2B or not 2B? I think it's a grade of pencil..
Today I've probably had the final lesson of Manel. Manel is my teacher at Ckc for the people who didn't knew. This guy's awesome. And a really inspirational dancer. He was supposed to give a year course, But is going to Spain for work. I know I'm gonna miss him. He was definitely one of the people who've shown me again how much fun it is to dance. And actually to fall in love again. (With dancing, you damn sickos)Today was a good day, and I hope to stay happy for a while. I'm leaving you with a few inspirational words.FUCK FILLERSSS WHAAAAAA.'night.
Philosophy, a route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing
Today proved me once again, i'm good at failing.Leaving my horrible morning behind, I jumped in a nice dream and woke up in a really good afternoon.How 7 lil' boys can fuck that up again i don't know, it just happens..Well I guess I should be doing something usefull right now, so I'll be off again.Take care.
Sasuke vs. Killua
Thoughts.Fillers/Hungy/School/Breaking/Mischa/Stupid People/Money/NFP The Movie/Kisame/Dance music/Pentrix/Workshops/DDR/Blogging/Janet/Nintendo DS Lite/Dreamz/Future/Paris?Now I'm gonna eat some chickin'!!
Read before reading the big post below..
The previous post can be a little hard to follow. I've changed my mind a few times over, and didn't stick to one story. If it's a really weird story i'm sorry. I've warned this could happen ones in a while. It bothers me very much, and I need to get it of my chest.If there's anyting not clear to you, or if you like to discuss, please leave a comment. (or in private, mail me.)
A long story I'm not completely satisfied with..
After having another weekend of battling. (Sat. Blockjam pier Scheveningen, Sun. Spin offs Apeldoorn) I feel I should share some information.I lost, big time. AGAIN. This is very frustrating. I've really spend many hours training past months yet, I can't seem to accomplish anything.This has made me thought of a lot of things around breaking.Cause I want to win competitions, yet I don't, because I lack skill.This is because of how I train, and what my priorities are. (And a bit of stubbornness)The breakdance community, as all communities, is complicated.For instance if you really want to win competitions, and become # 1, you'll have to look at what is expected of you. And what the other bboys bring to the battle. U could win probably most battles in NL if you stick to this advice:- Start working on a "USA" old skool type a uprock style. When applying this to beats in a contest don't worry to much about all the funky sounds in the songs, listen to the beat, apply a 2/4/6/8 accent in your dance and you'll do fine. If you want to be the "best" in NL you should put in some accents on other things, not to much since most won't notice anyways, like sax solo's or bongo accents. It's good to do something cool or funny with a few. Or if you know some of the lyrics, use it and express it in some kind of way. Not ALL the cool words and sentences, just the really obvious otherwise this wouldn't be noticed either. Now keep in mind to use really big gestures and a heavy attitude. A little bend over type of stance, and some cap/forehead touching with your hands, with your hand and arms a bit bend to the inside to finish it.- Go insane on your footwork practice. Don't worry about biting, just be careful not to copy from 1 or 2 bboys/girls, but rather steal from 5 to 6. Then learn how to go on and off beat in your footwork, since it is crucial to let people know you can dance on beat. Why not dance on beat all the time you ask? Because I won't be noticed, they'd probably would think it's some sort of pace you're in. While going on and off beat, and of course make accents while going back on beat, it will be noticed and much more appreciated. Like I said, this has to be practiced intensely, for the footwork level in NL is very high. However biting is allowed as long as it's not to obvious. And it will help you greatly to get good footwork in no time. Then learn how to put your (American type of) battle attitude in your footwork. A lot of crotch grabbing will help you instantly.- After learning both of the above you'll have to mix in some moves. Don't worry you don't have to learn insane power combinations. This isn't as highly rewarded as in other countries. Your best shot is learning freeze combinations and transactions. Most importantly are standing on your head, baby freeze and airchair. Any other freeze are yours to choose. Be sure to learn as much transitions as you can. Then a few powermoves that can help you greatly with these freeze combo's are halo's (tracks) and some turtle variations, learn these too. You'll have to mix these combo's in your footwork. If you can do a nice freeze you should always try to get in it via some other freeze. Never just up or downrock and jump in it. Not even if the song you're dancing to is really asking for it. You'd be better off going offbeat/accent.Following the instructions above you'd probably be winning most of the bboy competitions in the Netherlands.Now back the my story. I don't do or want to do this.I am saying that if you want to win right, you'll have to look at the jury (what they'd liked to see most), the trend that the other dutch bboys are following and not to differ to much of that, just a little.Cause other "styles" are likely to be not understood or underestimated.And that's probably just exactly what I'm trying to achieve. My own style.It's not my style that is failing to the system, neither is it the community for not understanding my style.See my goal is to learn a humongous amount of moves/styles/steps and so on. When I dance, I want to be able to use my body freely in every direction possible. I want to master every move so well that I can lose myself in the music and rock everything in it.This goal is really hard to reach. To be able to master the amount of moves I want, you'll have to have great talent and train for many many years. Then you'll still have to learn how to lose yourself in the music, and to show this to other. And you'll have to learn how to battle and so on.Right now I have mastered only a small percentage of my goal.This brings me to where people ask my how come I don't win competitions or after all of the hours training.I'm not ready yet. I'm competing for experience. Sure I want to win, but I know what I'll probably have to do to win, and I don't want to follow that path. I know of a story about a guy back in 2000 or so who said that he could become dutch champion of that very same year if he wanted to. He'd never had any experience in breaking or what so ever. Yet he saw the art form and a friend challenged him. He took the challenge, and succeeded in becoming the champ. Even though the level of breaking at that time wasn't as high as it is right now. It showed to me what breakdance battles are.In battles, to one who sticks most to what bboying is assumed to be by the majority will win. It's that simple. It has become the kind of competition some sports have. There's a jury that will chose after the battle, based on their impressions and experiences in the art form, and the impressions of what they just saw, whose going to win. Sure, they SAY you can anything you like and they always tell you to do you thing, but in the end that what looks like the bboying most people believe bboying is will win.Considering this I sort of gave up on wanting to become the best. I chose this dance, this art form to express myself. To be able to listen to music and dance to it the way I like. That's bboying to me. And I think we've lost the meaning of it somewhere along the road. I always learned that bboying was originated because of frustrated black people in the suburbs, and them wanting to get rid of their anger and other emotions through dancing. (I know, this is just an very easy way of saying it) Dancing to the music form they've created quite the similar way. Hip-hop as a culture was pure, and free. Today it's all twisted.Breakdancing to me is to be free in whatever you do on the dance floor. But when competition kicks in, and when there's a jury, there's going to be a "chosen" style.Right know I will keep saying my dance style is bboying. But confusion and discussions about what breakdance is will be unavoidable. Maybe thinking along the lines of experimental style or something like that will help you understand how I feel about my dance.By now I've grown so much into the dutch breaking community that I will keep dancing with them. My own style will maybe not make me the best and will not make me win battles but at least I know I'll do it my way.I hope that while I continue on growing and learning to dance my style, and eventually to fully master the things I want to be able to do when I'm losing myself in music, I will earn my respect as a dancer. And moreover as a Bboy. Therefore I hope the other bboys will remember or learn again what the art form truly is. And not just what the mainstream made of it.I'm out.
Everybody complains about the weather, yet nobody does anything about it..
Another update. Containing a promise to post more of my daily business. There.And! a link to the (new) blog one of our favorite punks. http://riveenciel.blogspot.com/Also some wise words about complaining.But must importantly a story about a man who is on a mission. A mission in wich he ask people to come join him and Tics on a whole new adventure. An adventure that takes place every week, at a certain place at a certain time. Involving alot of house beats and even more housedancing. Were this journey will take them is uncertain, but every Thursday at 13.00 pm there will be lots of action and execitement. The two men have no bounderies, sky is the(ir) limit. They have already travelled for a many hours. And are in need of company. Want to catch up with them? Then run! and join, or suffer in utter disbelieve as they will rock this world.The wise think fast..
Chillin' like a villian!
Today was again very exhausting. I've trained like 10 hours, and now my body hurts. ALOT.Also I didn't got much sleep last night. I was playing minesweeper on the pc till 5 am or so. Yes I know. Minesweeper is probably my favorite game on the computer. My records are: beginner (xp) 4 sec. intermediate 45 sec. expert 159 sec. Not that impressive I guess. (If you consider that the wr is set for expert on 47 sec. 0_0) Oh yeah, I decided that I would make an "artist of the month section" To tell you guys wich artist was most important in my life the past month. For february it's Damion jr. gong Marley.His album "welcome to jamrock" is crazy! If you haven't heard it yet, go to your local music store and buy this record! I especially like the songs "pimpa's paradise", "road to zion", and "for the babies".Well. I guess thats about it.Keep dropping comments! Oh, before I forget, I found Nino's blog! (Nino's Tics lil' brother)Go visit it now!
