Category: 14: Breakin’ Experiences
By Jaimenacho
The pancake (also as I discovered in research is a ‘suicide on butt’) is a move that I saw once or twice in breakin’ movies. It basically requires you to jump as high as you can in the air, and throw your legs out straight in front of you. (like you were going to sit on an air mattress, or raft) You then proceed to land flat on the ground, not using your arms to slow impact. Most professionals end this by scooting across the floor on their rears, or simply biting their hand, to show dominance over the rival breaker.
The move hurts…a lot.
I’m not sure why this move was even invented. I tried it once. I was drunk, but for some reason I tried it. I think the simplicity of the maneuver drew me in. It hurt me. I bruised my tail bone permanently. The worst part is, even though I did it correctly, nobody was impressed. Plus the fact I was in complete lower body trauma didn’t help matters any. Any breaking move that ends with you limping for several days is not advisable to perform under any circumstance.
By Eduardo
Shortly after Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo had been released on VHS, my good buddy Miguel invited me to stay over at his house and watch both movies. For nearly four hours, my fifth grade eyes absorbed more breakdancing than they ever had before. Although Breakin’ 2 was considerably more tame than the first one, I liked them both. Sure, they were mediocre Hollywood “breaksploitation” movies, but they gave me my first taste of what real battles were like. It was exciting to think that at that very moment, people wearing bandanas and parachute pants were breakdancing for respect and notoriety underneath a freeway overpass somewhere.
After we’d finished watching, Miguel and I were totally pumped up and inspired. We moved some of the furniture out of the way in his parents’ kitchen/dining room area, and proceeded to attempt some of the moves that we had seen in the movies. It was mostly a lot of awkward popping and poorly-executed waves, but I believe I also tried throwing a kneespin into the mix. If I remember correctly, I think I hit my head on a chair.
Our first foray into the world of breakin’ was not very successful, but something changed in me that night. Although it would be years before Jaimenacho and I formed our crew, I had been bitten by the breakin’ bug… and there was no turning back.
By Jaimenacho
During the end of my high school years, and in the years that followed Eduardo and I have become increasingly more fascinated with the breakin’ phenomenon. While neither of us is very good at it, collaboratively we are a minor force to reckon with. For whatever reason two quirky white guys with limited abilities have fallen in love with this ethnically rooted dance form. Perhaps the weirdest part is that we feel the need to share our abilities with the masses.
CARDBOARD JUNGLE
Cardboard jungle was an endeavor that I’m going to leave primarily for Eduardo to discuss. It was filmed over the course of the summer of 1992 I believe. Our summer nights consisted mainly of driving around Redding looking for something interesting to do. On many occasions we would bring a video recorder with us. Much of what we found “entertaining” to do was pop, and lock in various locations. Pepe performed with us, and Paco manned the camera, and drove to the various locations. We filmed it, edited it a tad, and thus created ‘Cardboard Jungle’- a poorly executed look into the breakdancing culture of suburban Northern California circa the early 1990′s, as seen through the eyes of honkey white kids. That being said, it’s still awesome to behold.
I’d like to remake a more current mid-life crisis version of the film.
DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE…..
Chico Ca- One particular day Paco, Eduardo, and I went to Chico to hang out. The mall was filled with the Christmas spirit. There was a school choir singing various songs to celebrate the season. Parents of the performers, as well as mall patrons all stood watching the choir. Rule 1- Any group of people gathered to watch something is a good spot to unleash a backspin. I unleashed a mighty backspin (Caught on tape) right in front of the stage. To the credit of the choir, they kept on singing. Had I witnessed that kind of momentum changer, I’d be stunned silent. The crowd was perplexed or perhaps just impressed beyond words, because nobody said anything to me. I would have liked to add to my performance, and stayed around for autographs, but street dancing is frowned upon by most of white America. I feared persecution, and had to leave. I did however do an encore performance in the Carl’s Jr. Drive through later on, for a smaller number of people.
YOU WANNA GET TOP ROCKED?
Def Leppard- Eduardo and I planned on going to see Def Leppard in disguise. We planned on making it a ‘white trash’ experience, and not one where breakin’ was involved. But as proves to be true with us most times we’re together, you can take the kids out of the streets, but you can’t take the streets out of the kids. At one point in the show, Eduardo and I were popping and locking in perfect synchronization to Def Leppard, much to the amusement of the largely older, rock n’ roll crowd. Keep in mind we were disguised to ‘fit in’ while we we’re doing this. While it was strange, and awkward to behold, it was also strangely beautiful.
Eduardo and I rarely get to get together now and really focus on our dancing, it’s sad, but our busy lives don’t leave much time for tutting’ or the robot. While we both try and keep our skills sharp at home, neither of our wives truly appreciates the talent and skills we’ve developed. I would go as far to say that they’re both quite embarrassed by them. One day maybe we’ll ‘get the band back together’ so to speak, but for now our breakdancing efforts have been reduced mainly to talks, and dreams.
WHERE IS HE NOW?
My own breakdancing has also been reduced to rare or special occasions. In my older age I find myself shying away from a spin, where as in my youth I would have done a whole performance. I was in San Diego on a business trip this year (2004). I walked past an outdoor interpretive dance performance done by one of the local colleges. If ever there was a prime location and target for a fury of breakdancing it was this.
I didn’t do it.
It’ll be a regret I have forever, but without Eduardo, or Paco, to view it, the performance lacks meaning. If a tree falls in the woods, and nobody is around to see it, does it still feel like falling? I think not.
STILL GOT IT.
Three weeks ago I made a minor breakin’ revival. I was at the annual cabin party in the Trinity Alps. A party located in the remote mountains of Northern California. The party consisted of about 100 people (roughly). All engaged in alcohol consumption to various degrees. A band played on the deck of the cabin. The band stuck primarily to rock/hippie styles of music, but took breaks throughout the evening. During one of these breaks ‘Jam On It’ by Newcleus came on the satellite radio. The crowd stayed on the floor and kept dancing, but as is the case with most of white America they had no idea how to dance to the song, nor did they realize the disservice they did Newcleus, and the whole breakdancing community by dancing to it as they would Elvis or the Beatles.
I couldn’t allow this to happen.
I proceeded to whip out some of the illest Tuts, Uprocks, Robots, and backspins that I’d done in years…maybe ever. I gathered a crowd of people chanting “Go!!! Go!! Go! Go!” and some even participated. Nobody was stepping up to battle, and I can’t say I blame them. I was in a zone. It was far more collaborative than competitve. While the joy and adrenaline lasted only a few minutes. The joy I felt will last a lifetime.
By Eduardo
At my school, breakdancing was introduced around the same time as it was at Jaimenacho’s – although we did in fact have several black students at ours. They were the masters, the ones who brought this fantastic new art form to our white suburban world.
They were three brothers, all of whom were very cool and admired by the other students. Milton, the eldest member of the three man crew, looked a lot like Herbie Hancock and was generally regarded as the leader. He was the best — and although his specialties were popping and uprock, he could bust out with just about any move imaginable. His younger brother Donnell was almost as good, and they would often practice their moves on back lawn at lunchtime.
We used to all crowd around, gawking and and watching in awe as they showed us how it was done. Sometimes this was done with a boombox, sometimes not (which made it a little strange). I don’t recall anybody ever challenging them to a battle, or ever seeing them participate in one – but we were confident that they could beat down anyone who dared question their superiority.
These guys were so dope, in fact, that they were invited to perform at a PTA meeting. I remember going with my mom to the school gym that night, just to watch them. Halfway through the meeting, there was indeed an ‘intermission’, at which point the guys came out and set up the padded mats on the floor. After the principal gave a brief introduction, Milton pressed ‘play’ on the boombox and the body-rockin’ sound of Whodini burst forth.
The three of them started off with some popping and locking, and gradually progressed into an impressive combination of windmills, centipede, bronco, and other acrobatic-style moves. Most of the parents were completely bewildered by what they were witnessing, ignorantly unaware that they were experiencing one of the greatest exhibitions of breakdancing the north state had ever seen. Like most parents, I think my mom just smiled and subtly tapped her foot to the beat. I was a lot more into it, however, and wanted to be able to throw down like those three. In retrospect, the idea of a bunch of parents watching three kids breakdance at a PTA meeting seems absurdly silly – but hey, it was the 80′s.
After ushering in a new era of dancing at our school, the three brothers promptly disappeared without a trace. I’m sure they ended up at another school somewhere, where they probably had the same effect. In fact, their presence at our school may have been part of an orchestrated plan… Perhaps they were operatives sent out by the hip-hop community, on a secret mission to garner understanding and support for breakdancing in white communities. It could very well be true.
Before they left, however, Milton was kind enough to write some words of encouragement in the yearbook of (fellow Amigo) Pepe at the end of the school year. If I remember correctly, in recent weeks he’d been helping Pepe learn how to pop in the same amazing style that he did. Although Milton was the undisputed master of the cardboard, he did not have the same authoritative command over the English language. In Pepe’s yearbook, he simply wrote
KEEP POPING!
Wise words to live by, indeed.
What’s funny is that Milton allegedly turned up years later as a member of the gangsta rap group D.R.S., noted for their 1993 single “Gangsta Lean”. I for one was disappointed that he had traded in his wristbands and Adidas for 40′s, hoochies and bling bling.
Nevertheless, we will keep poping anyway.
By Jaimenacho
As I’ve grown I’ve learned to appreciate the art of breakin’ in new and exciting ways. While I’ve always realized my shortcomings in performing the more difficult maneuvers, I have learned to do what I am able to do to the best of my abilities. In other words, I feel comfortable carrying on a wave, or a Tut, but am not going to be doing mad flares anytime soon. You won’t see me battling Crazy Legs in the streets of NYC at any point in my life. I know my limits.
One of my favorite moves has always been the backspin. It’s one of the defining moves of the genre. To perform it you simply visualize yourself spinning on the ground, on your back. Placing one hand on the ground, cardobard, or linoleum give a big kick to your left or right about 2 feet high. This will get your momentum going, and start the spinning. Quickly tuck your legs into a semi-fetal position, grabbing them tightly with both arms, so the speed of your spin doesn’t cause your limbs to fly out in awkward and unaesthetic positions. When you’ve made several revolutions, and are no longer spinning at a high rate of speed it’s time to end the move. Kicking you legs straight out, and rolling onto your side will stop you just fine. In order to cap off the performance wtih some added style however, quickly cross your legs with the bottom leg being flat on the mat, and the other bent at a 90′ angle. While your legs are positioning themselves, your bottom arm should be making its way to the bottom of your chin elbow on ground, the top arm bent, fist on top hip bone. When in the position hold it for approx. 15-20 seconds. When spins are ended this way, it screams. “Yeeeah. what do you think of me now.”
The real beauty of the maneuver is the small space requirement, the ease at which it can be performed, and the low risk for injury. You can ‘bust’ a backspin almost anywhere. I should know, I have. Going through life there were certain situations that warranted action, but for the longest time just what sort of action remained a mystery. I would be in the presence of something as ordinary as a Christmas choir performance, or as famous as the Venus De Milo. These things were great by themselves, but something was missing.
For many viewers experiences such as these get filed in their memories as being nothing more than ‘cool’. They needed, and had the potential to be ‘fantastic’ experiences. I found that by adding a back spin in the presence of anything made it go from simply ‘cool’ to ‘totally fantastic’ It’s like adding wine or fresh garlic to a meal, it’s always an improvement. Also like a great meal everyone who experiences the backspin remembers, and enjoys it.
Since this epiphany I have performed my backspin in many locations. Here’s just a smattering of places.
Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco in general
Palace of Fine Arts S.F.
Eiffel Tower, Paris
Stonehenge, UK
Coliseum, Rome
Subways throughout Europe.
Pantheon, Greece
Interlachen, Switzerland
Statue of Liberty, NYC
Chico Mall, Chico Ca. (during a stirring rendition of Christmas music)
Cabin Party 2004
Over 50 Dance clubs around the world
My wedding.
Other people’s wedding’s
Washington D.C.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Some people have BASE jumping, some graffiti, others hiking particular trails. They all have things they try and do in as many places as they possibly can.
Back spinning in public is my passion.
I try to document the act whenever possible with a photograph. Many of the pictures look like I’ve simply fallen down, rather than just performed a superior breakdancing move. I will attempt to gather the photos I do possess and post them here. My ultimate goal is to have someone go.
“Have you seen the new Dali museum in southern Spain?”
and I will be able to say,
“Seen it? B*tch, I backspun there.”
I want to eventually do a backspin at Mecca…not for religious purposes, although I’m sure all who witness it will have a religious experience of sorts.
I think backspins transcend all racial, cultural, and religious differences, and am willing to risk life and limb to prove it. Backspins are the FTD of the new milenium. At some point nothing will say ‘I love you’ like a perfectly performed backspin, and you can say I heard it here first.
By Jaimenacho
Breakin’ started for me in the 4th or 5th grade. I’m not sure how the craze even GOT to Redding, let alone found it’s way to our elementary school. To the best of my knowledge we had no black students at our school that might have been street savvy, and learned a few moves to show off at school. Breakdancing showed up none the less.
The first person I knew that started breakdancing was a kid named Christian. He wasn’t spectacular at it, but he tried his best, and was the best I’d seen. Breakin’ at our school consisted of mainly Popping, and Locking, with some Tuts, and Up-Rocking thrown in. We could moonwalk, centipede, knee spin, and backspin, as well, but we all lacked a lot of what made break dancing impressive to view. Nobody had the physical prowess to do the more athletic moves such as windmills, headspins, or flares. Christian would practice at his house, I’d usually join him, although I didn’t break. I manned the boom box, and selected the songs he’d practice to. When he felt comfortable in his moves, he’d issue a challenge to someone at school. The challenges usually took place in the morning sometime before school, or during early recess, with the battle taking place at lunch.
The battles weren’t very impressive in retrospect. Someone brought a boom box to school, and at lunch the combatants would meet, usually in the middle of the blacktop. They would decide who started, and the music would begin. Competitors were allowed to bring their own music, or use the music of the challenger. Most battles were mano y mano. On rare occasions someone unexpected would jump in and throw out an Up Rock or Robot. This type of behavior wasn’t usually encouraged, because it distracted from the main event. But it almost strictly occurred at a point in the battle when one competitor was clearly outmatched, and to show the world how overmatched he was, a random participant would join the fray and destroy them as well.
These battles would draw large crowds of students, who would surround the competitors and cheer. This type of gathering usually signified a fist fight. It was a red alert to the teachers, that they needed to penetrate the circle, and separate the combatants. When they got to the kids and realized there weren’t punches being thrown, rather tuts, and waves, they were a little perplexed as to what to do. Eventually the principal decided to outlaw break dancing on campus, to avoid confusing the teachers.
With the new twists in protocol we were forced to take our battles to private residents. Christian’s house was the logical choice. He’d issue a challenge, or receive a challenge, and we’d set a time after school to meet at his house and settle business. I’d go over early to help him organize a routine, and watch him practice. A few times he tried to perfect moves like head spins and what not to really throw the competitor off. He always had very limited success. One time during an attempted head spin, he fell and broke a lamp. This stopped nearly all experimentation. The competitors almost always showed up late. There’d be a knock at the door, pleasantries would be exchanged, and the battle would commence. It was usually held in the living room, with the furniture moved out for safety. Being as I never competed, I was the judge. I would declare the winner (always my friend) and the loser would leave, score settled. Sometimes refreshments were enjoyed post battle, if available.
Just because I never competed, didn’t mean I didn’t practice. I practiced like crazy at home, in the privacy of my own room. I watched all the movies I could, studied different moves, etc. I could tut, top rock, back spin, knee spin, and do the wave, but that was it. To this day I still possess the same skills I had in 5th grade. When the Lord created me, he didn’t bless me with the athletic ability needed to perform a windmill or a flare. I did the bronco once, but hurt myself, and have since given up trying it.
I have however managed to find my niche in the breakin’ world as you shall see.
By Eduardo
We’ve all had memorable breakdancing-related experiences. Maybe you attempted a headspin in your 5th grade talent show, or used to practice popping while listening to a Whodini tape. You may have even dressed like Turbo and tried uprocking with a broom after seeing Breakin’ 2, or just happened to witness an epic cardboard battle in the big city. Whatever your experiences, be they life-changing or barely worth mentioning, we want to hear about them. If possible, be creative and try to cover every memorable breakin’-related experience you’ve ever had. Pictures, video, and other visual aids are always a plus.
All right… get busy, y’all!
