For breaker winning over opponents: Strategies in breaking battles

In a breaking battle, having smart strategies can be super important for a breaker winning against other competitors.

Who is breaker? Breaker is a term used to refer to someone who practices breakdancing, also known as breaking. Breakers are individuals who specialize in this form of street dance known for their acrobatic moves, rhythmic footwork, and expressive style.

They participate in breaking battles and competitions, where they showcase their skills and creativity to impress judges and audiences alike.

But here’s the thing: breakers have tricks and strategies up their sleeves to try and get ahead during the battle. These tricks are like secret weapons that can totally change the game. They’re what often decides who walks away as the winner. Let’s dive into some of the tricks and strategies used in these battles now!

Strategies from the start of the game

Going first or not should be taken into consideration

If you go first

When a breaker decides to kick off the battle, they’re throwing down a challenge to their opponent. It’s like they’re saying, “Hey, let’s see what you’ve got!” They’re the ones who get to make the first impression on the judges and set the bar for what their opponent needs to match.

By going first, a b-boy or b-girl gets to showcase their stage presence, athleticism, musicality, and how tough their moves are. This sets the tone for the whole battle. It’s like they’re laying down the rules of the game, and their opponent has to play by those rules.

If the breaker who starts the battle is super dynamic, musical, and has a ton of charisma, it’s going to be tough for their opponent to follow that act. Their opponent’s round might seem less impressive compared to all the cool stuff the first breaker did. This makes the first breaker look even stronger and puts a lot of pressure on their opponent to step up their game in the next rounds.

But here’s another angle: sometimes going first is a personal choice rather than strategies. Breaking battles can be nerve-wracking, and the adrenaline can be off the charts. So, some breakers decide to go first to calm their nerves and just focus on the battle. Going first helps them get into the zone and bring out their best moves.

If you let opponent go first

However, there are also some perks to letting the opponent take the first shot…

When a b-boy or b-girl goes second, they have the advantage of watching their opponent’s moves before deciding how to respond. It’s like they’re scouting their rival’s strengths and weaknesses, giving them time to pick the best moves from their own bag of tricks to match or outdo what their opponent did.

Another advantage is if their opponent messes up and takes a hard fall, known as crashing, the breaker going second can decide whether to take a risk and go all out with big moves, or play it safe and show off cleaner, more controlled moves instead.

If a breaker has never battled their opponent before, going second lets them size up their opponent’s style, moves, and personality. This way, they can tailor their strategy to counter their opponent’s strengths and exploit any weaknesses they spot.

Then there’s the music factor. If a breaker isn’t familiar with the song the DJ plays or isn’t vibing with the music, going second gives them extra time to get into the groove and develop strategies find the rhythm they can use to enhance their moves.

Personal strategy also plays a big role here. Some breakers might feel too much pressure to go first, so they prefer to go second and respond to their opponent’s moves, rather than having to set the tone for the battle themselves.

In competitions, it’s common for both breakers to want to go second, leading to a tense moment at the start of the battle where they size each other up, waiting for the other to make the first move.

Mind games as strategies in battles

Gestures

Breakers have clever ways of communicating with their opponents during battles using gestures everyone can understand. Let’s break down some of these strategies:

Floor Tap: If a breaker taps the floor, it’s like saying, “Oops, looks like you slipped up or messed up a move.” It’s a subtle way of letting their opponent know they spotted a mistake.
Counting Fingers: Imagine a breaker holding up fingers like they’re counting. This signals to the judges and the crowd that the opponent is repeating moves they’ve already done. In breaking battles, repeating moves is a no-no, so this gesture is like a gentle reminder of the rules.
Mocking Clap: Picture a breaker slowly clapping their hands to the beat of the music, but in a mocking way. This is like saying, “Hey, you’re dancing off-beat!” It’s a playful way of pointing out that their opponent is out of sync with the rhythm.
Pointing to Ears: If a breaker points to their ears, it’s a sign that their opponent isn’t listening to the music. In breaking, being in tune with the music is super important, so this gesture is like saying, “Hey, listen up!”
Imaginary Notebook: Lastly, if a breaker pretends to write in an imaginary notebook, it means their opponent is sticking to preplanned steps instead of improvising to the music. Breaking is all about spontaneity and creativity, so this gesture is like saying, “Hey, why not mix it up a bit?”

These gestures add another layer of communication to breaking battles, helping breakers keep the energy flowing and the competition fierce.

Trash talking

Trash talking in breaking battles is a rare sight compared to the more common gestures and burns that follow. It’s when breakers directly confront their opponents, throwing insults like calling them “off-beat,” accusing them of repeating moves, or labeling their routines as “wack.”

It’s not just criticism; it’s an attempt to rattle their opponent’s confidence, throw them off balance, and show dominance.

Burns

Burns, on the other hand, are subtle moves and interactions aimed at undermining an opponent. They’re like little tricks meant to dent their confidence or make them feel embarrassed.

There are plenty of ways to pull off burns in breaking battles, but one simple example is pretending to offer a handshake and then pulling your hand away just as your opponent reaches for it.
Another classic burn is mimicking your opponent’s dance moves but exaggerating them in a funny way, almost like you’re poking fun at their style.

Other strategies of moves to attack your opponents

Going all out vs saving moves

Some breakers enter competitions with a bold strategies: to unleash all their top-notch moves right from the start, regardless of who they’re up against. Even if they’re facing an opponent they’re confident they can beat, they won’t hold anything back. They believe in giving it their all in each round because, in their minds, only the current battle matters. They know that if they lose, there’s no next chance.

But this approach carries a risk: they might find themselves running out of their best moves later on. They might end up having to repeat moves, freestyle, or rely on lesser-tested moves in their repertoire.

On the flip side, there are competitors who opt to save their best moves for the toughest opponents or the later rounds of the competition. This way, if they make it to the final battle or face a formidable opponent, they’ll still have their ace moves ready to pull out and try to secure the win.

However, there’s a gamble involved in this strategy too:

By holding back in the early rounds, a breaker might underestimate an opponent and end up losing unexpectedly.
Or they might not even make it past the qualification stage if they don’t deliver a strong enough performance to impress the judges.

It’s a balancing act between conserving energy and firepower for the crucial moments, while still ensuring they don’t fall short in any round of the competition.

Exposing your opponent’s weakness

For breakers who have a wide range of moves in their arsenal, they often strategize to highlight what their opponent is missing. By doing so, they aim to expose weaknesses or gaps in their opponent’s breaking style.

Let’s say one competitor relies heavily on power moves in their round, neglecting musicality, footwork, and dancing. In response, their opponent might start their round with some power moves to match, but then shift gears to showcase their dancing skills, musicality, and impressive footwork.

By doing this, they’re essentially demonstrating what their opponent failed to include in their performance.

Conversely, if a competitor focuses solely on top rock and footwork, their opponent might counter by showcasing those same skills but then elevating the performance with:

power moves
intricate transitions
original tricks
stylish freezes

Once again, this highlights the aspects of breaking that their opponent overlooked.

When a breaker has the ability to showcase a broader range of elements in their dance compared to their opponent, and they execute those elements with high quality, they significantly increase their chances of winning the battle. It’s all about demonstrating versatility, skill, and creativity and strategies to outshine the competition.

Besides strategies, preparation is also essential for a good performance when a breaker joining a battle. If you want to know how a breaker prepare for real battles, watch this YOUTUBE video now!