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How to Windmill Breakdance for Beginners

Part Kung Fu, part dance move, the windmill's gyroscopic motion is a crowd pleaser and one of the most impressive power moves in the breakdancer's toolbox. The technique originated in the Bronx, N.Y., where Crazy Legs of the Rocksteady Crew accidentally created it while he was working on evolving the backspin. This multi-step technique takes some time to master, but once a breakdancer has it down right, it's quite a sight.

Instructions

  1. Stab

    • 1

      Place your right elbow into the groove in the middle of your abs and hold your forearm perpendicular to your body. For lefties, do the reverse.

    • 2

      Lay your right palm on the ground, fingers pointing backward. Lean down onto your elbow and keep your body straight. Look to the right.

    • 3

      Spread your legs out, keeping your toes on the floor. Hold your left arm behind you at a 45 degree angle, parallel to the ground.

    Spin

    • 4

      Balance yourself on your right arm in the stab position.

    • 5

      Spin on the ground by walking your feet clockwise and pushing with your left hand.

    • 6

      Drop to the ground by collapsing onto your shoulder in a prone position with your forearm under your chest. Lay your left arm on the ground pointing forward.

    Lift and Twist

    • 7

      Return to the stab position (leaning on your elbow, arm holding you up, body straight and parallel to ground).

    • 8

      Kick your left leg up about 2 feet off the ground and toward the right side of your body, twisting your torso to face up.

    • 9

      Kick your right leg under the left leg toward the left side of the body. Do this at the same time that you're kicking your left leg up.

    Put it all together

    • 10

      Drop your back to the floor, using the momentum from the kicking motion of your legs to spin clockwise.

    • 11

      Restart windmill to continue the motion. When on your back, place both arms flat to the floor. Kick your legs and buttocks up into the air, lifting yourself onto your shoulders.

    • 12

      Twist your left leg under your right, along the ground to the left while the right swings in the air in the opposite direction. Continue this motion until you are back in the original stab position. Redo all previous steps to continue the windmill.

Break Dancing

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