at first. Go VERY slow to get the technique down, and then increase your speed gradually. No matter how fast you go, if your footwork is sloppy, it's noticable. Peace to all.

-Scan1 da Survivor

from www.bboy.com moves list

WALKS AND GLIDES

Walks Glossary

Posted by Krayz E Kujo on Wednesday, 14 January 1998, at 5:18 p.m. (bboy.com)

Here I'm going to describe most of the walks done by breakers in general. I'll leave out turtles because Scan1 the Survivor already explained them. All of these moves are done with the same motion as turtles are, which is walking in a circle while posi tioning your hands in about 45 degree increments. Here goes:

Air Turtles -- arms straight, hands placed shoulder width apart, legs bent and curled behind you.

UFO's/Buddhas/kneewalks -- arms straight, hands shoulder width apart, legs bent with knees between forearms.

Sidewalks -- arms straight, hands shoulder width, legs straight and to the side of your body. Your body can be straight or bent in an "L" position.

Buttwalks -- arms straight, hands shoulder width, body bent in an "L" position with legs in front of you. Looks like floating buttspins.

Merry-Go-Rounds -- like air turtles, but body is straight and legs are straight and split. It helps to keep your toes pointed. It's harder to walk with your legs straight, so for merry-go-rounds, carousels, deadmans, and hangmans, let your legs give yo u a really strong initial whip that will give you momentum. But it's up to your hands to sustain that momentum.

Carousels -- like merry-go-rounds, but you pull your butt up as high as it can go and let your legs hang. Your legs are still split and straight. Point your toes.

Deadmans -- like deadmans only your legs are closed. Body and legs are still straight. Point your toes.

Hangmans -- like deadmans only you raise your butt as high as it will go (like carousels) and let your legs hang. Legs are still straight and closed. Do NOT point your toes, because they'll drag on the ground.

Straddles/V-walks -- arms straight, hands shoulder width, legs sraight and split, and your hands are placed between your legs. Your legs should rest against your forearms. You can also do this with one arm inside and the other arm outside of your legs.

There are many variations that can be done with each of these moves. You can also do hybrids of two or more of these moves. Be creative and do your own walks. Have fun with it. Peace.

Krayz E Kujo, Soul Control: Slaves To The Rhythm

The Formerly Repressed Bestial Lyricist

Handglide Glossary

Posted by Survivor on Wednesday, 14 January 1998, at 3:21 p.m.

I'm gonna go ahead and clear up once and for all, the Turtle/Cricket thing 'cause there's been a LOT of confusion and mixing up of these moves. Here goes....

Turtle- A turtle is a walk/float NOT a spin (I think this is where most of the confusion is coming from). Facing downwards, elbows are bent and tucked under the body at the hips. Legs are bent and back is straight. Only the hands touch the ground. Initiate spin by rocking to one side, transferring all weight to one hand.

Handglide- Same body position as a turtle except only one elbow is in your stomach. The other hand is used to push yourself so that you start spinning. You can spin faster by pulling your legs in toward your body.

Crickets- Same as handglide, but you're hopping (the hand that supports your weight actually comes off the ground).

Jackhammers- One handed Crickets (the free hand is no longer used to push). These are a lot harder because you're supporting/balancing your body weight, spinning, and jumping all on one hand.

Sideglide- Same as Handglide, but instead of elbow in stomach, body facing the ground, your elbow is in your side, and your body is sideways.

Fistglide- Same as Handglide except you're spinning on your fist instead of your palm.

Headglide (another one people had confusion with)- Same as Handglide, except your body is no longer horizontal. Your head touches the ground, and grinds around on the floor as you spin. To achieve this position, move your balance point (your hand) a li ttle closer to your head.

Donut- Same as HEADglide (not Handglide), except your body is almost vertical (your hand is REALLY close to your head).

I think that's all. I know this is all types of long, but I thought it would help. By the way, all of the glides require you to spin using your free hand (unless stated otherwise). Any questions?? Peace to all.

-Scan1 da Survivor

-from www.bboy.com move descriptions

TURTLES

             animation by aquarius

Turtle Description by Scan 1 da Survivor

Facing downwards, elbows are bent and tucked under the body at the hips. Legs are bent and back is straight. Only the hands touch the ground. Initiate spin by rocking to one side, transferring all weight to one hand. Move the other hand in a counter-clockwise arc about 45 degrees, place it on the ground, and then shift weight to that hand. Move the other hand and then shift your weight to it. Continue movement of hands and shifting of body weight to keep spinning. (The same sequence of hand placement and weight shifting applies to all the other floats/walks).

HAND GLIDES

How To Hand Glide 101!!!!

Written by Cy-Ko on Wednesday, 15 April 1998

Yo, what's up! Have you ever seen someone spin on one hand and wonder "how do you do That???" Well here is the answer! (This discription is to go Counter clock wise. Reverse the LEFTs & RIGHTs to go clock wise) In order to hand glide you need to know how to balance on two hands first! 1) Place both your elbows right next to your belly button. 2)Then have your legs bent like frog legs are 3) Apply all your weight on your two arms and try balancing. Practice balancing in this turtle possition with two hands until you think you can ballance on it for a long time! 4) After that, get a peice of cloth, rag, bennie or cotton glove under your LEFT hand then tuck that LEFT elbow next to your belly button. 5) now use the Right hand which is doing nothing at the moment and start paddling with it so you are spinning on your LEFT hand! (CAUTION) Do it slow at first or you may fall and pain will inflict you! 6) After you got spinning on your hand really good, add style in to it! While you are paddling gain as much speed as you can then place your RIGHT hand on your back or head. So all you will be doing is spinning with no paddling and will be spinning with the momentum!

I hope this helps, any questions e mail me at Cy-Ko@Bboy.com. Peace out, Cy-Ko

WINDMILLS

Windmill Glossary

Posted by Krayz E Kujo on Thursday, 8 January 1998, at 7:51 p.m. (www.bboy.com)

Genies -- windmills with your arms crossed over your chest.

Nutcrackers -- windmills with your hands covering your nuts (or whatever else you might have down there).

Airplanes -- windmills with your arms straight spread out to the sides as high as you can get them.

Barrels -- windmills with your arms rounded in front of you (like you're carrying a barrel).

Sumos -- windmills grabbing your knees.

Supermans -- windmills on your chest and arms reaching out to the front/sides.

Eggbeaters -- windmills with your hands high on your hips.

Confusions -- windmills with your hands over your ears and elbows straight out to the sides. This one causes death.

Body glides -- same as supermans.

Baby windmills/coffins -- windmills with legs curled up and crossed at the ankles. No hands used. Coffins is the same but without crossing your ankles.

Tombstones -- windmills with legs closed and body in "L" position. No hands used. Invented by Babak the Flying Monkey.

Cannonballs -- windmills done in cannonball position with arms wrapped around knees. Like jumping into a pool.

Eggbeater babies -- baby windmills with hands high on hips. Invented by Infurno.

Double windmill -- while doing windmills without hands, skip your back once and a do full rotation on your head (NOT a halo). Example -- EZ-Roc.

I left one out last time:

Body flairs -- hopping supermans/body glides.

That's all for now. Peace.

Krayz E Kujo Soul Control: Slaves To The Rhythm

from www.bboy.com moves list

STABBED WINDMILLS

animation by aquarius

HOW TO WINDMILL 101

What's up, new breaker!?

I'm an "old breaker", 29 and still crankin' out some moves. I'm going to explain, as
best I can, the easiest way to learn "windmills".

There are several starting positions, but the best to learn with, in my experience is the following:
(Very important! These are counter-clockwise!)

Sit down on the floor with your torso and your RIGHT leg at a 90 degree angle with your LEFT leg bent at the knee so your left knee points straight up and your left foot is flat on the floor. Now place your right palm on the floor to the right of you and slightly behind you and lean and twist your upper body to the right, going towards the floor (bending your right arm altogether) to where your right shoulder and right/front of your face are almost touching the ground. Your right leg should still be straight, and your left leg bent. Now, a CRUCIAL move, you are going to "stab" your LEFT elbow into your stomach, between your navel and your left hip-bone, closer to your hip-bone. This is SO important, because your left arm is going to support all your weight. Now, twisting and leaning, stabbing your elbow, put your LEFT palm flat on the floor with your fingers pointing to your left. At this point you can visualize how your left arm will support your weight.

Next, the one, two, three kick. At this point you should be leaning to your right, with the frontal part of your upper body ALMOST facing the floor, and very close to the floor, with yor left arm ready to catch all your weight. ( Elbow in belly!) O.K. Your LEFT leg, which is still bent, is going to be kick ONE, your RIGHT leg kick TWO and your LEFT leg kick THREE. During this sequence, your body weight goes to your left arm. Now kind of finish turning your lower body over to where you are practically horizontal to the floor while KICKING your LEFT (bent) leg up into the sky (about 4 feet or so if you're average size) while pushing off HARD with your RIGHT foot (your STRAIGHT leg) (LEFT elbow in belly) Kick two-Kick your RIGHT leg (outstretched) HARD to your RIGHT (your legs will be OPENING)At this point(in full motion!) you should be facing the floor with your legs open and your bodyweight on your LEFT arm (elbow in belly!).

Kick THREE-this is where you develop your first bruises!-During kick three, a lot of things happen at the same time. KICK your LEFT leg HARD to your RIGHT, going UNDER your right leg. Your legs should still be open, with your right leg "circling" (imagine your legs are a drawing compass and your pelvis the pivot) AT THE SAME TIME of this kick, your entire body needs to roll onto your LEFT side, BUT your left upper body only should touch the floor (not your hips or legs!)This means, on kick three, your LEFT shoulder should touch (Hit?) the ground right about where your LEFT fingers are (I crushed mine several times) Now you should be rolling onto your back, of course your left arm no l onger supporting your weight. At this point, I STRONGLY urge you to pull your legs in and do a BACKSPIN. Many veteran will tell you the same. The reason being you should be able to do what I've already described with relative ease before moving on. But when you're ready...

O.K. Once you've got the previous down, do the following:

After kick THREE, you roll onto your UPPER back and quickly roll over your RIGHT shoulder to where you are going to face the floor again. At the same time, though, your RIGHT leg will be KICKING "Backwards and to your right". Just remember the pivot and the compass thing. As you are turning to face the floor, quickly STAB your LEFT elbow into your belly, just as before, because your left hand will have to support you. ( You know the routine). You are now at the most difficult phase of this deal. Linking them, when you stab your elbow put all your weight into it. As your legs come around, you will most likely hit your LEFT foot on the floor and get pissed because you can't get past there. Never to fear! Learn by "PAUSING" your windmills. When your left foot hits, just use it (LEFT FOOT) to push upward and OH!, you're back to KICK ONE with that push upward! Proceed to kick two and three and so forth, and when you come around again and your left foot hits the floor, well...do it again! And keep doing it that way. Trust me, one day you'll shock yourself and put three together without hitting your left foot on the floor! Once you get this style down, you can move on to STOP stabbing your elbow. It might take a while, but you'll get there. I know this is a long post, but I tried to be as detailed as possible so you guys can learn. To those that can do windmills already, this might seem like a stupid explanation, but I know all beginners will appreciate the detail. If this helps anyone learn, let me know.

George

from the bboy.com move list

Rolling Windmills

HOW TO WINDMILL 110


Now that you've read George's "How to Windmill 101", I assume that you're on your way to getting your windmills down. If you've gotten all you can as far as technique from "101", then you're ready to move on to the next class. Here you'll learn an alternate starting position, and from that position, how to go into your windmill from your six-step. Note: Like "101", these instructions are for counter-clockwise windmills.

First your new starting position (keep in mind, you can still practice with the old one, too). The position is the same one I gave for the six-step. Push up position, legs split, arms extended. Now, step one. You'll learn to roll off your shoulder. At first go VERY slowly, so you don't hurt yourself before you know what you're doing. From the push up position, you're going to collapse your LEFT arm (slow) so that your LEFT hand is right next to your LEFT shoulder, and your shoulder is almost touching the floor (Important: Your LEFT arm should not touch the ground, keep it about where you would when you're stabbing it for your windmill--but don't actually stab it, just roll). As you lower your LEFT shoulder to the ground, raise your RIGHT foot. You should feel your body leaning pretty heavily to the LEFT side. Now, just go with gravity and roll over your LEFT shoulder (you can use your RIGHT hand to push yourself over). You should feel yourself rolling over your left shoulder and across the top of your back. You should end up on your back. Make sure your legs are still split and straight.

Got that down?? Now, you're going to go one step further. You'll use the same position and technique given above, but now you'll put some power to it. From the push up position, jump up in the air with BOTH legs (this is important). You should be touching the ground with only your hands for a brief moment. Now, during that moment KICK your RIGHT leg backwards and to your RIGHT (remember the pivot and compass thing: don't just kick straight back, kick in a circular motion). As soon as you start kicking, begin the rolling motion described above by collapsing your LEFT arm, and rolling over your shoulder. When your shoulder first touches the ground (you're facing to your RIGHT), KICK your LEFT leg forward in the direction of your roll. At the same time PUSH yourself over with your RIGHT hand to gain extra rotational speed. This initial kick and push gives you the power of the spin. If you kicked hard enough, you should roll over your shoulders easily and end up facing the ground again. Note: The jump and two kicks described take the place of kicks one two and three of George's explanation. You can follow his directions from there because the rest is exactly the same. If it seems you can't get it, here's some tips. When you're rolling over your shoulder, make sure that neither your shoulder or your arm hit the ground with any great force. Concentrate on ROLLING (smooth) over your LEFT shoulder, and across the TOP of your back. If you feel yourself rolling on your lower back or your hips, it means you need to jump higher and/or kick harder (remember, you're rolling over your SHOULDERS not your whole back).

Now, the difficult part (don't worry, you'll get it). Combo: Six-step > Windmill. You're going to use all the technique you learned above to go into a windmill from your six-step. The part of the six-step where you sweep your leg around in the big arc (step 4 of the six-step article) is where all your power comes from when doing power moves from a six-step. You're going to do a regular six-step up to step 3. When you start to swing your RIGHT leg around in that wide arc, reach across your body with your LEFT hand and plant it on the ground (just like when doing a swipe). Now, before your right leg comes all the way around, jump up with your LEFT leg, so that your RIGHT leg (still swinging) sweeps UNDER your left leg (the same motion as a coffee grinder). Note: Until you stop your windmill, your feet should NEVER touch the ground again. Another note: Your LEFT leg was bent before you jumped, and you want to keep it bent for now, so you can use it to kick (you'll see what I mean). Use the momentum from the sweep to turn your body around, and HEY!! You find yourself that strange position from a couple paragraphs ago: hands on the ground shoulder width apart, legs in the air split and straight (except for the LEFT one, keep it bent for now). Now, collapse your LEFT arm like before, and roll over your LEFT shoulder (don't forget to kick, same sequence: RIGHT, LEFT). This time you can use your LEFT leg to kick even harder because it was previously bent. Extend it while you're kicking and you should really feel yourself spin fast. Lastly, don't forget to push with your RIGHT hand. After that, just roll, stab, and repeat following George's instructions. Let's examine all the momentum you've got now:

Momentum from the six-step
More from the sweep (RIGHT leg)
Kick RIGHT
Kick LEFT
Push RIGHT

That's a lot. Remember, the more momentum you have, the easier it is. If you can get moving fast enough it's almost impossible to hit the ground, but only if your TECHNIQUE is correct. Good luck and keep practicing. If you have questions, you can e-mail me at either: youngerkss@msn.com
or Scan1@bboy.com. Peace.

-Scan1 da Survivor

BABY WINDMILLS / FIRECRACKERS

Baby Millz - post from www.breakdanceincanada.cjb.net by kamikaze kid

Here I go running of my mouth again but I hope this helps.
I learned baby mills before barrel mills so maybe you can take what you already know and add dis ish up! Which ever way you start it there are things you need to remember.
1. if you don't start with enough power you will end up bouncing up and down like a basket ball landing like a suicide on each rotation.
2. Use as much force on your 1st kick as you would a backspin or windmill.
3. Once your shoulder touches, tuck those knees in and cross your legs at the shin bone
4. Keep your biceps parallel to your shoulders but your forearms at an 80-85 degree angle
5. When you comein for your 2nd rotation…this is the tricky part… where you would normaly use your legs for momentum during a regular windmill…pop up so that you can see the floor close to your face onto your next shoulder…and tighten your upper body for the next rotation and continue!
My explanation might want to be ignored if it is confusing you but that's how I do them fast, because the faster you do them the more (in my opinion) you'll get!
Peace and practise
OGK

HEADSPINS

SPINNING ON YOUR HEAD

Posted by B-Fast Saturday, 28 February 1998, at 4:23 p.m (bboy.com)

A rule of thumb for learning any move is to be comfortable in the position before you actually attempt movement in that position. This is especially true in head-spinning.

Before any "spinning" on your head can occur, you must locate your balance point. This is called an Equilibrium.

The first step in locating your balance point is to perform a head-stand. In a correct head-stand your knees are locked and your legs are in-line with your torso. Your body should be perfectly in-line from your head to your toes.

Now, if you can sustain this position infinitely, then you can move to step two;

Practice moving your legs in different positions while keeping your knees locked. This will help build strength in your neck and back.

Step 3 is the beginning of the movement. Perform a head-stand and move your legs to a position that looks similar to a shaft and helicopter blades. Ideally, your torso, and your legs should be in a 90 degree angle. DO NOT SPIN YET. Next, SLOWLY attempt to WALK your body in a circular motion while retaining your form. Be sure to keep your legs spred. Practice this motion until you can successfully sustain momentum in a circular motion. If you have done this correctly you have located your "spinning " balance point for your taps. You should be able to "walk" around rather quickly. If so, move to Step 4.

Step 4 if continuous movement. Get in the head-stand position as stated above. Now, with your legs spread, knees lockeds, and body in-line; attempt to whip your legs in a circle and catch and then whip again and catch. Start slowly, your not Orko yet(w ink). You will most likely fall down quite a few times before you can successfully tap continuously. If you can do this, move to step 5.

Step 5: If you can perform the above step, whip your legs harder. Whip them to a point where you do not have to tap every rotation. You should be able to 'tap' every other rotation. Remember to keep your form. Legs spread, knees locked, toes pointed. I f you feel comfortable move to Step 6.

Step 6. If you can tap continuosly, it's time to let go. 'Tap' until you feel you have attained sufficient momentum and let go!, you may only "glide" 1-2 times if you are lucky. Keep practicing this and you should be able to "glide" considerably well. Your glides may not have correct form but that comes alot later.

Keeping your arms out might help you with your balance. Remember, everyone is different. It took 2 1/2 months of practice at atleast 3 hours a day for me to get respectable taps. It takes time, don't get frustrated. Before you attempt each step, visual ize as Kujo said. You cannot perform physically what your mind cannot visualize mentally.

If you need more assitance Email me at Break-Fast@bboy.com.

Break-Fast

from the www.bboy.com moves list

HANDSTAND MOVES

NineTeenNinetees

ninedy tips by orko

The trick to a 90 is your form going into it. You may first get the feel to it, by standing on your hands and winding your legs in a circular motion. build your shoulder stength. Doing a 90's As you place your first arm down, swing the opposite leg of the arm you just used. Swing that leg up in a circular motion and open both legs wide on one arm. The second you have both legs open on one arm. Slightly shift your weight onto your other arm. The minute your on both hands try to focus your energy on winding your legs shut. At the same time lifting up your first arm and balancing yourself on your spinning arm. On your hand, spin on the lower part on your hand opposite you thumb. Also look down at your hands as your spinning. I'm working on putting together a Orko tape. I've got some amazing footage I know all Bboys will surely enjoy. As far as I know I hold the record for most 90's, and I've got the footage to prove it. I hope the info will help you. Peace and GOD Bless You.

FLARES

animation by aquarius

THE FLARE...

THE TRUE HOW TO!

By Matthew Sparks

About this Article;

As I sit down to write this article to the world of BBoys I realize that it is going to seem too long to read. To that end I've decided to break it down into manageable chunks by labelling each section. If you are only interested in a certain area I hope that I've made the information easy to find. This entire article will be written from the perspective of a clockwise Flare (if viewed from above). If you are performing your Flare in a counter-clockwise direction simply reverse right and left in all descriptions.

About me and the Canadian Floor Masters;

Some of you may want to know who it is that is giving you this beta, so here is a little preamble on me.

I was a core member of the Canadian Floor Masters until the group disbanded in 1990 due to outside influences (ie. education, jobs, family commitments). For some background info on C.F.M. check out the Articles section of Bboy.com. Buddha wrote a letter a couple of years ago that is posted there.

After C.F.M. disbanded I moved to Toronto to finish my education in coaching, biomechanics, and exercise physiology and paid my way through school by working as a dancer doing club shows and music video's.

I am a former competitive gymnast, something I always used to my advantage as a BBoy, and I am currently one of Canada's National Gymnastics Team Coaches. I have coached National Gymnastics Champions, and International Medalists and Major Games Finalists. I have travelled all over the world as a gymnastics coach, and always try to check out the scene where ever I travel.

I've never abandon BBoying in over 15 years, but only recently began getting more heavily involved as the interest seems to be increasing. I'm in awe of some of the New Skool power moves and sweet styles that abound these days. Props too all who love our dance, New and Old Skool. The originality we as a group possess is unparalleled in the history of dance, except possibly in the early days of tap.

Now without further unneeded chat...on to Flares...

The Origin of the Flare

The first Flare was done by Canadian gymnast Phillip Delassal in the mid-1970's. It was seen and bit by American Kurt Thomas and competed at the World Gymnastics Championships. The skill is often referred to as a Thomas, or a Thomas Flare because he was the first to use the skill at the World Championships, but props need to be given where they are due and Delassal was the innovator of this now common trick.

The Flare is a modification of the most basic element on Pommel Horse, the Double Leg Circle. Often Breakers will refer to the D.L.C. as a legs together flare, but this is a mistake since the Circle has existed for well over a century! The Flare is a straddled Double Leg Circle.

The Flare was first done on the Pommel Horse, then taken to the Floor Exercise by gymnasts and then to the dance floor by Bboys. No Bboy should ever be ashamed of the origin of any of our moves. We have borrowed moves from many styles of human movement and other forms of dance. A perfect example is "the Swipe" which is borrowed from an African tribal dance. Bboys have done things with these moves that never occurred to those at the source, and this originality is the heart of Bboying.

Terminology

1. The Double Leg Circle (D.L.C.): The Double Leg Circle is the basic gymnastics element performed on Pommel Horse and it this movement on which the Flare is based. The legs are together and straight as they perform an elevated circle in the horizontal plane. During the entire performance of the skill the body is suspended on the hands.

2. The Delassal or Thomas Flare: A D.L.C. performed in the straddle position.

3. Front Support: Front Support is the start of a push up position. Imagine prone position with the arms straight and the body tight.

4. Rear Support: The opposite of Front Support. Imagine sitting down in a Pike position with your hands on the floor beside you. Now lift your bottom off the floor so that the body is held tight and straight. Your fingers should be pointing either towards the toes or out to the side. All that is touching the floor is your hands and your heels.

5. Side Support: With your body out to one side hold yourself in Support. Only one hand and the outside of one foot should be touching the floor. The body should be held straight and tight.

6. Flanking Forwards: When you are moving from Front Support through Side Support to Rear Support.

7. Flanking Backwards: When you are moving from Rear Support through Side Support to Rear Support.

8. Planche: The word Planche is french for board. It is a strength hold move where you hold your body parallel to the floor. Imagine front support with your feet off the floor or a handstand with the body parallel to the floor. It can be done tucked, Straddled or for the most advanced, with the legs together.

9. Centre of Gravity (C.O.G.): The Centre of Gravity is the point around which the body rotates. It is also the balance point of the body. Every object has a Centre of gravity for humans it is located close to the belly button. Think of a handspin and you can get the concept of the C.O.G. being both the Balance Point and the Centre of Rotation.

10. Base of Support (B.O.S.): The name is self explanatory. Any object resting on another has a B.O.S. A object (or person) is stable if the C.O.G. is over the B.O.S. If the C.O.G. is located outside the B.O.S. the object will fall. The wider the base of support the easier it is for the C.O.G. to be within the base and therefor the more stable the object.

11. Torque: Torque is a force applied at a point away from an objects C.O.G. This off centre force causes rotation. The same example from #9 of a handspin is a good example of torque. When you push off the floor with your free hand in order to initiate rotation in a handspin that is Torque.

Understand the Flare

The Flare is a variation of the D.L.C. on Pommel Horse. Mechanically it represents a combination of pendulum and circumpendulum actions. Wide spread of legs during rotation of C.O.G. along an elliptical trajectory allow the performer to reach maximum amplitude with relatively small efforts.

Every one got that? Here comes the regular English version...

1. While flanking forward the left leg must drive towards the left ear. The driving of this leg elevates the hips and causes a reaction which effectively pulls the right leg under the left towards rear support.

2. While in side support flanking forward the shoulders must lean to the right in order to keep the C.O.G. over the B.O.S. This theme of leaning your shoulders in order to remain stable occurs in every phase of your Flare. While doing a Flare you must always lean your shoulders in the direction opposite from your extended swinging leg.

3. While in rear support the body should be as stretched as possible. A common mistake is to pike the body in the front of the Flare. Do not pike! Stretch as big as possible, imagine trying to paint as large a circle as possible with your Flare. A common misconception is that the Flare should be high in the front, but going too high in the front will cause you to go too low in the back. A well done Flare appears to be high in front because of extended hips and the wide spread of the legs.

4. While flanking backwards it is extremely important that you drive your right leg to your right ear. The driving of this leg elevates the hips and causes a reaction which effectively pulls the left leg under the right leg towards front support (If this sound similar to #1 it should, the two sides of the Flare are essentially mirror images of each other).

5. While in the side support flanking backwards you should use active flexibility to try and hold your right leg up a little moment longer (Active flexibility is using your muscular strength to hold a stretching position). This extra effort will help to decelerate your Flare and allow the performer arrive in the back of the Flare (front support) with both a high back and wide spread of legs.

6. You should arrive in front support (the back of your flare) in a Planche or high Planche position with the legs wide spread. From this position you are ready to drive your left leg up again to begin another Flare (See step #1).

The Start Position

A Flare is generally started from a front support position. Even if you are starting standing up as soon as you place a hand on the floor in front of you, you are starting in a modified front support. Flares can be done from rear support, but it is best learnt from front support. Also most combinations into Flares are started in some modified form of front support.

Most gymnasts start in a typical front support. They then modify the front support by stepping their right leg off to their right hand side. They then use this off centre position and their hands on the floor in order to Torque and begin their Flare. With both hands on the floor you can cause Torque by trying to turn the floor as though it was a giant steering wheel.

Most Bboys start in a modified front support. From a stand they step their right leg off to their right hand side and probably slightly to their rear. The left leg bends in order to lower the C.O.G. to a more appropriate level. The right hand is then placed on the floor in front of the performer and the straight right leg then swings low to the floor in a clockwise direction until it virtually knocks the left leg out from underneath.

In either case the directions from above in "Understand the Flare" are accurate.

Tips to Learn a Flare

1. Improving your flexibility will assist the learning process greatly. Work your splits in all three directions (middle, left leg forward, and right leg forward). Hold every stretch for 30 seconds or more to achieve maximum benefit.

2. Improve your strength. developing general upper body strength through a conditioning program will help, but specific conditioning will be helpful also. One example of a specific conditioning element you can do is to develop your Planche strength (see "Terminology").

You can begin to learn a tucked Planche with relative ease by starting in a squat position with your hands on the floor in front of you. Keeping your elbows straight and knees together and tucked close to your chest, lean your shoulders forward until all of your weight comes off of your feet and you are actually able to lift your feet off the ground. Build up to being able to hold this position for 10 seconds.

Once this position has been mastered practice opening your tucked Planche to a 90 degree opening in the hips. Build up to being able to hold this position for 10 seconds.

Once this position has been mastered practice opening into a straddle Planche with your hips open. The wider you are able to straddle your legs the easier it is to hold. This position looks virtually identical to the back of a Flare.

3. Put your belly button over your hands. Remember from the "Terminology" section that your C.O.G. is very close to your belly button. If you can always shift your weight so that your belly button is over your support hand (or in the middle of your two hands when they are both on the floor) you will remain stable in your Flare. A training partner can watch you for this error.

4. Don't try to go high in the front. Stretch in the front and work on getting high in the back by driving your leg to your ear and trying to hold it there for a moment as you pass around to front support. Too high in the front means too low in the back.

5. Have fast hands. Having slow hands, especially a slow hand while flanking backwards to front support is a common problem. Focus on hand speed and do not allow yourself to Czech. A Czech is when your Flare turns in the direction opposite of a Spindle (see below). Your Flare is doing a Czech if you begin a Clockwise Flare facing the wall in front of you and begin to turn to face the wall to your right hand side.

6. If you work and work and work and still can't learn a Flare, join your local mens gymnastics club and practice on their "mushroom". If you are a handy Bboy, you could build one yourself. A mushroom is a elevated platform approximately three feet around that looks like, well, like a giant mushroom! It is usually padded on top and can be at any number of heights (in fact most are adjustable). A Mushroom allows you to perform multiple Flares and to get the feel of the action even if your feet dip below floor level.

Tips to Improve your Flare

1. Hand speed is of extreme importance. An excellent drill for hand speed is to practice a Spindle. A Spindle is a where your body is turning in the direction opposite your Circle. For example if your Flare is a Clockwise Flare (viewed from above) then your body rotates in a Counter-Clockwise direction.

This sounds very confusing so here is a simple way to practice a Spindle. Put two strips of masking tape on the floor crossing each other in the middle to form a big plus sign (+). Call the top left hand corner "1", the top right hand corner "2", the bottom left hand corner "3", and the bottom right hand corner "4".

Begin performing Flares with your hands in three and four. Then while flanking backwards turn your right shoulder forwards with extra speed to try and arrive in front support with your left hand still in three, but now your right hand in one. As your Flare continues by flanking forwards pull your left shoulder back with extra speed to try to arrive in rear support with your right hand still in one, but now your left hand in two. Now continue to Flare. You will have just performed a half spindle.

Flare to Handstand

The prerequisites for performing a Flare to Handstand are, of course, good consecutive Flares and a good handstand pirouette. Make certain that your handstand pirouette and your Flare are in the same direction (ie. If viewed from above they must either both be clockwise, or both counter-clockwise). Here are some drills to help you learn a Flare Handstand.

1. Practice a press to handstand with your legs flanked off to one side. Your legs should be off to the side that will be your flanking backwards phase of the Flare.

2. From the same position as drill #1 bend your top leg (the one that would be driving to your ear) and put your foot flat on the floor. Use the bent leg to push off the floor and jump towards handstand. Your other leg, which should remain straight, may drag slightly along the floor on your way to handstand.

3. In drill #2 and in the actual performance of a Flare to Handstand it is imperative to backwards pirouette. To understand the backwards pirouette I will use the masking tape example from the Spindle description in "How to Improve your Flare". Imagine starting your Clockwise Flare with your left hand in one and your right hand in two. As you flank backwards your right hand must reach under your body so that you arrive in handstand with your left hand still in one, but your right hand now in three. This encourages the correct lean of the shoulders necessary to arrive in handstand and develops a smooth turn in handstand for combinations like Flare to 1990.

4. Perform a Flare that is very stretched in the front. While flanking backwards really drive your leg towards your ear and try to hold it there for a moment. These two things will help decelerate your Flare and allow you to lift your back in front support. Make certain that you do the backwards pirouette described in #3. If done correctly the Flare to Handstand can be done without the feet dragging on the floor and into a very fast turning handstand.

Great Combo's I've Seen...

A 1988 Olympian from the Soviet Union named Gogoladse was the first person to perform a Flare to Handstand Pirouette back into Flares. This Combo is called a "Gogoladse".

Chris from the Canadian Floor Masters was the first person I ever saw do a Flare to Headspin in the Mid 80's.

A former gymnast I used to coach named Ben Potvin became Canadian Floor Champion in 1997 with the following Flare Combo after one of his tumbling lines...Full Spindle to Handstand Pirouette back to Flares into a Gogoladse into another Gogoladse into a Full Spindle into a Windmill. Ben is now a performing artist with Cirque du Soleil in Los Vegas.

Trevor from the Canadian Floor Masters was the first person I ever saw do Flare to Turtle to Flare in the Mid 80's

All the common ones like; Flare to Swipes

Swipes to Flare

Flare to Windmill

Windmill to Flare

Flare to 1990

And Variations on the Above...ie. Flare to Halo instead of Windmill

HALOS

How To Halo

Written by Krayz E Kujo on Thursday, 28 May 1998.

The best way to start halos is of course out of a windmill, being that halos are basically windmills without your back. It's a little more difficult to learn halos without the windmill, because you won't have any momentum. These instructions are for spinning counterclockwise.

1) Do a single windmill and catch yourself on your hands like you normally would do to set up for the next windmill, with your left hand tucked into your left hip and your right hand to the side, and rest the left side of your head on the floor.

2) Push your body up with both hands so that you are in sort of a diagonal headstand, and at the same time push with your right hand like you would for a handglide. This maneuver is called a headglide or an Icey Ice. Your legs should be automatically wound up to whip your body around, without you actually thinking about it.

Tip -- it's a good thing to practice a headglide, without the spin, out of a single windmill before going on to halos. Just windmill, catch, push sideways (but not up), and attempt to spin on one hand while the side of your head glides on the floor. Wear a beanie or grow an afro.

3) At the same time as #2, unwind your legs by throwing your right leg up first, then immediately throw your left leg up and around your right leg in a circular motion. #s 2 and 3 will be done all at once, very quickly. Remember, this is basically a windmill motion on your head, so think of it that way while you're doing it. Make sure you keep your legs split, as they have a tendency to come together, causing your body to drill.

4. You are going to let go of the floor with your hands when you start the headglide, one hand at a time. First the right hand lets go, but not until after you've initiated the glide and begun to turn over on your head, then the left, but the left hand should stay on the ground until you have spun around to the point where the left hand is forced to leave the ground. This should be automatic also. You then need to whip your shoulders around in a headspin-type motion after letting go and while your legs are swinging around as mentioned in #3, then you need to catch the floor first with your right hand before you complete the full 360 degree spin, then with the left hand, and your left hip should come to rest right back on your left elbow. From here you should be able to set up for another spin, by winding up your legs all over again.

Keep in mind that you must have a strong neck for halos, and your windmills should be pretty advanced. It's also good to warm up and stretch out your shoulders before practicing halos, because the rotator cuff is very sensitive and can be injured very easily from being twisted in directions that it's not supposed to go. The wrists, fingers, elbows, neck, and cranium are also at risk from doing this move. Headspins are NOT a requirement for halos, as is somewhat commonly believed, but being able to headspin doesn't hurt, because the more moves you have down pat, the more coordinated your body will be, and power moves are ALL about total body coordination.

Once you have good control of your halos, you'll be ready for double halos, and eventually triple halos. Lil Cesar and Orko could even pull quadruple and quintuple halos with a drilled technique back in the days.

Questions? Just ask. Peace.

Krayz E Kujo

AIR TRACKS

HOW TO FLY

Before you even attempt to learn air tracks, you should know what you're in for. This is one of the hardest and most dangerous moves you'll ever learn. First, be prepared to experience a great deal of pain. You're going to land on your head, shoulder, chest, back and hip many times. Second, you have to overcome the fear that comes with spinning in the air. If you've ever tried a back flip, you know what I mean. Third, you won't master it any time soon. You might get a single air track pretty quickly, but be prepared to spend the rest of breaking career mastering it. Last but not least, good windmills are absolutely necessary for good coordination, since an air track is basically a windmill in the air. You don't necessarily have to have combos with windmills, but you should be able to do them with ease, and also without hands, so that your abdominal and waist muscles are strong enough to give you the whip you need. But windmill combos do help, of course.

Another thing: there is an infinite number of ways to do this move. I'm going to tell you my way and several others. You can use any of these tactics, or come up with your own way that might be easier for you. And I strongly suggest that you practice this move on the softest surface possible, such as a mat or your front lawn. These instructions are for someone going counter-clockwise. If your moves go clockwise, just reverse the instructions.

Start as if you're going to do windmills (standing or kneeling), and make sure your body's angle stays between horizontal and about 45 degrees. Don't ever let your body get vertical (you'll land on your head). Put your right hand down first, then your left hand, while your legs do a windmill motion. Your left leg is going to kick up behind you first, then your right leg, and then your left leg is going to kick around and over your right leg in a circular motion. Your legs are split at all times. Just as your left leg swings over the right, you let go of the ground with your right hand, while your left hand stays put for a few micro seconds more. It's important to look over your right shoulder because you have to be able to see the ground after you let go and before you land.

During these microseconds, kick your right leg under your left leg (remember, your left leg kicked over your right leg first) and wait on your left hand until your body spins as far as it possibly can, then let go of the ground with your left hand. If that seemed too complicated, then simply visualize the motions of a windmill, only your body is about two feet above the ground, and remember to let go of the ground one hand at a time, first with the right and then with the left. You are now airborne, but only for another few microseconds. After you let go with your left hand and are in the air, try to "catch" the ground with your right hand first and then your left hand in rapid succession, and try to keep your legs moving in a windmill motion (and make sure you can see the ground).

Right here is where it gets dangerous. If you don't whip your legs hard enough, or you don't catch the g round quick enough, or both, you are going to land on your shoulder, hip, head, or all three. If you don't catch the ground at all, you'll land on your chest and maybe your face. If you overspin, you'll land flat on your back, knocking the wind out of you, or worse, you'll land on your hip and cause long term damage. However, if you do everything right and you keep a continuous motion with your legs, and if you catch the ground immediately after you let go, then you should spin right into windmills (your foot or feet may hit the floor though, which is why you should spin at an angle instead of horizontally).

It's perfectly alright to land on your hands and feet at first, but the goal is to go into windmills out of it. Just pretend you're going to start a windmill from standing up, but you do a windmill in the air on the way down to the floor. Here's another (much easier) way: instead of launching off one hand at a time, push off with both hands and land on both hands, while using the same lower body technique. Or you can do a drilled air track: push off with both hands, and instead of swinging your legs like a windmill, close them and spin as fast as you can. With this technique, it's possible to do more than one spin (1.5-2).

One more way: using momentum, swing into a cricket/handglide position and use the same lower body technique described above. I suggest you try these techniques before going on to the technique I described in the preceding paragraph, as they're all much easier, and don't require as much practice. You just push and spin (and pray). Remember, always visualize! Before you even try air tracks, imagine what it looks like based on these instructions, and imagine yourself doing each little part of the move, when and how to swing your legs, when to let go and when to catch. Imagine how every part of the move feels, how it feels to be airborne for an instant, and imagine yourself seeing the ground just before you catch. Your body can't do it if your mind can't do it first.

If anybody has any questions or doesn't understand something here, feel free to e-mail me at KrayzEKujo@aol.com or SoulControl@yahoo.com

Peace.

Krayz E Kujo Soul Control: Slaves To The Rhythm

The Airborne Canine Necrophiliac

AIR FLARES

Airflare Tips - POST FROM www.breakdanceincanada.cjb.net
UNDER THE THREAD "can some1 help me airflare?"

Well,

In my opinion, swipes, 90s and windmills are the most essential moves to know.

The 90 is for how to get into it and how to move your legs.

The windmill is for the air portion where you're going to have to know how how to whip your legs and stay in the air.

The swipe is for the actual moving of the hands and the legs portion as well.

You'll notice that if you start a 90 on a 45' angle that you could probably, (if you had the guts) throw yourself over when you're switching hands. That's pretty much how to do it. I swing my right hand down out of toprock, switch to my right and then stay on it while I whip my legs in the 45' angle. Your legs must stay spread when you start or you're going to hurt yourself bad. When you do a 90 your legs come together at the top right? When you're airflaring, switch to your left hand, then whip your right arm back over your body, while kicking your left leg up to the sky...
Here's where the swipe comes in. Like you're doing one legged swipes your whole upper body must stay open and you've gotta reach across to ensure you have enough momentum to launch yourself for a whole rotation in the air.

If you've done all this and practiced on something soft, you'll be able to do one in a month or so. The hardest part was simply having the guts to try it.

BmanX