New guy, you've probably seen many of these before

Evidencious

But I'd like to know EXACTLY what kind of workouts I'd have to regularly do in order to make it easier for me to learn breakdancing (in general). I've got gym for the whole semester, so you can name any workout at all (by that I mean you can include those machines).
And what are the VERY VERY MAIN KEYS to being able to Bboy?
I ungodly want to learn breakdancing, and you can put emphasis on it too. So! PLEASE HELP A BROTHER OUT!

Btw call me Evi, im new here, hi :P

Oh Oh and can you suggest some great songs to do this to? ^^

pr · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 1011 Location: Göteborg, Sweden

Hi Evidencious! :D Welcome to DF!!! :D

I'm not doing breakdancing myself, but I think that an overall strengthening is a good thing. :P (E.g. it looks very funny when someone has a very well developed upper body paired up with "chicken" legs...) You could check out a thread I started at thefitnessforums.com (a sister forum) Exercises guide with a couple of good links to get some ideas. Maybe you could also post at the other forum and hopefully you will get some more help there. :P I think it is good to use exercises that involve big muscle groups; like squats, hamstrings, back, chest and shoulders. I prefer this instead of doing like five different exercises for just biceps. :roll: That's just me... 8)

Again welcome to this forum!!! :D

Evidencious · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:07 am Post subject:

Sweet thanks! lol I've been practicing stuff slowly, by watching videos on youtube. I kinda got my steps down (34567), I just have problem doing that from standing position AND make it look cool. From what I see, you need strong shoulders, abs and triceps for the majority of breakdance, can you tell me if im right? And please if you have anymore type of tips for anything, tell me.

Oh I got something which I'd like to ask about: You know when you do the cricket? What can I do to get used to my whole body weight on one/two arm? Is there any specific workout that would strengthen my arm for that?

DancePortugal · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Lisbon Portugal

Hi Evi!
Well, after all I want you to keep in mind that you have a long way to go, results wont come instantly, and by instantly I mean in 2/3 months, by there your body will have aquired a good strenght, speed, coordination, flexibility, etc.
Yes, you'll need to work your arms, abs, back intensively, and the rest of the body also. I can recommend you to workout about 1h/2h a day, splited or not.

You should begin with a WARM UP, that besides getting your body in motion (your blood circulation, breathing rate, wakes your body muscles and your articulations), you can do some
< limber movements (rotating your shoulders, wrists, hip joint, head, feet - as this prevents injuries)
< about 10/15 minutes running/cycling (running can be done partially lifting your knees in front and behind you, with arm circling, or the "alligator"(that's the name we call to this here in Portugal: you keep running and at a given moment you have to lay down on the floor and get up and jump with your hands up, the faster you can)
< Do some basic freestyle top rock, for about 10 minutes (without being to demanding, it's just to get the style and the feel)
< Do some light stretches to your body, so your muscles will be flexible to the overcoming workout and benefit from it and prevent injuries due to over demanding or a more brisk movement.

WORK YOURSELF
Wrists:
Yes it's truth, you have to get a lot of muscles in your wrists, specially if you want to start with the crickect.
< with your arms stretched in front of you, hold a weight and only using your hand, push it up and down, do circles..
< hold a weight lifting bar and with your arms stretched rool it using your hands, afterwards you can add some weights
Arms:
< you should have a goal to do 100 push-ups a day to begin, splitted at least by 50/50, then when you get to this you can raise the stake by trying lo get away from the floor pushing your hands (you can try to clap or touch your chest), you can also rise your stake by multiplying the number of push ups each week os you can also try to separate more your hands from one another, and even try to do with only one leg with your legs spread. Remember you should do this gradually so that your body can adjust to the physical demand and actually develop (not leading to muscle exhaustion)
< Suspend yourself in a bar with your hands taking your feet off the ground (or bend them), and do more 100 push ups (take your chin above the bar) if you can''t get to this number do the most you can w/ breaks
< do some weightlifting either bending or not your elbows (I can't help you in that as I'm not used to use weights, but ask around in the gym about movements/exercises to do)
Abs:
< Start with the basic Crunch with your legs both on the floor, bent do about 50
< Do the obliques by crossing one leg over the other and reaching with the opposite elbow to the bent knee (50 each side)
< The criss cross,with your hands behind your head, bend one leg and reach with the opposite elbow that knee while the same leg as the reaching elbow stretches parallel to the floor, change to do it with the other elbow, repeat. (100)
< still Lying on your back put your feet up reaching the roof, making a L shape with your body, put your hands behind your neck and raise your chest off the floor, keeping the lower back on the floor (this is actually the right and effective way to do each crunch btw), lower and raise your feet, the closer to the floor without touching it. Low abdominals (100)
Legs:
< Work your legs by running some more, training on the machines you might have in the gym, etc

POISES/ equilibrium:
< Do the cricket poise and mantain it about 5/10 minutes
< Do the hand stand with the head on the floor (build up: putting both your hands on the floor, then develop to puting your elbows as you get confortable doing this for a while, then only one hand, then nothing, only your head)
< do other poises you like to train, to develop your strenght and equilibrium

POWER MOVES training

FLEXIBILITY:
Upper body:
< stretch your neck in every direction with the use of your hand
< Stretch your triceps biceps, etc the usual way (to hard to describe and to easy to know)
< Stretch your Back by curling it at the very most interlacing your fingers and puching both arms on the front of you; then do some side bends reaching with one hand to the opposite side letting your body bending sidely
< Lunge, deeping your pelvis to the ground (that latter on will go for a split by sliding the back leg and stretching the front one)
< Sit on the floor, put your legs apart and reach with your hands (that are on the floor) to the front
< sitting on the floor, join your legs and reach your toes

I think this is a basic workout to b-boys of course every one reserches, try to adapt some methods of training, grab some other exercises from other disciplines (kung fu, etc). I just gave you the most basic stuff, that can really make you get what you want but of course everyone has their own stuff and mixes.
Any more questions just let me know :)
Good luck :wink:

PS: I have some workout books, this one is for fighting (like kung fu, etc), just [url=http://rapidshare.com/files/1867002/the.naked.warrior.rar]download[/url] it, and take a look.[/url]

Malka · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:08 am Post subject: Get In Shape

To begin with, it always helps in breakdancing if you're fit; since when you do crazy moves you don't have to thrust a lot of weight in the air. Doing pushups will help your body strength and wrist strength. If you're old enough, lift weights to get stronger or like me; do chin ups and it'll be really easy to do hand-stand moves. Stretch your flexibility. Being flexible is always a good thing to have in breakdancing.

sushid00d · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 10

laughing will help ur stomach muscles :)

vincent_says · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 67

I'm not very familiar with break dancing, but it has always interested me. I like the quick pace and acrobatic movements. After reading this post, I can back up my assumptions that health, conditioning, and physical stature play a key role in how good a break dancer you can be.

BBoy riPHt · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 93 Location: Chicago/Boston

The key to conditioning is to focus on exactly what you're going to need. For freezes and footwork, you need to work on stabbing and body position.

Stabbing is just placing your elbow in your stomach, side, or back, and just holding it until you can balance.

For air freezes (no stabbing) work handstand pushups as hard as you can. Use a wall for starters.

For footwork, do as many rotations of six step, in both directions, as SLOW as possible. It's a lot harder than it sounds.

For power, work on your hip flexor. Short and sweet, sititng on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you, place your hands on either side of your hips, and try and lift your legs straight up, with the knees locked. Do it on a chair if you have to. I'd recommend stabbing exercises first.

And if you need songs, hit me up on AIM or something and I'll put a mix together for you. Special order :D how's that for service?