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stevenlai's Homepage http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:13 EST Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:13 EST Zorpia.com bboy- not only is a bboy an accomplished... http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/586787 bboy- not only is a bboy an accomplished breaker, but the true bboy must also respect the hip hop culture. Unless the person represents the culture correctly, it does not matter how good the person is at dancing, they are not a bboy. Personal http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/586787 Mon, 13 Sep 2004 09:53 EST http://www.ladyfire.it/breaking/powermoves.ht http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/515877 <A href="http://www.ladyfire.it/breaking/powermoves.htm">http://www.ladyfire.it/breaking/powermoves.htm</A> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/515877 Wed, 11 Aug 2004 11:22 EST Windmill Glossary ================= Note-Wind http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/511531 <H1>Windmill Glossary</H1> <CENTER></CENTER> 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 Infurno. 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. Personal http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/511531 Mon, 09 Aug 2004 03:45 EST Another article by kujo.. true... =========== http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/501551 <H1 style="MARGIN-LEFT: 2px">Another article by kujo.. true...</H1> <H1 style="MARGIN-LEFT: 2px"><A name="What does Foundation really Mean?">What does Foundation really Mean?</A></H1> Written By "Krayz E Kujo" March 23, 1999 Most b-boys, especially the older ones, consider foundation to be footwork, specifically six-step related footwork, and basic freezes. It's what most b-boys recommend to the inquisitive beginner to start off with. Mastery of foundation is considered the essence of a "true b-boy," and mastery of footwork techniques is what separates b-boys from other dancers. Or so they say. Most breakers I know personally, including myself, did NOT start off learning foundation footwork. The first move I learned was turtles, and many other people I know started with windmills or other basic power moves, or freezes, or a general understanding of rhythm. That's THEIR foundation, and I've noticed that every breaker who starts off on the "wrong" foot looks TOTALLY different from any other breaker or dancer. Here's my contention: If every would-be breaker started off learning the six-step and other accepted b-boy foundation movements, they would all look relatively similar. This can be either good or bad, depending on your point of view. It's good because we'll all look like "b-boys" as opposed to ballet dancers, but it might not be so good because we'll all look like we're doing the same thing. I don't mean we'll all be clones; we're all different people, with different qualities and capabilities, and we'll all interpret the same dance differently. There's nothing at all wrong with that. BUT...what if everybody started off learning something different? What if a would-be breaker never learned footwork, but had an amazing capacity for rhythm and freezes? Or power moves? Or something we haven't even conceived of yet? Would that person still be considered a b-boy? By learning and mastering basic footwork, you're understanding the FUNDAMENTALS of the dance once known as "rocking." The more you play with that style, the more your personality shines through. You eventually form your own unique interpretation of an established dance. You've thus chosen a convenient means of expressing your soul. That can't be bad...but it can be limiting. So then, you explore other movements. You learn power moves, you polish your toprocks, freezes, etc. But the fact remains: although every dancer interprets the dance ("rocking") differently, you still look relatively similar to every other dancer who does the same dance. Again, this is not a bad thing at all. It just depends on what YOU want. Dance is art...art is the expression of the soul...and the soul is without limits. Say someone isn't too attracted to footwork, and wants to learn power moves and combos. We've seen it many times. They're often looked down upon and referred to as "urban gymnasts." But like it or not, they pushing the limits of the human body's capabilities, and they're pushing the boundaries of breaking. They're doing what they FEEL. They choose to focus on movements other than footwork, because they CAN. That's his foundation. Or, say someone has a natural talent for dancing and acting, and he's not too interested in footwork; say it's too "robotic" for him. But he has the most graceful movements and loads of character, and hits beautiful freezes. He takes advantage of his capabilities, and ignores the rules, because he CAN. And that's HIS foundation. There are plenty of situations we can come up with. If people are allowed to express themselves in the myriad ways that they truly want to, the result will be the creation of new forms of movement, and new dances...as opposed to new "styles," or interpretations. With time, comes evolution. Many aspects of the dance originally known as "rocking" have been expanded upon, in many ways. Our freedom as b-boys continues to be regulated by those who were there since the birth of the dance, and by those influenced by those pioneers. People who break the rules are excommunicated. But the rules have been bent since the beginning, and they will continue to be bent, more and more, until what people are doing looks nothing like the vision shared by the founders of breaking. It's a beautiful thing. Think about it: if people are allowed total artistic freedom, and are able to develop their own "foundations," some blessed individual may stumble upon a whole new DANCE, as opposed to a mere interpretation of an established dance form. Where would be if somebody, God forbid, had told Don Campbell he was doing the Funky Chicken wrong, and taught him the "correct" way? He broke the rules...but he's revered, and rightfully so, as one of the pioneers of street dance. There will be another Don Campbell...there will be another Bruce Lee...there will be another Charlie Parker. If the powers that be dictate that a b-boy is defined by constricted criteria (i.e., six-step), then I am not a b-boy. With or without "foundation," I am still KUJO, and always will be. And no one on this planet will ever be better than me at being Kujo. Peace. Personal http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/501551 Wed, 04 Aug 2004 10:45 EST This is not written by me. Good breaking... http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/474110 <DIV align=left> <H1>This is not written by me. Good breaking article. Check this. Its applicable to any dance from my point of view. Props to Kujo. </H1></DIV> <DIV align=left> <H1>Power Moves vs. Styles</H1></DIV> <DIV align=left> Written By Krayz E Kujo </DIV> If you've been breakin'/b-boyin' for more than a few months then you're probably aware of the debate over which style of breakdancing is superior, power moves or styles/footwork. The debate goes something like this: B-boys who concentrate primarily on power moves say that what they do is more difficult than footwork, and B-boys who concentrate on footwork say that power people can't dance and have no creativity, and that they are just a bunch of wannabe gymnasts. What both camps fail to realize is that by ignoring an entire aspect of breakin', they are limiting their potential as b-boys. Yet there are, however few, b-boys who combine the best of both worlds. Style is dope because it defines who you are as a dancer. It allows your personality to shine through; it allows people to see who you really are underneath all that gear. It lets you create a character, an aura about yourself that makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd. It can make you instantly recognizable in a circle. It is (or should be) pure originality. Power is all about taking the limits of the human body to another level. It is about defying the laws of physics. This is an aspect of breakin' where you have a variety of standard moves which must be practiced constantly for weeks, months, even years, to perfect. People do horrible things to their bodies just learn a single move or combination. Originality rarely comes into play; b-boys just learn techniques from other b-boys and from videos. Style is all about invention and self-expression, power is all about perfection of techniques. After all these years that breakin' has existed, these standards have become sort of cliche. I see the same moves and combos at every event, party, and club that I go to with very little variation. I see all kinds of individual styles, but they are each becoming less and less distinct as more and more people take up b-boyin' as a way of life. The majority of b-boys I have seen seem to be stuck in some sort of rut. They don't seem to know what else to do, what else to practice, other than to improve what they already have. But how many b-boys have dared to try something totally different? Has anyone ever considered using style and footwork to push past the limits of the human body? Or using power moves as a means of self-expression and individuality? Power is perfection, but how many b-boys have come up with styles and tricks that take months, even years to perfect? Style is invention and self-expression, but how many b-boys use power as a means of self-expression, and how many b-boys have invented completely new moves, some of which become part of the standard repertoire? The conventional styles of b-boyin' have come close to reaching their limits. Many of the hardest combinations, once thought impossible, have been done. Many of the most creative, bizarre, and crowd-pleasing styles have been done (and copied). This is partly because many people, when they first begin to breakdance, learn by watching. They watch people at clubs and parties, and they studiously watch videos, and then they go home and practice what they saw. Many of these people have no one to teach them techniques, and learn by watching, but they never learn any theory, i.e., what it means to be a b-boy. My advice to aspiring b-boys: Don't do everything you see. Once you've learned the basics, CREATE. Don't do what you see in videos, do what you DON'T see. For many people, the hardest thing to do is create. The top b-boys didn't get to the top with a monkey-see, monkey-do attitude (although they probably started out with that attitude). They got to the top by distorting the preconceived notions of what breakdancing is, thus creating their own unique styles and signature moves, making a name for themselves. Unfortunately, many of the top b-boys in the world are too busy making self-promotional videos for profit, doing shows, etc. to contribute to the up-and-coming generation of b-boys and b-girls. If approached by eager young b-boys asking to learn a move or technique, they ask for a fee. This is unfortunate, because many of them exemplify the qualities I discussed, i.e., fusing style and power moves, but refuse to pass them on. I predict that with the coming generation of b-boys and b-girls, the dividing line between highly creative dancers and less creative dancers will grow thicker and thicker. We will see b-boys of tremendous creativity, while the rest continue to imitate, because they will not have been educated. I plan to do my part, and I hope to see other influential b-boys do the same. Peace. Krayz E Kujo Just Another Slave To The Rhythm Soul Control Personal http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/474110 Fri, 23 Jul 2004 15:42 EST My first journal here. Thanks for checking... http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/358087 My first journal here. Thanks for checking ma page. A lil intro here, i'm into bboying real much. My crew is T-Virus, representing Penang to the fullest. We seldom took pics (so ppl won't bite lol). If there are shows, hook us up...money is always a problem...so ya know what to do :) I'm not into posting ma life so much. sorry bout that. but i'll try to update pics as much. currently in mad love with my gf. for breakers, pls no poseurs. do not be cocky when u know some moves and try to battle the whole world. we might meet in a battle and my crew will serve ya'll totally. minus the hating, lets have fun with the dancing. Its a dance..not stunt or sports. All rite. Peace. Personal http://www.zorpia.com/stevenlai/journal/358087 Thu, 10 Jun 2004 13:04 EST