How to do Crickets | Power Move Basics | Beginners Guide

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August 2, 2024 In Break Dance

Crickets are an impressive and dynamic power move in breaking that can add flair and excitement to your sets. This guide will break down the process of learning crickets, providing you with a step-by-step approach to master this challenging move. Remember, patience and consistent practice are key to success in breaking, especially when it comes to power moves.

Introduction to Crickets

Crickets can be thought of as a combination of two fundamental elements:

Before diving into the specifics of crickets, it’s crucial to have a solid foundation in these basic components. If you’re not familiar with hand glides, it’s recommended that you learn and practice them before attempting crickets.

Prerequisites

Before attempting crickets, make sure you’re comfortable with:

These foundational skills will make learning crickets much easier and safer.

Step 1: Mastering the Cricket Position Hop

The first step in learning crickets is to perfect the hop from the cricket position. This forms the basis of the entire move.

Starting Position

The Hop Technique

  • Push with your hands: This is the most critical part of the hop
  • Perform a slight kick with your legs: This provides an extra boost

Practice Routine

  • Start by practicing single hops
  • Focus on landing steadily and safely
  • Once comfortable, progress to sets of five hops
  • Rest between sets to prevent fatigue

Key Points to Remember

  • The hand push is more important than the leg kick
  • Maintain control throughout the movement
  • Practice until you can perform multiple hops consistently

Step 2: Incorporating the Hand Glide

Once you’ve mastered the cricket position hop, it’s time to add the hand glide element. This is what transforms the hop into the continuous spinning motion characteristic of crickets.

The Basic Motion

  • Visualize doing a hand glide and spinning on your hand between each push
  • The sequence goes: push, hop, push, hop, push, hop

Starting Slow

  • Begin with a slow, controlled motion
  • Focus on the transition between the push and the hop
  • It’s okay for your legs to touch the ground at this stage

The Leg Position

  • Think of your legs as “training wheels” or “crutches”
  • They help you maintain balance and control as you learn the motion

The Full Sequence

  • Start from the cricket position
  • Turn, hop, turn, hop, turn, hop, turn, hop
  • Practice this sequence until it feels natural and fluid

Step 3: Increasing Speed and Fluidity

As you become more comfortable with the basic cricket motion, you can start to increase your speed and work on keeping your legs off the ground.

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Tips for Increasing Speed

  1. Arm Swing • Instead of small taps, swing your arm further • This generates more momentum and increases speed
  2. Initial Momentum • Step back slightly before starting • Swing yourself into the move for an initial boost of speed

Wrist Technique

Proper wrist rotation is crucial for smooth and continuous crickets:

  • Allow your wrist to rotate fully before each hop
  • After the hop, reset your wrist to its original position
  • The sequence is: turn, hop, reset, turn, hop, reset

Keeping Legs Off the Ground

  • As you gain confidence and speed, focus on keeping your legs elevated
  • This creates the impressive floating effect characteristic of well-executed crickets

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When learning crickets, be aware of these common pitfalls:

  1. Insufficient Hand Push • Solution: Focus on generating power from your hands and arms
  2. Poor Wrist Rotation • Solution: Practice the turn-hop-reset sequence slowly to build muscle memory
  3. Letting Legs Drop Too Early • Solution: Build core and leg strength, and focus on keeping legs elevated
  4. Losing Balance • Solution: Return to practicing the basic cricket position hop to improve stability
  5. Rushing the Learning Process • Solution: Master each step before moving to the next, even if it takes time

Safety Considerations

As with any power move, safety should be a top priority when practicing crickets:

  • Use proper protective gear, especially when starting out
  • Practice on a smooth, clean surface to prevent hand injuries
  • Listen to your body and take breaks when needed
  • Consider having a spotter or experienced b-boy/b-girl present when first attempting the move

Progressive Practice Routine

To effectively learn crickets, consider this progressive practice routine:

  1. Warm-up • Stretch your wrists, arms, and core • Practice basic hand glides and cricket position holds
  2. Cricket Position Hops • Start with sets of 5 hops • Gradually increase to 10, then 15 hops per set
  3. Slow Crickets with Ground Touch • Practice the full sequence, allowing leg touches • Focus on smooth transitions between pushes and hops
  4. Elevated Slow Crickets • Attempt to keep legs off the ground • Maintain a slow, controlled pace
  5. Increasing Speed • Gradually pick up the pace • Implement the arm swing technique for more speed
  6. Full Speed Crickets • Aim for continuous, smooth rotations • Focus on maintaining form even at higher speeds
  7. Cool Down • Stretch to prevent soreness • Reflect on areas for improvement

Remember to practice each stage until you feel confident before moving to the next.

Incorporating Crickets into Your Breaking

Once you’ve developed a solid cricket technique, you can start thinking about how to incorporate this power move into your breaking:

  • Use crickets as a transition between other floor moves
  • Combine crickets with freezes for impressive combos
  • Experiment with entering and exiting crickets from different positions

Building Strength and Endurance for Crickets

Crickets require significant upper body strength and core stability. Here are some exercises to help build the necessary strength:

  • Push-ups: Builds chest and arm strength
  • Planks: Improves core stability
  • Handstand holds: Enhances balance and shoulder strength
  • Wrist curls: Strengthens wrists for better control
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Incorporate these exercises into your regular training routine to support your cricket practice.

Troubleshooting Your Crickets

If you’re struggling with a particular aspect of crickets, try these tips:

  • Can’t get off the ground: Focus on explosive hand pushes and practice individual hops
  • Losing momentum quickly: Work on your arm swing and initial entry into the move
  • Feeling dizzy: Start with fewer rotations and gradually build up your tolerance
  • Wrist pain: Ensure proper form and consider using wrist supports during practice

Advanced Cricket Variations

Once you’ve mastered the basic cricket, you can explore these advanced variations:

  • One-handed crickets
  • Elbow crickets
  • Cricket to continuous backspin
  • Cricket to windmill transitions

These variations can add unique flavor to your breaking and help you develop a distinctive style.

Mental Approach to Learning Crickets

Learning power moves like crickets can be challenging both physically and mentally. Keep these points in mind:

  • Patience is key – progress may be slow, but consistent practice yields results
  • Visualize success – mental rehearsal can help improve physical performance
  • Embrace the learning process – every attempt, even unsuccessful ones, is a step towards mastery
  • Seek feedback – ask experienced b-boys/b-girls to critique your form

Conclusion

Crickets are a impressive power move that can significantly elevate your breaking game. By breaking down the move into manageable steps and practicing consistently, you’ll be well on your way to mastering this dynamic technique.

Remember, the journey to perfecting crickets is just as important as the end result. Enjoy the process of learning, stay patient with yourself, and don’t be afraid to return to basics if you’re struggling with a particular aspect.

As with all aspects of breaking, developing your own style and flow with crickets is what will truly make you stand out. Once you’ve got the basics down, don’t be afraid to experiment and add your own flair to the move.

Keep practicing, stay dedicated, and before you know it, you’ll be spinning smooth crickets that will impress your crew and your opponents alike. Happy breaking!

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