Bboy: Float

The float is a breakdance move in which the body is held parallel to the floor while balancing on one or both hands. Though it appears to demand great strength, the float actually requires balance above all because the breaker's weight is supported on the elbows which are firmly planted ("stabbed") into the lower abdomen near the ASIS.

Stationary floats are often employed as freeze poses. On the other hand, breakers can "walk" with floats by shifting weight from one hand to the other and thus moving in a straight line or circle. These moving floats can be made to spin very fast and become nearly as impressive as power moves.

Variants

• Crab - The Crab is a specific term for a two-handed stabbed float that may walk in a line but does not entail any of the variations below.
• Turtle AirFlares - This move is performed as a combination of an AirFlare, and a Master Swipe; however this move is performed during a turtle/handglide freeze. The legs rotate as if doing a windmill and the breaker pumps off the ground and spins. The breaker then lands in the stabbing position again.
• Turtle Freeze - A Stationary Turtle.
  

Spinning floats

• Turtle - This is a standard spinning float. The breaker shifts weight from one hand to the next, moving one hand forward and the other backward to produce rotation or a circular "walk".
  • Pumping Turtle or Darkhammers - A Turtle in which the breaker actually hops/jumps with the hands instead of just shifting from hand to hand.
• Cricket - Much like the Hand Glide, but the breaker hops on the central hand rather than merely spinning. The free hand pulls until the centered wrist becomes taut and can twist no further. The free hand pushes off from ground (and the legs may kick upward as well), allowing the centered hand to hop and turn itself to allow for the process to repeat. Bboy Pop of Gamblers crew is famous for his beautiful crickets as well as jackhammers (see below).
  • Jackhammer/Hydro - A Cricket performed with one hand. Jackhammers are often faster, and the free hand is usually placed on the back or in some other position that clearly shows control with the centered hand. Many world records have been conducted on the number of Jackhammers a bboy could do, with a top record of 97 in a row by Bboy Pop.
• Airchair Spin - A floating chair freeze; however, the breaker is spinning upon the grounded hand. This move can usually be located during a breaker's Flare or Airflare/Airtrack set. Those powermoves are commonly used to exert proper momentum to do such floats.
  • Chair Flares - A spinning Airchair float, while pumping off of the grounded hand. These are not usually used in rapid succession, but incorporated into a bboy/bgirl's performance. Bboy The End, often mixes this move into his power sets.

Straight-arm floats

Floats may be performed with straight arms, meaning the elbows do not support the body. Rather, these floats involve strength and speed to keep the entire body up.

• Air Float or UFO - The movement is like that of a float, but the elbows are locked straight and therefore do NOT provide a point of support. To assist this extremely difficult athletic move, often the legs bend upwards, the body leans forward slightly, and/or the hands are turned in the direction of spin.However, most b-boys dislike those who use only (power airmoves) invented by Lil Alex New York City Breakers
  • Reverse UFO - A UFO float executed with hands behind the back, near the bottom.
  • Buddha - Similar to Air Turtles except that the knees are kept locked together and behind the arms, shins parallel to the floor, back as parallel to the floor as possible. Bboy Waka of Headhunterz was one of the first to perform Buddhas in his sets.
  • Deadman - Similar to UFO's where the legs are held straight together. It is a commonly seen movement done in gymnastics floor routines. Bboy Junior is a famous bboy who is known to use Deadman floats in his sets.
• Boomerang - While sitting with legs in front and in a V shape, the hands are placed in between the thighs. The legs are lifted and kept straight while the hands walk in a circle. This looks quite different from most other floats.

Bboy: Master Swipe

Start standing up. I'm going to explain going to the left. Lean as far back as possible. Now lift your left leg and bring your knee to the middle of your ribcage. Your shin should be parallel to the floor. Now you should be able to lean farther. Try to lean so far that your whole body gets parallel. You shouldn't be able to, unless you're a weird freak. Now put both arms on your right side. Now whip them back to the left and at the same time sink lower to the floor so that your left hand can touch. But your legs should still be in the same position. As your right hand goes down to the ground your legs should start to swing also. You have to jump as high as possible or else your going to hurt your feet very badly. Now both of your hands are touching the ground and your legs and body are swinging around. Go with the momentum and bring your left hand off at the same speed and time as your legs. This should come naturally. Your right foot should hit the ground and then your left arm should swing around in a circular motion and touch the ground. These are very sweet power moves.

Tips on Learning Master Swipes.

Try it from the normal swipe position first. Jump really high and kick your left leg into the air then swipe around it. It is a lot easier. Try working on your balance and how you lower your hands to the floor.

Bboy: Baby Swipe

How to two Step & Baby Swipe in BBoy breakdancing

1. Step 1: from the original six step position, kick your left leg to the right side as if you were going to 3step.
2. Step 2: Pull your left leg back so that your legs make a V. This should look like step 3 of the 6step.
3. Step 3: Straighten your right leg and sweep it around your left, when it passes in front of your body you should switch from left hand to your right hand.
   (Once you have these steps down you should combine steps two and three. They should happen simultaneously.)
4. Step 4: Without stopping after step three lower your left hand and use your left leg to force your body upwards into the air, while you are in the air shift your weight onto your left hand while twisting your torso. Extend your left leg forward and you should land at 180degrees of your previous position back into step 1.
   

Start B:

Exactly the same as start A, difference is you start at the end of Step 2 and continue.

VARIATION
When you are at step 4 and twisting your torso, open your legs wide instead of keeping them closed. This has two effects, it slows the motion down, but creates a more interesting look (in my opinion). There is a time to use each, and it is best to use both variations in the appropriate places.

In addition there is another variation where you stab your torso. I don't like this variation so I don't really cover it. If you want to learn it just stab while you are twisting your torso.

TIPS

1. Your sweeping leg should never fully touch the ground during the sweeping motion, it should glide as close to the ground as possible without ever fully touching.
2. Your feet should always be under your backside and only on the toe portion when they are not extended.
3. Your butt should never raise higher than your head while spinning. You want your torso to be about parallel to the ground.
   

Bboy: Swipe Variants

The Swipe is one of the most recognizable power moves in break dance. The breaker leans back, whips his arms to one side to touch the ground, and his legs follow closely behind, twisting 360 degrees to land on the ground once again. An example many might remember is the swipe performed by the character Samir in the movie Office Space.

Normal swipes begin from the crab position, or they may be Air Swipes in which the breaker jumps back directly from a standing position into a swipe, sometimes ending up in standing position once again. (The Air Swipe is described in the opening sentence and the step-by-step section). Regardless of the beginning, there are several swipe variations that basically differ in terms of which parts of the arms hit the ground.

• X - swipes
  Swipes with legs crossed
• Baby Swipe
  Baby Swipe essentially a footwork move, often launched from the 6-step, that employs a twist of the hips similar to the swipe.
• Elbow Swipe
  Elbows replace the hands.
• Forearm Swipe
  Forearms replace the hands.
• Head Swipe
  Head replaces the hands.
• Master Swipe
  Both hands leave the ground at the same time, and both legs lift simultaneously as well.
• Superman Swipe
  An exaggerated Swipe that is very open and more powerful-looking. The hands should be placed farther apart.
• Flight Swipe
  Only one hand, usually the hand on the outside of the rotation (i.e.- if swiping to the left, use the right hand).
• One-Footed Swipe
  One leg in the air, often pointed straight out, usually the leg on the inside of the rotation.
• DOHC (Dual Over-head Cam) Air Swipe
  Similar to the baby swipe. It utilizes the momentum and the torque gain from the air flare. Both legs are held tightly together to increase rotational speed.
  

Bboy: Elbow Spin

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 a spin, you must wind your 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 your free hand. When you 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 your left leg to your right, then bring your feet together. It feels awkward at first, but you'll get use to it.

Bboy: 2000/00s/Thousands

A 1990 with the spare hand on the wrist of your supporting hand.

Bboy:1990/90

A spinning one-handed handstand.