What exercises should I do for breakdancing?

Question:

What exercises should I do for breakdancing?

I've been bboyin' for a couple of months and now I wanna work on some easy power moves. What kind of workouts should do to build muscles to do them (please tell me what power move each workout helps with)?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: To do breakdancing, you will need not only muscles but lots of flexibility to flex them. Here are my tips:

1. Start your workout either by brisk walking or running for 5-10 minutes as your warm up activities before proceeding to the next program.

2. After doing your warm up, it would be the best time to do your stretching. Your muscles are already shaken and need more conditioning. Do lots of stetching exercises from head to toe, giving much emphasis on your arms, legs, shoulders, waist, ankle and toes. This will take about 5 to 15 minutes a day. If you are working out to be a good dancer, this is a must... 15 minutes and more in stretching!!! Stretching will also prevent injuries in dancing or even in working out.

3. Start practicing your dance routine for about a hour or two. This is also a good cardio vascular exercise.

4. After all the cardio vascular exercises including dancing, proceed to weight training. If you skip, #1 to 3, it will be disaster to your dancing. Getting big muscles without the flexibility (especially in locking joints etc.) required in breakdancing will only make you look awkward. So, it is very important that you are muscular but flexible. Get a weight training program. Since you intend to dance and wanted a toned muscular and muscles needed in break dancing, you will be given by a trained fitness specialist a program consisted of small weights but more repetitions of lifts. I workout everyday. On mondays, I do five sets of workout for my shoulders. On tuesdays, I do three sets for my chest. On wednesdays, I do three sets for my biceps and triceps. On thursdays, I do five sets for my legs. On fridays, I do three sets for back. Its rest day for my muscles on saturdays and sundays. It is a must, though, that you do your abdominal workout everyday.

5. After you finish your weight training, do slower-phase exercises or stretching.

6. If you are planning to attend yoga or pilates, do it after you do your weight training.

Additional tip: If you really want to breakdance, having a strong muscles is a must but you must have the right weight for your muscles to carry you specially if you want to do some head-spinning stunts. Consult your nutritionist for proper diet.

As an instructor, I do have my own training program. I joined a fitness club. If you are serious about dancing and would want to do it professionally, go and join a class, and sign up for a dance training program that includes total body fitness.