Bboy Info

Bboy Info

This is a page dedicated to all the moves and language used by the Bboys of today and the past! If I have an incorrect name or description then someone please let me know so that I don't look stupid...

Styling Moves

Top rock - More of an actual dance than some of the other Bboy moves. It's where you bounce around with your arms and legs swinging smoothly with your body. Is usually kind of loose but defined at the same time, (that is unless you're like Bboy Kujo who is just absolutely phsyco and crazy and just fly's around with his afro in a mad frenzy...)

Downrock - Is when a Bboy drops to the ground and starts weaving his legs in and out around the axis of his body which is held up by the arms. Is usually made up of other movements.

3 step - like a shortened version of the six step.

6 step - the basis of breakin' that involves the wrapping of the legs whilst walking around the axis of your body which is held by up your arms.

helicopter - where one of your legs is spinning in a circle under

your body which is pushed up off the ground with your arms to let it pass.

Freezes / Suicides - are sometimes not recognized as part of breakin. A freeze is where you stop right where you are whilst doing a move or routine and make it look like someone has pushed the pause button on you. A freeze can also be a weird shape or formation that you have put your body into and you hold for a bit. (Tiz a good way to finish your routine!)

Suicides are where the breaker just lands on the floor from a move and makes it look like he has died. A lot of people suicide by doing a front or back flip and landing on the floor on their flat or something. But a suicide can just be doing a windmill and suddenly throwing yourself in the air and freezing however you land. WARNING: BE VARY CAREFUL WITH THIS MOVE AS YOU CAN EASILY BREAK BONES AND STUFF WITH IT. PRACTICE ON A MATTRESS FIRST OR SOMETHING OR ELSE YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY KILL YOURSELF...

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Power Moves

Windmills - where your body spins on the ground from shoulder to shoulder, using the hands to transfer the weight when facing down. There are various types of windmills including; nutcrackers, sumo's, genie's, barrel's, handcuffs, confusion's, bellymills, halo's, babymills, superman's, airplanes and neckmoves (a single windmill).

Flares - look something like a windmill but except you are not on the ground but suspended in the air using your arms. Originally came from gymnastics, (you see it used quite a bit). Can be used to get down to do windmills (called a Coindrop). There are also mini-flares too which are just the front part of a flare that people use in their downrock.

Headspins - pretty much self-explanatory. You go into a headstand and kick your feet in a circular motion to gain momentum. (WARNING #2: PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS AND DECIDE TO GO AND STAND ON YOUR HEAD AND KICK YOUR LEGS AROUND LIKE AN IDIOT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS MOVE WHICH CAN NOT BE LEARNT WITHOUT SOMEONE THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING'S HELP.)

Turtles - where you walk around on your hands with your body horizontal in the air. There are many small break-off's from the turtle including "crickets" (where you jump while turtling) and "the straight-arm" turtle where you run around at high speed on your arms which sit between your legs.

1900's - Where you go into a one-handed handstand and spin around at high speed swapping hands to continue it. (There is also the 2000 Where you spin on both hands.)

Swipes - You face the ceiling and roll your body 360 degrees in the air by flicking and twisting your hips to land back where you started. Different variations of the normal 2-legged swipe:

One-legged - where you swipe but one leg has to remain straight and 'seemingly' not in use for the whole time.

Trip swipe - Like a helicopter but with a small swipe at the end.

Air Swipe - Similar to a one legged swipe except there is no gap between each swipe where your feet touch the ground so your feet are in the air the entire time. (considered to be the most difficult and prized of all moves)

Turtle Swipe - Where you are in a turtle position when turning over.

Elbow Swipe - You continue the swipe using your elbows instead of your hands.

Head Swipe - Sam as a normal swipe except your head is also on the ground when you turn over.

Popping - an older style of breaking that uses more smooth and technical moves than moves which require strength, speed, and heaps of power.

The wave - where the dancer makes it look like there is an invisible wave going through his body.

The pop - where you poke a certain body part out by itself and 'pop' it in a certain direction. (E.g. your arm, leg, head, knee, ass, chest, etc.)

The moonwalk - where the dancer makes it look like he is gliding around on the floor with out actually walking. (With gravity at least!)

Robotics - where someone dances with the movements of a robot. Consists of a lot of popping and jolting between each move.

Breakdancing Battles (Uprock) - Battling is what was more commonly done in the 80's but is still seen occasionally between rival crews who have a score to settle or a point to prove. I have been in only one full battle but the adrenaline you get out of it is so amazing and makes you go absolutely nuts! After I battled and at my first breakdancing experience at a Euphoria I had to stay home from school for a week because I was in such pain!!!

Battles can consist of what I call "direct battling" which is full one on one or two on two close up battling. It is more of an actual fight with lots of pushing and slapping and other crazy movements. Or there's what I call "show-up" battling which is where breakers go into the breakin' circle one after another and keep outdoing their opponent until one is either too tired to continue or has run out of moves to do.

The amount of applause given by the crowd to a certain move or breaker is usually what determines the winner. (So if the guy you're battling has heaps of friends in the crowd cheering for him then you have no chance of winning!)

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Some terms and phrases used by the breakers

Bboy / Bgirl - Someone who does breakdancing.

Biter - A Bboy that steals a move from another breaker.

Wack - Crazy, out of line, fucked in the head, etc.

Phat / dope / ill - Totally awesome, wild.

Fresh - when someone busts a move that is really original and well performed.

Cut - when you battle another breaker or crew, you intend to "cut" (beat, win against) them.

Burned - when you are beaten badly in a battle, you are "burned".

Crew - a breakdancing team, group of dancers.

Bust out - when you do the first move in a session: "I want to bust out right here!"

Battle - when Bboys or Crews fight each other with their best moves. (usually to see who's better or to gain respect if they win)

Old skool - term used referring to Hip Hop's first generation of Breakers, Dj's, Graffers and Rappers.

Routine - The name you give to a certain variety of moves joined together to form a single 'break'.