The Physics Behind Breaking: Insights from Inverse Reporter Elana Spivack on Olympic Debut

Exploring the Science and Culture of Breaking as it Takes Center Stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Breaking, also known as breakdancing, is about to make its historic debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This milestone not only highlights the athletic prowess of boys and  bgirls, breakers but also brings to light the intricate science behind their mesmerizing moves. Recently, I had the pleasure of discussing these elements with Elana Spivack,a reporter for Inverse. Elana's keen interest in the physics of breaking provided a fresh perspective on the art form, merging the worlds of science and street culture.
In this blog post, we'll share our conversation, where I explained the mechanics of iconic breaking moves in layman's terms and highlighted the cultural significance that makes breaking a unique and inclusive sport. We'll also touch on breaking's journey to the Olympics and provide a ranking of power moves based on their difficulty.

(Banner Image from Inverse.com)

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The Initial Connection

​Elana reached out to us with a clear goal: to explore the physics behind breaking moves. As a passionate advocate of breaking culture, I was thrilled to connect and share my knowledge.

"I'm Elana, a reporter in New York for science and culture site Inverse. I'm writing about the physics behind different breaking moves, and I'm hoping to connect with a coach to navigate the world of breaking." - Elana Spivack

My response was enthusiastic, recognizing the opportunity to bridge the gap between the physicality of breaking and the scientific principles at play.

"I have extensive experience as a breaker and coach, and I'm passionate about both the culture and the physicality of the art form. I can definitely help you navigate the world of breaking and provide insights on the physics behind different moves." - Henry "Rival" Vijande

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The Video Chat and Key Insights

We scheduled a video chat where we could dive deeper into the physics of breaking. Elana was particularly interested in focusing on 3-5 power moves and understanding the physical principles behind each.
During our conversation, we explored iconic power moves such as the Windmill, 1990s, Headspin, Jackhammer, and Airflare. Elana's approach was thorough, as she planned to get a physicist's perspective on these moves.

​"I then showed 5 of the power moves we talked about to a physicist to get the technical, scientific point of view." - Elana Spivack

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A Deeper Dive into Breaking

Elana's curiosity about breaking was infectious. Here are some of her reflections and what she found most interesting:

"I knew I wanted to cover breaking for the Olympics because it's making its debut. I think it's an incredible sport, and I wanted to be one of the first journalists to cover it from a scientific point of view early on." - Elana Spivack

Her interest wasn't just about the moves but also about the culture and community aspect of breaking.

"There's a self-taught element but also a community aspect. It doesn't seem like there's a lot of gatekeeping within breaking -- everyone is willing to help each other and share skills." - Elana Spivack

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Ranking the Power Moves

Let Us Know

your thoughts ?

Elana's follow-up question was about ranking the difficulty of the power moves from least to most difficult. Here's a general progression for most bboys and bgirls:

1. Windmill: A foundational power move that builds core strength and teaches basic spinning techniques.
2. 1990s (Nineties): Requires upper body strength and coordination, utilizing momentum for rotation.
3. Headspin: Demands strong neck muscles and balance to withstand the pressure of being upside down.
4. Jackhammer: Requires explosive leg strength and control for the rapid up-and-down motion.
5. Airflare: An advanced move incorporating windmill mechanics with a full body spin, demanding peak physical conditioning.

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Breaking at the Olympics

Breaking is set to make its debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics on August 9th and August 10th. This historic moment will showcase breaking to a global audience, emphasizing both its artistic and athletic aspects. For more details on the schedule and events, you can visit the official Paris 2024 Breaking Schedule.

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Clarification

In our discussion, Elana mentioned my involvement in campaigning for breaking to be included in the X Games. To clarify, when I was 17 years old, I discussed with a mentor why breaking was not included in the X Games despite its popularity. Many years later, I, along with a group of other individuals in our community, connected, organized, and worked in tandem to get breaking, also known as breakdancing, included in the 2018 Youth Olympics and eventually the Olympics.

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​Conclusion

Our conversation was not just about breaking moves but also about the cultural and scientific richness of breaking. Elana's insights and enthusiasm have inspired us to look deeper into the physics behind our art form.

"Understanding the physics helps me appreciate why breaking works the way it does because someone is working within the limits of what's physically possible." - Elana Spivack

We look forward to reading Elana's article and seeing how she weaves the scientific and cultural narratives of breaking. Her exploration into the physics of breaking is a testament to the complexity and beauty of our craft.

​Thank you, Elana, for the engaging conversation and for highlighting the incredible intersection of science and art in breaking. You can follow Elana's work on Inverse and visit her personal website here.

(Banner Image from Inverse.com)

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Ruggz · Summer '24 Mixtape

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*For Full Questions and Responses:

What initially drew you to Breaking and the research you’re doing?

"I knew I wanted to cover breaking for the Olympics because it's making its debut. I think it's an incredible sport, and I wanted to be one of the first journalists to cover it from a scientific point of view early on. So many Olympic sports also seem to have a history of elitism, while breaking seems to have a history of being for anyone who can and wants to do it, which I think sets it apart. There's a self-taught element but also a community aspect. It doesn't seem like there's a lot of gatekeeping within breaking -- everyone is willing to help each other and share skills, based on how many tutorials and schools there are.
Physics is also one of my favorite kinds of science because it explains everything we see in the world around us. Even if most people don't go about understanding breaking through physics, I think it's still cool to know why it works the way it does. There are common threads underpinning all the moves -- angular velocity, acceleration, momentum, center of mass, moment of inertia -- that we don't even think about. I think understanding the physics helps me appreciate why breaking works the way it does, because someone is working within the limits of what's physically possible. There's a reason why a body must be positioned a certain way in order to execute a move, there's a scientific answer behind the technique."

What aspects of Breaking do you find most interesting?

"Aside from it being physically incredible, I love the conversation aspect of it. The two dancers seem to be building off each other's energy in a way that's not always true for other sports. In many other Olympic sports, the athletes are competing against each other; it's about taking and maintaining a lead. With breaking, there's an exchange of capabilities with a call and response. There's still a competition going on, and a judgment of capabilities, but the breakers create a dialogue. One breaker makes a statement with their body, and then the other breaker gets a chance to respond. It's not just about one-upping each other, it's also about taking what one person puts down and making your own spin on it.
I also find clothes and style really interesting. Style in breaking is personal, but also functional. The clothes you wear will help reduce friction and gain speed. I love seeing how each b-boy and b-girl expresses their unique style, which is arguably as important as the moves themselves, while using clothes to their physical advantage."

​What did you enjoy about our conversation about iconic power moves?

"I enjoyed hearing your self-described purist point of view. For example, I asked you about which surface was best for breaking, and you said that each surface is good in its own way. You seemed to accept that every scenario has its advantages and disadvantages. I also liked hearing about how fluid these power moves are -- they all seem to be able to transition into each other. It highlights the possibilities and many variations within breaking. There's not just one way to do anything.
I also appreciated that you asked if I've ever done a power move; you helped me realize that I have!"

What did you learn through our discussion?
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"I learned that there are so many familiar motions that count as breaking. While breaking can look extremely complex and difficult, it all starts with simple moves. A somersault or cartwheel or handstand are all moves that breaking uses, and they're also moves that many of us learn how to do in childhood. You said a kid might say, 'Let me go on my back and push myself and, and spin. And oftentimes, they initially start spinning on their butt first, and then figure out how to transition to their back.' A kid might just be playing around by spinning on their butt at first, but that's the first step to breaking. It made me realize that I know more about breaking than I thought I did, that I have the ingredients to start putting together moves. But then it takes trial and error to see what feels right, and to figure out a proper technique to minimize friction and build momentum. But that all starts with playing around.
I also learned that learning breaking is quite intuitive. You emphasized that learning a move comes from someone's understanding of their own body. It seems like learning is highly individual to everyone.
You also talked about the larger network you are part of in breaking. You talked about how you campaigned for breaking to be at the X Games by connecting and organizing with other passionate breakers. It seems like the breaking community has so much strength in numbers and passion."