3 Tips To Help Your Swipes | Beginning Breaking Tutorial

Swipes are a fundamental power move in breaking that can add flair and dynamism to your sets. However, many beginners struggle with mastering this technique. In this blog post, we’ll explore three essential tips to help you improve your swipes or get them down if you’re still learning. These tips are based on years of teaching experience and observing common mistakes among aspiring b-boys and b-girls.

Understanding Swipes

Before diving into the tips, let’s briefly recap what swipes are:

A swipe is a power move where the dancer rotates their body in a circular motion, supported by their hands.
It involves a fluid transition from the ground to a momentary handstand-like position and back to the ground.
Swipes can be performed continuously, creating an impressive spinning effect.

Now, let’s explore the three key tips to enhance your swipe technique.

Tip 1: Keep Your Legs Straight

One of the most common mistakes beginners make when attempting swipes is bending their legs. Straight legs not only make your swipes look more aesthetically pleasing but also contribute to better overall form and execution.

Why Straight Legs Matter

Improved aesthetics: Straight legs create clean lines, making your swipes look more professional.
Better balance: Straight legs help distribute your weight more evenly, improving stability during the move.
Increased power: Extended legs allow for better momentum generation, making continuous swipes easier.

How to Achieve Straight Legs

To help keep your legs straight during swipes, try these techniques:

Point your toes: This simple action engages the muscles in your legs, encouraging them to stay straight.
Hold your leg: If pointing your toes feels challenging, try consciously holding your leg in a straight position.
Mental awareness: Simply being conscious of your leg position can help you maintain proper form.

Practice Exercise

Start by practicing leg extensions while lying on your back:

Lie flat on your back.
Lift one leg straight up towards the ceiling.
Focus on keeping your knee locked and toes pointed.
Hold for 10 seconds, then switch legs.
Repeat 10 times for each leg.

This exercise will help build the muscle memory needed for straight legs during swipes.

Tip 2: Keep Your Hips Up

Another crucial aspect of a well-executed swipe is maintaining elevated hips throughout the movement. Many beginners struggle with this, often letting their hips drop, resulting in what’s sometimes called a “baby swipe.”

The Importance of Elevated Hips

Proper form: Elevated hips are essential for the correct execution of swipes.
Power generation: Higher hips allow for better rotation and momentum.
Transition potential: Keeping your hips up makes it easier to transition into other power moves.

How to Maintain Elevated Hips

To practice keeping your hips up during swipes, try this exercise:

Start in a standing position.
Jump, focusing on keeping your legs and hips as straight as possible.
Land softly and repeat.
Once comfortable, try the same motion with one arm raised.

This exercise simulates the hip position needed during swipes and helps build the necessary core strength.

Core Strengthening

Strong core muscles are crucial for maintaining elevated hips. Incorporate these exercises into your routine:

Planks
Hollow body holds
V-ups
Russian twists

Aim to perform these exercises 3-4 times a week to build the required core strength for swipes.

Tip 3: Shift Your Weight to Your Hands

The final and perhaps most crucial tip for improving your swipes is learning to shift your weight properly onto your hands. This technique is what transforms a low, heavy swipe into a light, floating motion.

Benefits of Proper Weight Distribution

Increased height: Shifting weight to your hands allows your body to lift higher off the ground.
Reduced effort: Proper weight distribution makes swipes feel lighter and less strenuous.
Improved flow: Weight on your hands creates a smoother, more fluid motion.

How to Shift Your Weight

Practice this technique to improve your weight distribution:

Start in a handstand position against a wall.
Slowly lower your legs, keeping most of your weight on your hands.
Focus on the sensation of your weight being supported by your arms.

Practice Exercise

Try this drill to get comfortable with weight shifting:

Begin in a low squat position.
Place your hands on the ground.
Kick your legs up, aiming to achieve a momentary handstand.
Focus on pushing through your hands to lift your hips.
Land softly and repeat.

Start with 5 repetitions and gradually increase as you become more comfortable.

Putting It All Together

Now that we’ve covered the three main tips, let’s discuss how to incorporate them into your swipe practice.

Progressive Training Method

Follow this step-by-step approach to improve your swipes:

Single Swipe Practice • Start from a standing position. • Perform one swipe, focusing on straight legs, elevated hips, and weight on your hands. • Repeat 10 times.
Double Swipe Practice • Perform two consecutive swipes. • Focus on maintaining form throughout both rotations. • Repeat 10 times.
Triple Swipe Practice • Perform three consecutive swipes. • Concentrate on smooth transitions between each swipe. • Repeat 10 times.
Four and Five Swipe Combinations • Gradually increase to four and then five consecutive swipes. • Maintain focus on the three key tips throughout. • Aim for 10 repetitions of each combination.

Setting Goals

As you progress, set these benchmarks for yourself:

Short-term goal: Consistently perform 5 clean swipes in a row.
Medium-term goal: Execute 10 consecutive swipes with good form.
Long-term goal: Incorporate swipes smoothly into your breaking routines.

Remember, being able to perform 10 consecutive swipes is often considered a benchmark for truly “having” the move down.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you practice your swipes, be aware of these common pitfalls:

Rushing the learning process: Take your time to master each step before moving on.
Neglecting form for speed: Always prioritize proper technique over rapid execution.
Inconsistent practice: Regular, focused practice is key to improvement.
Ignoring warm-ups: Always warm up properly to prevent injuries.

Incorporating Swipes into Your Breaking

Once you’ve developed a solid swipe technique, start thinking about how to integrate them into your breaking:

Use swipes as transitions between other power moves.
Combine swipes with freezes for impressive combinations.
Experiment with entering and exiting swipes from different positions.

Conclusion

Masteringswipes takes time, patience, and consistent practice. By focusing on these three key tips – keeping your legs straight, maintaining elevated hips, and shifting your weight to your hands – you’ll be well on your way to performing clean, impressive swipes.

Remember to:

Practice regularly and progressively.
Pay attention to your form at all times.
Be patient with your progress.
Incorporate core strengthening exercises into your routine.

With dedication and the right approach, you’ll see significant improvements in your swipe technique. Keep pushing yourself, stay motivated, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from more experienced b-boys and b-girls.

Happy breaking, and enjoy your journey to mastering swipes!