LEARN THE MOVES

Below are some instructions on how to do certain moves. Feel free to print and share with others. New Moves will be added weekly. If you need a specific move thats not listed here email me and ill see if i can explain it to you.

What up, new breakers?? A lot of you have been asking' 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, every time you break. You should be able, eventually to improvise
your six step with extra movements 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).

Lift your RIGHT arm, and move your LEFT leg through so it's in front of your RIGHT
leg.
Move your RIGHT leg so that your RIGHT foot is BEHIND the LEFT foot (your legs will
be crossed LEFT over RIGHT).
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.
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 should be done in quick succession).
Put your LEFT hand back down on the ground, and move your LEFT leg back to
where it was in the push-up position.
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 noticeable.
 

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Windmill Glossary

Note Windmills are also known as gyros.

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 Inferno.

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

Body flairs -- hopping supermans/body glides.
 

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How To Halo
 
 

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 ofyour 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 hand glide. This
maneuver is called a head glide 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 head glide, without the spin, out ofa 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 ofyour 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 upfirst, then
immediately throw your left leg up and around your right leg ina 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 itthat way while you're doing it. Make sure you keep
your legs split, as theyhave 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 theheadglide, one
hand at a time. First the right hand lets go, but not untilafter you've initiated the glide
and begun to turn over on your head, thenthe left, but the left hand should stay on the
ground until you have spunaround to the point where the left hand is forced to leave the
ground. Thisshould be automatic also. You then need to whip your shoulders around in
aheadspin-type motion after letting go and while your legs are swingingaround as
mentioned in #3, then you need to catch the floor first with yourright hand before you
complete the full 360 degree spin, then with the lefthand, 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 yourlegs all over again.

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

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 quadrupleand quintuple
halos with a drilled technique back in the days.
 

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Turtle

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. Init iate 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. Conti nue 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).

  While I'm doing Crickets, I might as well do all the Handglides. I hope you guys don't
                                mind. OK..

 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.

   Elbowglide- Same as Handglide except your HAND is in your stomach, and your
                          ELBOW is on the ground.

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).
 

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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.
 

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1990s
 
 

The trick to a 1990 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 1990
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.
 

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SPINNING ON YOUR HEAD

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 takes time, don't get frustrated.
 

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Exercises/Poses

Well, if you want to learn upper body strength, a plange is NOT the best way to start
off. A plange basically looks like this: arms straight (locked), planted shoulder-width
apart, body perfectly horizantal, legs split or closed. Looks sort of like a horizontal
handstand. This is one of the hardest floor poses you can do, especially the
closed-leg one. But what I suggest you do is start off with easier poses. If you can't
already do it, start with a turtle or cricket position. If you can already do that, then try
doing those two poses and pushing up to a handstand, and repeating. If that's too
easy, then try straight-arm poses, like UFO (buddha) or air turtle positions. Or you can
do an "L" position, which is where you're sitting with your legs together in front of you,
and then with your hands to your sides, pick yourself up and hold it as long as you can.
Or is that also too easy? Then try this. Do a UFO or air turtle position and push up to a
handstand. Try to keep your arms as straight as possible. Or if you're really flexible,
keep your legs straight when you do this. After you can do all that, you're ready for
planges and beyond.
 

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Walks

Here I'm going to describe most of the walks done by breakers in general. 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.
 

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Flare 101

These instructions will be for flarin' counter-clockwise.

If you have room, start out with your legs together (or pretty close), then take a jump
step to your left and land with your left leg slightly behind your right one (your legs are
spread now). While doing this, swing your arms so that your left arm is extended in the
air in front of you and your right arm is down behind you (almost like John Travolta's
Stayin' Alive stance) (your body must be slightly twisted to do this). *Then kick your left
leg low to the ground behind you, and just before your left leg is about to sweep out
your right ankle, jump high with your right leg as high as possible (sounds stupid, but
try to kick your face) (Note: I've seen some b-boys actually kick their right leg and I
used to do it to, but it hurts after a while).

While kickin' your left leg behind you, you should swing your arms around so that your
left arm touches the ground (keep it pretty close to your body so that your body can
have leverage) and your right arm is now up in the air above your head (Note: all your
weight will now be on your left arm). Now after your left leg goes under your right leg,
it'll be in front of you. Now, you also have to put your right arm down parallel to your left
one (about shoulder width apart). Both legs are now in front of you with your weight
supported on your arms. Now, you must lift your left arm and left leg (lift your left leg
very high, almost kickin' the side of your head) at the same time so that you can bring
your right leg under your left one. (Note: all your weight is now restin' on your right
arm). Now, as both legs go behind you, you must put your left hand down so that all
your weight is restin' on your hands (you're in a semi-handstand position with your legs
spread behind you).

To go around again for another rotation, just pick up your right arm so that all your
weight is resting on your left arm, and then swing your left leg under very quickly with
your right leg high in the air again. Repeat the instructions stated.

The above method is simply used to gain momentum because the key to flarin'
continuously is momentum (it's a plus if you have madd abdominal and upper body
muscles), but there are different ways of gainin' momentum.

If you have little room, you can get into a flare by standin' straight with your legs
together. You then swing your left leg in front of your right leg and then swing it back
out slightly behind your right one (like in the above instructions). While doing this swing
your arms in that John Travolta position with your left arm extended in the air and your
right arm down at your side (your body must be slightly twisted). Then repeat
instructions from where the asterix is above.

Key points: Always have your legs as straight as possible with toes pointed, and keep
your legs spread apart. You must also torque your hips and shoulders properly, but
that's hard to explain.

Hope this long explanation helps all you b-boys/b-girls out there who want to learn how
to flare.

Swipes
1. First you get in a position like you were gonna do a bridge (on all fours with stomach facing the ceiling)
2. Next you lift your left hand up and kick into the air with your left foot.
3. this should bring you into the air so do the same with your right side.
4. Then land with your left hand and leg, and next your right hand and leg.

this looks really cool when it is done right

Baby Swipes
(going to the right)

[1] Put your left foot up while u are in a bridge like position and jump with your right foot

[2] Throw your left under your right u should do a mini twist.

Swipes
=======

Same way but instead of swiping your left foot under your right while u jump throw your left over your right swipe above this is more difficult.

Air Swipe
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[1] Start from the top do a half flare and kick your left high in the air while your right should through too u should land on your left with your right up do more by twisting your arms fast towards the foot u have up.
This move is good if you do it right. Where a wind breaker!!!
This move is a half wind mill.

(1) Lay down on the floor with your legs spread apart and your back at an 45 degree angle with your left and right arms to your left side (use them to hold you up).
(2) Swing your right leg towards your left then kick it up and around when it gets about at a 90 degree angle kick your left leg up (keep them spread) lean on your neck and shoulder and spin.
 

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Backspin
This is a good move to start with if you're a beginner.

Wear: Windbreaker, sneakers.

Action:

[1] Sit on the floor with your left leg bent and your right leg back in a 90 degree angle, support your body with your left hand.

[2] Bring your right leg around in a wide circular motion. At the same time move from a sitting position and roll in to a ball with your balance on the top of your back.

[3] Pull your legs in fast and keep your body in a tight ball. The less of your back touching the floor, the longer you'll spin.

[4] End with a Pop Out by moving to your feet without using your hands.
 

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Jackhammers
Here's a lil explanation to ya'll on how to do jackhammers. I think this is also a variation of a handglide...but harder.... In this move you hop on you're hand in da handglide position so the hand the supports you're whole weight actually comes off da ground. So you jump around in circles.

[1] First try then spinning motion.
Get in da handglide position and by using only you're left hand (which is in yo stomach) try to turn a lil' bit. Sort of turn you're hand from you're wrist so you are clearly turning.
Do this back & forth. After that you should try hoppin'.

[2] So once again you are in da handglide position. Now by using you're legs and you're free hand for help try to jumping in this position.
This move is called The Cricket.

[3] Once you've got that down cold then try jackhammers. Now you put you're free hand behind you're back or something. you don't use it for any kind off help. So you're one hand does everything : Hopping, balancing and turning. You're legs shouldn't touch da ground at all.
It's possible to mess up you're knees while doin' diz one 'coz they are GOING to hit the ground when you practice this.

This move is NOT easy...And NOT for beginners. You can hurt you wrist pretty seriously if you can't hold da handglide position. You should pretty much master the position!!
Keep practicing & Keep it real!!!
 

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Elbow spin
The name says it all you spin on your elbow:

First you get on your elbow, the hand of the elbow you're using should be holding up your chin or anywhere else you want to put it (you should be in a position similar to a handstand)you must be able to stay in this position. When you get down the balance to achieve spin you must wind ur legs like you are doing a 1990. This might feel awkward but if you could do a headspin or 1990 you should know how to do this. This is a difficult move and usually people just get 1-5 spins on it. To keep on going you could push of with ur free hand. When u land try to end it with a suicide or land on your feet.
How to wind your feet: to do this you must open your feet in a v shape and for going counter clockwise kick ur left leg to ur right, then bring ur feet together. It feels awkward at first, but you'll get use to it.

Remember to were a long sleeve shirt or elbow padding when doing this.
 

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Back flip
Hey All, I assumed that you could do back handspring (if you don't know how to do it, go to http://hiutang.cjb.net for more info!),

In order to do back flip you need a lot of momentum! The GIF animated showed above is harder than a backtuck!, so the first thing you need to learn right now is B A C K T U C K!

Get ready to start IT!

Standing up, straight your body and your hands up in the air (this is how you get momentum if your hands in the front of your face and do backflip you will be fall down on your knee!)

Swinging up your hands down to your back , and imagine you about to sit on the CHAIR! and then SWING up your hands up in the air, try to imagine hit your knees UP to your face.

In order land on your feet you have to tuck your knees to your chest, that's how you get high , cuz you ball your body AND YOU'LL landing down on your feet.