Own the floor- Bboying blog

Bboys need rest too

2012-01-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

Resting in bboying is pretty important and is underrated. Sometimes when training for a competition or a battle, or even just jamming, bboys will end up dancing days and days in a row. Some will cross train too, and others will take it further by not eating well and sleeping badly.

I too have been pretty guilty of this in the past. But, it is not good if you want to build a stable bboy foundation. Treat your body well and it will reward you.

If you can train, eat, and sleep well, you build a good bboy foundation and everything can grow from there.

bboying around the world and New websites

2012-01-11T04:47:00.000-08:00

New websites run by bboy cutz: www.privatebreakdancinglessons.co.uk - dance classes in the UK www.eurolanguageholidays.com - learn a language one to one with skype or on a language holiday www.reelfilmproductions.co.uk - top quality videos for individuals (including dancers), businesses and charities All sites designed by http://www.thefugroup.com/

Private breakdancing lessons

2011-10-08T14:26:00.001-07:00

For private breakdancing lessons in England- go to- www.privatebreakdancinglessons.co.uk

New Youtube upload Cost of medical care

2011-02-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

I just uploaded a new video, took me over 3 hours to edit, 2 hours to upload and filming in both the UK and Thailand. Getting ill in Thailand is.... well check out the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OXd-XpGid4

Check it out. Like it. Share it. Email it. Love it!

ps. Good for people thinking of going traveling in Thailand/South East Asia.

The big break from bboying

2011-02-21T13:20:00.001-08:00

I have had to take a big break from bboying. Not outta choice. I wouldn't wish this on any bboy, aspiring or current. I had food poisoning and some complications from that have meant I am pretty weak and have been told not to train. Even if I wanted to I couldn't.

So the next best thing? You might think it is Youtube, but you are wrong. Think harder.

It is like doing it, but not. Not visualisation, although that is cool, and worthwhile, it is more moving.

Dreaming. I dreamt of moves I could do and want to do. It felt so real and so good it cheered me up for the whole day. Makes me smile even now.

Next best thing to a good traning session is dreaming you are a truly dope bboy.
One day a dream, next day a reality!

Peace yo!

Bboying around the world- one love- a big bboy community

2011-02-06T02:29:00.000-08:00

Sorry folks that I haven't been writing in this much.
I've been mostly working on my vlogs and other websites:

http://www.youtube.com/user/bboycutz
http://waystofattenyourwallet.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/savingmoneyIN
http://www.youtube.com/user/jswinbrum

So I find it so interesting that you can go anywhere and find bboys. I have just moved to thailand and I met tons of bboys in the first week! There was even a massive jam/comp and I met up with bboys I had met all over Thailand.

Bboying is has strong followers, dedicated to success. As KRS puts it Hiphop isn't something you, it is something you do.

Peace to all the bboys. Feel free to comment yo!

wrist woes

2009-10-30T11:09:00.001-07:00

2/3 weeks ago I had problems with my wrist. After training they would click and be painful. Flu, worstened the symptoms so that the tendons also hurt, and it began to hurt to type.

Growing up is about responsibility. Although it is funny to talk about responsibility within a dance/athetic context I wasn't acting responsibly toward my body.

The painful truth is not the physical pain, but the need to restrain, and not train. My week in Portugal, with minimum training. I'm sure I'll be fine,.... in the sun!

in reference to: Google (view on Google Sidewiki)

Thoughts on getting a website

2009-10-21T14:14:00.001-07:00

In need of a website, long over due.
Content mainly, though still need to find a designer,.... hmmm....

in reference to: Sidewiki : Troubleshooting - Toolbar Help (view on Google Sidewiki)

Back to P'gal

2009-10-19T04:25:00.001-07:00

Booking my coach today.

Plans to go volunteer on a farm stray from my usual desire to earn a bit of money, though should be interesting enough to be sustainable, for a week or so.

Hope to meet up with Maria and Pedro, and my old teaching buddies.

Hope the coaches(to the airport) aren't sold out though!

in reference to: Google Sidewiki (view on Google Sidewiki)

The camera that is so good why would you buy a video cam?

2009-10-17T12:38:00.001-07:00

After uploading some stuff I thought about writing a post gloryifying the greatness of an old piece of tech I bought a while back (why buy a new gizmo when an old one still kills it!).

I bought my digital camera about 18 months ago, though a similar model was around before it, and possibly one before that.

I wanted a high spec, easy to use camera that had the potential to be a good video camera. I got it.

The Casio Exilim Youtube digital cameras are the s**t if you want a no hassle good quality (mine is 10.1 megapixels, top of the range 18 months ago and still damn good now) digital camera. The added bonus is it is soo good it works very well as a video camera, saving me over 300 odd pounds on buying one of those.

The best shot feature, which adjust settings such as the amount of light let in, shutter speed, flash and colours works very very well. There are settings for parties, outdoor, portraits, autumn leaves, flowers etc.

Cheap as well- I got mine for just over £100!

I very much recommend it!

Comment below about your own digital cameras!

in reference to: Google (view on Google Sidewiki)

First entry in a loooong time!

2009-10-17T11:12:00.001-07:00

First entry in a long time.

Will update further.

Now using sidewiki- seems interesting.

Take care all!

in reference to: Google Sidewiki (view on Google Sidewiki)

The wondering bboy

2009-02-23T04:38:00.000-08:00

There are bboys that are in crews. There are non affiliated bboys and there is the last, more mystical character, the wondering bboy.

The wondering bboy travels, has no permanent home, often hopping from country to country,
As bboys and bgirls tend to be young, it comes wuth the territory. Though, is it a bad thing?

It does mean that you aren't always on the same schedule, that you might miss out on some events and training, especially if you choose the wrong location, without other dancers. Though that will be up to you.

The upside? You get to train with lots of other bboys, in interesting locations. This can only be a good thing. You may even get a chance to join international crews. Ever seen the white guy in the Japanese crews- what do you think that is? I would put my money on a wondering bboy...

The benefits of mixed training

2008-04-14T11:20:00.001-07:00

I did something a bit stupid yesterday.

I taught 2 hours, then went breaking from 9 til 1 in a club. 6 hours.
Way too much.

Though, without a doubt, my increased training helps, as mentioned before, its rest
that is key.

I learnt a new move yesterday, something I wouldn't have done if I had not had trained. Though, I made a definite choice to not train today, and maybe to rest tomorrow as well.

Remember to train hard, but if you do so, to rest hard as well.

Good luck in your training.

Peace

The importance of chilling out- train hard AND train clever

2008-03-31T15:04:00.001-07:00

The importance of chilling out

Many bboys and bgirls think that the best way to develop themselves as dancers is to to go all out in their training. Some, the most dedicated, over-train. This isn't always good for them.

For the initiated bboys out there-- Have you ever gone training/clubbing and not seen a bboy/bgirl for a while, met them and they'd said that they hadn't been training in weeks. They then go on to show you how much they've improved and you think 'how the hell has s/he improved so much!?'. A common response is you step up your training. The insecure(most bboys) think that they person they saw had either lied or is more naturally talented than yourself and you think 'well, i gotta step up or I'll never improve!'.

For the bboys out there that react in that way, they tend to get frantic in their training, trying to pack as much moves in, trying to do everything as quick as possible, as hard as possible, anything to get better. They realise they are training harder, which must be good,.. but they ache more (but show off about it), they are cut more, might sleep less etc but they'll surely improve? Maybe, or maybe not.

I know about this way of training/thinking as it used to me. I used to think that training hard meant rushing everything, trying to repeat moves, no time to stop, no time to pause; just train, train, train.

Wrong. You'll learn best when you chill out. Drilling moves, doing over and over again can only work if you improve your techniques, and for that its best to find a good mentor, listen carefully and repeat in a calm manner (possibly filming yourself for referral later on). Training hard is important, but its much better to train clever. In fact, the way to get good is to train hard and train clever.

Power moves are a good example. For lots of power its important to put in all the effort you can to perform the move well. However, this is not the case for all power moves. Take spins. 90s and headpins are good examples. There are two main types of spin, glides/floats and drills. Floats are done in a relaxed manner, floating round,as if taken by the wind. Drills start wide and slowly close in. Both require the breaker to have near perfect form for maximum rotations and style.

If you put all your energy into trying to get the first rotation of a 90, unless you have near perfect form, chances are your determination to perform the move will probably manifest itself in incorrect form- banana legs- a surefire way to flopping the move. Ironically if you train with people that are better than yourself this frustration can be amplified as you see them improve (they may be chilled out in their training?), so you are more anxious to improve and chill out less. Just keep telling yourself, you will get X move but it will take time. Follow the guidelines in my futher/previous articles if it helps..

To round up this brief article, it's better to relax. The reason bboys and bgirls often improve rapidly after a break (even if its as long as 2 weeks off) is they have allowed their body (and mind) figure out moves, given their body and mind time to rest and recover and allowed themselves to feel relaxed, with little expectations. They tend to think, 'I'll be shit as I haven't trained in ages' that's normally the time they produce some sick move out the bag.

So if you have read and understood the article, you'll know why. Chill out, rest, train hard, rest hard and your clever training will pay off.

Peace...

Breaking class in Solihull school

2008-03-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

I've been teaching classes for sometime now, but rarely get invited to do much more than a one hour slot. To my surprise I got offered a full day at a local (ish) school for an easter break club.

The session wasn't easy, I really had to work for my money, but then teaching breaking is still teaching. I love dancing and dancing, or teaching doesn't really feel like real work.

Hopefully I'll get a call from them, or someone connected with them for more work. We'll see...

---------------------------------

A note, I did get called back to do some more work for them :-) Helping others never really feels like work though.

The essence of Bboy Flavour

2008-03-24T02:37:00.001-07:00

The essence of Bboy Flavour

The most important thing about being a Bboy/Bgirl is to develop your own unique style, your own flavour. What this means is once you’ve got down the foundation moves you can start to play with them and create your own style. Bboys and Bgirls that travel will notice at jams and competitions, the bboys with flavour get the most respect and look the best.

My definition of flavour

My definition of flavour might be different from the next man, but your not on the next man’s blog! So, what is it? It’s a number of things, rocking to the beat, hitting beats, dancing in relation to the uniqueness of the song (if there’s a trumpet sound doing dancing that fits etc), having original moves, having innovation/original combinations and transitions.

Moves vs Flavour

Moves can have flavour, but it’s important to realise breakdancing is a dance, and needs to correspondence to the music as much as possible. Moves are great to learn, but an over reliance on power moves, or any other move, always shows. Try to be varied, original and to have different styles to different types of music.

Developing flavour isn’t easy, but who ever said learning to break was easy?

How breaking/bboying started part1

2008-03-23T05:11:00.000-07:00

Breakdance, breaking, b-boying or b-girling is a street dance style that evolved as part of the hip hop movement among African American and Puerto Rican youths in the South Bronx of New York City during the early 1970s.

I started breaking recently so all my knowledge is secondary. However, the consensus is that bboying started in the 1970's in New York, along with the birth of Hiphop. To me it sounds like a very exciting time. Djing, Breaking, graffiti art and mcing all evolved in the 1970s/1980s, a global phenomenon started in one place, by a collection of pioneers, mostly the unconnected youth, without 'plans'; they created the global phenomenon that is bboying and hiphop culture. For me, that's incredible.

Breaking's is said to have many roots; martial arts, funk, soul, tap, capoeira etc
For a small history of breaking Crazy legz (many see as a a bboy pioneer- he's like the global image of bboying)

visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Y3S6h0o58

Peace!

Breaking fitness part1 with correct link!

2008-03-23T04:44:00.000-07:00

sorry the link in the last post was:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/
od/abdominalcorestrength1/a/NewCore.htm

Breaking fitness part1

2008-03-23T04:42:00.000-07:00

Bboying Fitness

I’ll take you through a bit of my journey. How I got started with working out what fitness was required, the interim period and where I’m at now.
When I first started out I was clueless. So I read up on fitness a bit.

I realised I needed to warm up properly, stretch and complement breaking with other activities(not necessarily true). I walked about 3 or 4 miles a day, did Kung fu, trained (Bboying) 3 to 4 times a week, did handstand pressups, sit ups, used a punch bag daily and did weights. It went fine.

Then things changed a bit. I left uni. Met other bboys that didn’t warm up and stretch well, got into bad habits and things went backward. A word of advice, if I am able to give it, is forget what others are doing. If you feel the need to warm up in your own way, do it your own way. If you want to stretch longer, do it. You’ll soon learn to know your body, in fact warming up, stretching and complimentary exercise will help you increase that physical self awareness key to breaking and Bboying fitness.

I also further slipped up. I got an office job (NOOO!), got injured (dislocated shoulder, tightened tendons in wrists, dislocated fingers, damaged knuckles, stretched ligaments in shoulder. The list goes on and on). Some of the injuries on the list, particularly the stretched ligaments and finger, were to do with breaking outside, in the cold, without warming up. I was with some international bboys and wanted to get stuck in(didn’t warm up- was freezing!). Bad move. Once again, do it your way. Always warm up.

So. Things to do- warm up, stretch, train hard, warm down/stretch and compliment breaking with something else; core stability training, weights, another sport. It all helps. Oh, and train hard and often. The more you train the fitter you’ll become and you’ll also reduce the risk of further injury. (lots of injuries happen when a Bboy/Bgirl tries a new move that has not been done before- tries it hard and fucks up hard- then they get injured).

For further info check out the sections on fitness, core training and stretching. Also check out the links below:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/abdominalcorestrength1/a/NewCore.htm

the first steps- how and where to learn

2008-03-23T04:39:00.001-07:00

The first step in BBoying/Breakdancing- where/how to learn

I often get asked this. Questions pop up about how long I’ve been learning and who taught me etc. I don’t think the key to becoming a dope Bboy or Bgirl is through one set mold. Unfortunately, we all learn in different ways so its hard to advise on one thing- however I’ll try!

I started way back, I was young and felt bad entering the only group class in my area. Looking back I think this was a bad choice. Group classes don’t offer much time for the essence of Bboying, creativity, however they are ideal for picking up the basics, meeting people your own standard (and those above your standard) and for general inspiration. My drawback to when I started was nothing physical (although I did have tendon and muscle damage in my right arm- but forget about that)- the things that stood in my way where all in my mind.

So, in general, the newbie should attend classes. If they prefer one to one, or smaller groups then that is also an option. Try to block out thoughts that you aren’t a ‘real’ Bboy or Bgirl or that you aren’t as good as the next man. It doesn’t matter. Bboying is all out the art form, there is an element of competition in Bboying, but harness the good because if you always think negative about yourself, the state of your breaking and whether you are or aren’t a ‘real’ breaker then you won’t go far.

So, coupled with the approach of attending classes, you should adopt a ‘Bboy’ attitude. What I mean by this is not saying, wearing or doing anything different. Just going out to do the best you can, training hard, listening to the music and learning as much as possible. Join a class, have fun and start killing it on the local scene! Peace..

Starting Breakdancing

2008-03-23T04:32:00.000-07:00

Getting started Breakdancing

Everyday I get emailed asking me for tips, lessons and advice on Breakdancing. So, it took me a while (I'm a bit slow!) but thought it better to just write some thoughts, ideas, breaking tips and advice all down in one place. Viola- enter this blog!

There are plenty of reasons why people get started learning breakdancing. Physically, it helps with strength, coordination, flexibility and socially you can meet lots more people and occasionally, if you stick at it, impress your mates, randomers and other bboys and bgirls alike.

There are also plenty of places to see Breaking. Classes, youtube, clubs, adverts, dance competitions etc. This leads me onto the question- why don’t people just start learning? Well, I’m not sure I can really answer that, so I’ll just try my best to fill this blog with useful information and the newbees/wannabees and improvers out there can come here as a reference point if they need info.. (provided you find the blog in the first place!).

Why and when I started

I made the choice, and it really is a choice, to start breaking after seeing a small demo of a bboy doing some basic moves. I’d never seen any before, barring the RUN DMC video way back in the 90s- and there was no YouTube back then- so it was all pretty fresh and unbelievable for me. I saw it and was like’ Yep, that’s the thing for me- I’m going to learn that’. That’s the attitude I had back then, surprising I thought that as my arm was bound up (and had been for over a year) as I’d had a pretty serious injury to it. Anyway, that’s the moment I got started,… and I haven’t stopped since!