Top 7 Most Difficult Breakdance Moves

Apart from being strong, skilled, and practicing a lot, some of these breakdance moves are simply really difficult to pull off.

Jackhammers

Jackhammers might appear incredibly challenging to those of us who aren’t typically active, but the internet has quickly shown us that this move is achievable with the right skills for balancing. To execute this, you use a “stabbing” technique where you shift your bodyweight onto your elbow, positioned at a 90-degree angle against your stomach. You then build momentum by pushing with your leg.

Headslide

The Headslide is quite a nerve-wracking move to witness because it puts a lot of strain on the performer’s neck muscles. To do it, you start by running, then drop to your knees and quickly transition into a headstand position without going completely vertical to avoid flipping over.

Online, the general agreement about this move is that if you’re daring or perhaps a bit reckless enough to attempt it, make sure you have hair on your head and be ready to lose some of it in the process of breakdancing.

Air Flares

Air Flares are a spin on the iconic Flare move that many would instantly recognize. They heavily use the arms and core, with your legs swinging in a circular motion around your body without touching the ground.

To do an Air Flare, your body needs to be nearly upside down, keeping your hips lifted high off the ground. What sets this move apart is the small hop from hand to hand during the rotation.

1.5 Air Flares

Once you’ve mastered The Flare and The Air Flare, it might be time to consider progressing to this next move—though for most of you, that probably means watching a video from the cozy safety of your comfortable armchair.

To perform this maneuver, you need to rotate your body an additional 180 degrees so that you land on your shoulder instead of your hands. It’s a good idea to practice this with some padding on the ground at first.

Taisuke Criticals

Taisuke’s Criticals showcase his renowned breakdancing skills, featuring lightning-fast movements and impressive flow. He effortlessly launches his body into the air, defying gravity even when it seems like he doesn’t have enough momentum. Truly awe-inspiring to watch.

Elbow Spin

The term “Elbow Spin” for this move is a bit misleading because you actually use the base of your forearm to spin, creating the illusion of spinning on the elbow. Despite the illusion, it’s still a very impressive move. (To skip the tutorial, jump to the 2:38 mark.)

One-Handed Air Flare

The One-Handed Air Flare was pioneered by a B-boy group called ‘Soul Control’, known for their Air Flare combos and multiple Air Flares. The regular Air Flare alone is daunting for most of us, so executing a one-handed version without risking injury, like a broken nose, seems almost unimaginable.

This move demands incredible acrobatics and the skill of a gymnast or highly experienced breakdancer. You shift all your weight onto one arm while trying to balance without planting that arm, which could lead to a fall. To maintain balance, you’ll need to kick your legs or contort your body, using the spinning force generated from the original Air Flare to continue spinning and hopping on just one hand.