I’ve seen some t-shirts of breakers specially ogs using this rabbit logo, and honestly I dont have a clue what that mean for the scene. Anyone know why this have been used?
We have seen Japan and China display many young talents in the international scene in recent years, like Shigekix, Rayon, Monkey Z, Kitty, Issin, Haruto, Yingzy, Riko to name a few.
Some years ago we saw a very bold move of well stablished crews like Jinjo and Gamblers investing in their young guns and next gen. Some next gen that appeared in my opinion are Kazino, Soma and Leap to name some.
Korea had far more well known crews that could have planted a lot of seeds in the scene, but it seems it did not happend.
Anyone know something about it or have opinions? I’m curious and will try to investigate more.
Since Breaking’s inclusion in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, a lot has been shifting—at least here in Brazil.
We’ve seen the creation of multiple national federations, helping structure the scene and organize championships with internal rankings.
Training centers (CTs) have started to appear, offering mentorship and infrastructure for both younger and more experienced breakers.
There are clearly more events happening now, and support from public institutions has grown. Sports departments across cities and states are starting to recognize and invest in Breaking in ways that didn’t exist before.
On top of that, media attention has increased, bringing more visibility to the culture.
At the same time, this growth raises questions about direction, identity, and how the scene evolves from here.
How about where you live? What actually changed in your local scene after the Olympics?
I’ve been filming some really dope Footwork battles recently, and two experiences stood out: Batalha da Laje and the Footworkerz Battle at the Red Bull BC One World Final 2024 here in Rio.
In both cases, the selection process happened through cyphers—and honestly, this might be one of the best formats I’ve seen.
Competitors had a solid amount of time (around 1 hour) to really get in, exchange, and show their skills while the DJs were dropping heat. No rush, no single-round pressure—just raw cypher energy.
Judges were moving around inside the cyphers, observing closely and selecting dancers directly from that environment.
What made it even more special were the selection rituals:
- Batalha da Laje: Bboy Insano gave a peanut to those selected 🥜😄
- Footworkerz: Jey, Ayu, and Poe One were handing out necklaces to the chosen ones
On a personal note, Footworkerz was a lifetime experience—I got to meet people like Poe One, Bboy Jey, Ayu, Ami, and connect with amazing breakers from different countries.
But Batalha da Laje hit differently—it felt like home. A tight cypher, real energy, and that crazy view from Vidigal… hard to beat that feeling.
Different vibes, same strong format.
What do you prefer for pre-selections:
- Cyphers?
- Filter battles?
- Sign-ups?
I believe Toprock is much more than just an entry—it’s where style, musicality, and identity show up first. It’s how you connect with the beat, set the tone, and show you’ve arrived in the cypher.
Breakers build their Toprock from many different sources: classic foundations like Indian Step, Brooklyn Rock, or Latin Rock. Others draw from OGs, battles, different dance styles, or even martial arts.
To kick things off, I brought in a classic video reference from Bboy YNOT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQZjK6AtJZ8
This guy really shook the scene. At least here in Brazil, his round to “Ghetto Funk” by Boris Gardner was everywhere in the early 2000s.
He showed that you could almost become one with the music while staying on top—and that changed how a lot of us saw musicality and Top Rock.
A big part of my foundation came from studying dancers like YNOT, Born, Kid David, Machine, and Neguin. But just as important were my crew members and friends—Bboys like Hiena, Aires, Braulio Flava, and many others—who played a huge role in shaping my steps, transitions, musicality, and overall style.
From each of them, I took something to build on:
YNOT: Music is everything
Born: Flava is a powerful weapon
Kid David: Stay light, fresh, and in control
Machine: It’s a battle—be sharp, be present, make them fear you
Neguin: Bring your full background into the dance—capoeira, house, whatever is yours
Crew/Friends: Know your roots and respect what makes you unique—your local culture
What about you?
Who are your Toprock references?