Freeze Tutorial: 3 Drills To Take Your Freezes From Good to Great

Breaking is an art form that demands creativity, strength, and precision. Among the many elements that make up this dynamic dance style, freezes stand out as a crucial component. They serve as punctuation marks in your sets, adding emphasis and style to your performance. In this comprehensive tutorial, we’ll explore three essential drills that can elevate your freezes from good to great, as taught by the renowned B-BOY FOCUS.

The Importance of Mastering Freezes

Before diving into the specific drills, it’s crucial to understand why perfecting your freezes is so important:

Versatility: Mastering freezes can enhance various aspects of your breaking, including footwork and power moves.
Flow: Strong freezes can improve the overall flow of your sets.
Body control: Practicing freezes develops better body awareness and control.
Battle tactics: Well-executed freezes can be powerful weapons in a battle scenario.

Remember, breaking is a holistic art form. As B-BOY FOCUS emphasizes, “Breaking is all one, guys. So there’s no ‘I’m a footworker, I’m a top rock head.’ None of that. The more versatile you become, the more of the other aspects of the dance develop as well.”

Prerequisites

Before attempting these drills, ensure you have a solid foundation in:

Basic baby freeze on both sides
Core strength and balance
Proper form and alignment in various freeze positions

Drill 1: The 180° Baby Freeze Switch

This drill focuses on transitioning smoothly between baby freezes on both sides while incorporating a 180° rotation.

Steps:

Start in a baby freeze on your preferred side
Release the elbow from under your knee
Push with your free arm
Switch to the opposite side while rotating 180°
Grab and pull with the opposite arm to secure the new freeze

Key Points:

Keep your head on the ground throughout the rotation
Maintain eye contact with a fixed point (mirror, opponent, etc.) to stay focused
Practice on both sides for balanced development

Benefits:

Improves transition smoothness between freezes
Enhances spatial awareness during rotations
Builds strength in both arms and core

Drill 2: Front Sweep to Freeze

This drill combines a dynamic leg sweep with a solid freeze, creating a flowing, continuous motion.

Steps:

Start in a front stance
Perform a front sweep with one leg (without touching the ground)
Transition directly into a freeze
Return to your starting position
Repeat on the opposite side

Key Points:

Keep the sweeping leg off the ground throughout the motion
Focus on a smooth, continuous movement from sweep to freeze
Practice transitioning back to your starting position as smoothly as possible

Benefits:

Improves coordination between upper and lower body
Enhances fluidity in transitions
Strengthens core and improves balance

Drill 3: Windmill to Freeze

This advanced drill combines a power move (windmill) with a precise freeze, demonstrating control and style.

Steps:

Perform a windmill, keeping your legs elevated
Complete one full rotation
Catch yourself in a freeze at the end of the rotation

Key Points:

Maintain leg elevation throughout the windmill
Focus on a clean, controlled transition from windmill to freeze
Practice on both sides for balanced skill development

Benefits:

Improves power move control
Enhances ability to end combos with precise freezes
Builds overall strength and body awareness

Putting It All Together: Musicality and Creativity

Once you’ve practiced these drills individually, it’s time to incorporate them into your breaking in a more dynamic way:

Freestyle to music, hitting a freeze on every count of one
Switch freeze positions on each count, if possible
Experiment with different types of freezes in your arsenal

Remember, as B-BOY FOCUS says, “Go back to the basics every single day.” Consistent practice of these drills will significantly improve your freeze game over time.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

As you work on these drills, be aware of these common pitfalls:

Neglecting one side: Always practice both sides equally to maintain balance.
Rushing transitions: Focus on control and cleanliness before speed.
Ignoring musicality: Always strive to connect your freezes to the music.
Lack of variation: Experiment with different freezes to expand your vocabulary.

Progressing Beyond the Basics

Once you’ve mastered these drills, consider these ways to further challenge yourself:

Combine drills: Try linking the 180° baby freeze switch with the front sweep to freeze.
Increase complexity: Add additional rotations or transitions between freezes.
Incorporate into sets: Use these drills as inspiration for creating unique combos in your sets.
Battle practice: Have a training partner call out random freeze positions for you to hit quickly.

The Role of Freezes in Battles

Understanding how to effectively use freezes in battle scenarios is crucial. Here are some tips:

Use freezes to punctuate powerful moments in your set
Transition smoothly in and out of freezes to maintain flow
Use unexpected freeze positions to surprise your opponent
Practice holding freezes for extended periods to build endurance

Freeze Variations to Explore

As you continue to develop your freeze game, consider exploring these variations:

Headstand freezes
Elbow freezes
Hollowback freezes
One-handed freezes
Combination freezes (e.g., baby freeze to headstand)

The Importance of Proper Form and Safety

As with any breaking move, proper form and safety are paramount when practicing freezes:

Always warm up thoroughly before practicing
Use proper padding or flooring to protect your joints
Listen to your body and rest when needed
Build strength gradually to avoid overexertion

Mental Aspects of Mastering Freezes

Perfecting your freezes isn’t just about physical practice. Consider these mental aspects:

Visualization: Mentally rehearse perfect executions of each drill
Patience: Understand that progress takes time and consistent effort
Creativity: Don’t be afraid to experiment and create your own variations
Resilience: Learn from failed attempts and use them as motivation to improve

Incorporating Freezes into Your Unique Style

Remember, while these drills provide a solid foundation, the ultimate goal is to incorporate freezes into your unique breaking style. As you practice, consider:

How can you use freezes to express your personality?
What unexpected moments in your sets can you punctuate with freezes?
How can you combine freezes with other elements of breaking to create something entirely new?

Conclusion

Mastering freezes is a journey that requires dedication, patience, and consistent practice. By incorporating these three essential drills into your training regimen, you’ll be well on your way to taking your freezes from good to great. Remember the words of B-BOY FOCUS: “Breaking is one, guys. All elements of the dance are relevant. Everything affects everything.”

As you continue to develop your freeze game, don’t forget to share your progress with the breaking community. Use the hashtag #bboydojo when posting your training rounds on social media. This not only helps you track your own progress but also contributes to the collective growth of the breaking community.

Lastly, remember that these drills are just the beginning. The world of breaking is vast and ever-evolving. Stay curious, keep exploring, and never stop pushing your limits. Whether you’re a beginner just starting to work on your baby freeze or an experienced b-boy or b-girl looking to add new dimensions to your power combos, there’s always room for growth and improvement in your freeze game.

Keep practicing, stay dedicated, and most importantly, have fun with the process. Before you know it, you’ll be freezing with confidence and style, adding that extra flair to your breaking that will make you stand out in cyphers and battles alike. Remember, every great breaker started as a beginner, so don’t get discouraged if it takes time to master these drills. Your hard work and perseverance will pay off in the end, resulting in freezes that are not just good, but truly great.