01: Smart Training and Combatting Self-Doubt with B-girl Snap1
- Hitomi
- Jun 17, 2024
- 34 min read
Updated: Jun 25, 2024
As a successful b-girl who has majored in kinesiology, Snap1 guides us through effective training methods for stamina and injury prevention. We've also covered some mental obstacles breakers might face like self-doubt and loss of motivation and her ways of dealing with them.
Links:
B-girl Snap1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/snap1flooristas/?hl=en
Flooristas IG: https://www.instagram.com/flooristas/?hl=en
Bboy Moy stamina training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef6xNeZE5dw&t=80s
TIME STAMPS:
0:00 Intro
1:10 Snap1's bio
1:40 Advantages and disadvantages of starting breaking late
02:30 How Snap1 developed her style
5:44 What was your motivation?
9:21 What do you do when you don't feel like going to practice?
16:51 What is cross-training? How does it help breakers?
21:39 Can you use breaking moves as cross-training?
24:53 How long should the rest be inbetween each set?
28:12 How long is your stamina round training?
29:34 How do you practice powermoves that you don't have yet?
32:40 Do you take a video of yourself in practice?
33:52 How do you combat self-doubt?
40:28 Should b-boys and b-girls train differently?
45:24 Nutrition tips from her days at USA Olympic Training Center
46:32 Final message to the listeners
Transcripts:
00:00:00
Snap1: Always remember that we are artistic athletes and to never forget the culture because if you've been doing this long enough, you will realize that this culture is a true gift to the world.
Hitomi: What's up everyone? Welcome to the first episode of Breakorial. I'm your host, Hitomi.
Today we have a beautiful talk about motivation, nutrition, and effective training methods with our guest b-girl Snap1. She's a b-girl with incredible groove and power move skills from Alaska. With breaking becoming an Olympic sport, she was qualified to be one of the first breaking athletes on Team USA while serving for her country in the Alaska Army National Guard. She represents an all-female crew Flooristas, and her countless accomplishments as a b-girl include winning B-Girl City in 2016, The Melting Pot in 2018, and Breaking for Gold Team USA qualifier that was held in Las Vegas in 2022. Let's dive into our discussion on nutrition, motivation, and training methods she has to offer for boys and girls.
00:01:10
Snap1: I am 32 years old, um, may or may not look like it, but yeah, I'm 32 years old. I started breaking when I was 17, so that's kind of late. Um, to consider that a lot of people start when they're like six, seven these days. It's crazy.
Uh, kind of the time that you started. Yeah. So you would have started like, what, 15, 14?
Hitomi: 17 actually. Same age.
Snap1: Perfect. Yeah.
00:01:40
Yeah. So it has its advantages and disadvantages, um, which I'm sure that, you know, before I forget, I'll just go into it now, it has its advantages because you're a little bit, um, older. Right. So you're a little, a little bit more mentally, um, in tune with your body and what you can and can't do, just a little bit more mentally mature and physically mature as well.
Um, but it has its disadvantages because obviously when you start younger, you learn things earlier and kids these days are just learning things at like rapid rates.
But I don't mind it. I don't mind it because you start and you kind of know your body a little bit more and you're more again physically, mentally aware. Um, but yeah, um, but I will say, if I could have started earlier, I wish, I wish I would have started earlier. I wish I could have started when I was like eight years old, like some of these kids, which is, uh, which is awesome.
00:02:30
So I was born and raised in Alaska. Um, I just moved here to Arizona in 2022. So I was born and raised there. Um, when I first started breaking, I was the only, uh. Well, there was another couple other b-girls, like, a handful of them, but they all quit, like, maybe, I don't know, like, maybe three years into me breaking, uh, so pretty much like, my whole breaking career, I was the only b-girl in Alaska. Um, which says a lot. That's really how my style developed.
Very strength-oriented, blow-up style, strong, power, all that kind of stuff cuz I was around guys all the time. Um, I didn't have female b-girl influences. I had to go travel to go find that. I don't even think I did like my first b-girl battle, gosh, until like six years into like, me breaking.
There's all dudes. So I was around b-boys, all the time. So that obviously had an impact on how I, uh, trained and practiced and everything. Um, I didn't start traveling and competing until about maybe three years, 3 or 4 years into breaking. So I was kind of stuck in Alaska. And Alaska, like, it doesn't really have a big hip hop scene, really, at all.
For example, like graffiti is not really a big thing up there, not because of the cold, but like fun fact, it's because, um, aerosol cans are extremely expensive up there. Very expensive, because they have to be like shipped, basically there, like by boat. So I’ll just kind of tell you like how isolated it is there, you know, so like hip hop isn't really a thing there.
So I had to go and explore it. I had to go travel to go find it. And I think that that's why, like, I has a special place in my heart, like so much, is because I had to go out of my way to go find it and I just grow up with it. It was not like I couldn't not like in the streets of LA or New York, maybe you just walk around and you can just like feel like that street culture and urban culture like that was not there. I had to I had to physically go find it in, um, so I, uh, I did, yeah. And then, um, I joined the military when I was 19, and that's kind of like a whole other different topic of, of things. It also has its positive and negative. It's given me it's provided me a good life. That's really what it comes down to, a good career.
I always encourage people to find a good career that, like, is outside of breaking, so that it can support your passion so your passion doesn't become, um, stressful, although some people are able to make a living with it, and good for them. But everyone that I've talked to says it is difficult. Uh, so anyways, I'm a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic deployed to Iraq. I was deployed in 2021, all of 2021, kind of when the Olympic stuff was like first kicking off.
Um, and then when I came back, the Olympic stuff started kicking off, and then I qualified and made my way to Team USA. Uh, I'm not quite going to the Olympics. I didn't quite qualify for the Olympics, but I still made the first Team USA for breaking. So that is where I'm at.
Hitomi: That is so cool. Thank you so much for sharing.
00:05:44
And earlier you mentioned how you were almost the only b-girl in Alaska. But starting from there, you've made up to the point where you got qualified for the Team USA. And so what do you think was the motivation that brought you up to this point?
Snap1: Well, I've kind of always been a tomboy. And so. And I'm also really small. Like a lot of people don't realize this about me, but I'm like five foot, I'm five foot and I'm 120 pounds. I'm actually really small.
Hitomi: Really?
Snap1: So yeah, maybe I look like people always say I look bigger on the screen. I'm like, really? Yeah, I'm not big at all. I'm very small.
So maybe it's like the small person syndrome or something like that. It kind of is, like I always feel like I have, um, something that I need to go prove. Not only am I small, but I'm also a female too, in a very male-dominated, um, type of community. And but also too like my job. My job is super male-dominated, like I've always been in, like a male-dominated, uh, space.
Um, and I've made a space for myself in that, um, but no, aside from that, it's really just an internal drive. Like, I have this, this ferocious internal drive and discipline to just be the best that I can be. Maybe the best that I can be is not, like, a world champion or a champion all the time. And, uh, I've kind of grown out of that at first. You know, I thought being the best that I could be meant being a champion.
But as you get older, like, that's not always. Not everyone is a champion. And that's okay. Like, that's it's it's okay. There's plenty of, like, really amazing people out there who don't win medals or who don't win all of the time, but like, they're super dope at what they do and they're super dope human beings.
So you should just always try and be like the best that you can be. Um, and I and I try and encourage that with young people because, uh, obviously when you're younger, you have like this, you have a competitiveness and it's all about win, win, win, win, win, win, win. Because you think that that's where like that's going to get you like what you want in life, like or that's what success is I guess. But it's not. It really is not. And it took me a long time to like realize that and then like walk the talk, like I would say that, but then like deep down, like nah I want that trophy, but now I can like, actually say like I'm cool and like, I just want to be the best that I can be every day.
Like, I want to train and try and be as strong as I can be and run as fast as I can be, and be as good at breaking as I as I can be. Maybe I may not win, but like, who cares? Um, so yeah, it's like an internal drive.
Hitomi: So it's basically just like enjoying the breaking itself instead of focusing too much on the winning and competitions.
Snap1: And the process. Yeah, a lot of people say that they're like, you know, and embrace the process, enjoy the process.
But like, it's true, but you really like need to take those words to heart. I think another reason why I enjoy the process so much is because I came, like you often also have to look back where you started. Where I started was in Alaska with with nothing like I had nobody. You knew who the hell Snap1 was or you know, I had ti really like build and it's I, it's really crazy to me now like even even when I lose a battle or whatever, um, I have to think back, you know, it was, oh, my God, 16 years ago, 16, 17 years ago, when I first started, I was dancing in the rec centers, and that's all I was doing was practicing dancing in the rec centers.
And, like, now look where it's taken me. So you also have to really reflect and, you know, pat yourself on your back and realize where you came from and also why you started. That's another big thing.
00:09:21
Hitomi: Like what you said. It is true to enjoy the process and not do it for results. That's also something I tell myself in everyday practice, because too often we forget why we started breaking in the first place. Because it's fun, right? So we say in our heads process over results, but I'm pretty sure none of us feels super motivated all the time. Like every time they go to practice. You know, sometimes, like, you may have a mild headache, you may feel burnt out, you have something going on outside of breaking, or you just feel tired from other dedications. Do you have any days you feel that way and what do you do in that case?
Snap1: Yeah. So I've kind of changed up the way I practiced as I, you know, aged and gotten older. When I was younger and didn't have as many responsibilities and, and whatnot, I practiced every day, sometimes even twice a day.
Also, that's in the younger mentality where you just like, that's all. You just need to practice, practice, practice, practice, practice all the time. All the time. Hours, hours, hours.
Like you gotta put in the work. Um. That is true to an extent. I do believe that, like, especially when you're first, you know, starting like you do need to put in, like, the effort.
And because, I mean, there's a lot to learn. There's a lot of basics and stuff like that to learn. Um, but, um, it is a physical, um, uh, I don't want to call this a sport because people might get mad calling it a sport. It's a physical. It's a physical thing.
It's a it's a physical thing that we do. Right? And, um, that, like, some people are like, really dive into, like, oh, this is art. This is my passion. You know? I gotta do it all the time. That's crazy. Like, I don't know that everyone does, like, they're passion all the time. Okay.
And then even, like physical people, they have days off. And like, you have to. There's science behind it. And also too, if it is a well, not if it is. It is a creative outlet and whatnot.
Like if the creativity is not there, it's still really hard to force creativity, but there is ways that you can do it. So that kind of leads into like smart, smart training. Um, so no. Uh, quick answer. Yes.
I used to practice every day. Do I practice every day now? No, I do not. Is there days that I, that I, uh, don't want to practice? Absolutely.
Like, honestly, probably more than half of the days because you have work and you have school and you have all these other things and. Yeah, and everyone's like, well, it's supposed to be an escape. It is an escape, but it still takes energy. My guys. So, you know, it takes it takes mental and physical energy. So yeah. No, I don't want to do it all the time. But it is my passion and I want to continue to get better. So, everyone, again, everyone is different.
You have to figure out like, uh, how many times a week do you feel like mentally and physically like satisfied and also not completely drained. And those things change too. Like, are you training for a competition or are you practicing just to practice? Do you have like a whole bunch of a big school load or a workload or like not so much? Like it changes. So you have to prioritize and figure it out.
But what I have figured out is like trying to stick to a schedule. So like right now I am working a lot and I'm about ready to start school. So my best times to practice are really on the weekends. I try and practice like Saturday and or Sunday and then like one time during the week. So what is that, two days a week?
Yeah. Crazy, right? But the thing is, is that like, I spent like a decade of my breaking career breaking like almost like every day, almost every day.
Hitomi: So you have that built up.
Snap1: Yeah, I built up.
So like, I don't want, you know, obviously I'm not the best. And I have a lot more to learn. Like, I'm not going to say like, oh, I don't need to practice that much. I'm just that good. That's not what I'm saying is, um, what I'm saying is that, like, I put in a lot of work to learn and to build up to, like where I am that like, and also where I am in my life that I do not feel the need to practice every day.
A secret is that most of your top breakers actually don't. They really, they really don't. I don't know if Sunny’s going to get mad at me for saying probably not. Sunny does not Sunny Choi like she does not practice every day. She doesn't.
Um, because, you know, when I was practicing every day during my Olympic qualifiers, um, I was, I was practicing every day, and I was going like, like this full, like full force. That was probably, you know, looking back, that was probably a bad decision when I was practicing all the time, training twice a day, I was doing like everything that I could, like push, push, push.
And she would always tell me she's like, I don't even practice every day. Like if I practiced every day, I would probably go crazy. Like she practices like, I don't know. I don't know what she does now, but like at the time, you know, a couple times a week. But she cross-trains too. So that'll get into like another topic.
Do I practice every day? No. But do I train every day? Almost, yeah, I cross-train, so I do a lot of strength training. I also enjoy strength training. Like lifting weights is kind of my second passion. Um, so I enjoy doing that. Um, but I do highly encourage people to cross-train, which we'll get into that topic here in a little bit.
So on days that I don't want to train, what do I do? Well, for me, again, everyone is different, but what I have found and I have suggested for other people and works for other people is that when you don't want to train, still try and like have a plan, have a structure, have a goal. So, uh, for me it's drills.
There's a lot of drills, a lot of there's a lot of breaking drills that I, I know and I have or you can even go look them up in a lot of people that have like come up with drills and stuff like that. Um, kind of like HIIT Training. So you do these drills, it takes like maybe 10 to 20 minutes, 10 to 30, depending on like where you're at. And, um, you can be like, I don't feel like practicing, but I'm just gonna do these drills.
So one, you're still breaking-ish, and then like two, you're getting a workout in. So you're at least doing something. And then when the drills are over, um, I would say eight times out of ten, I'm like, okay, well I'm warmed up and like I'm here now. I feel I feel good, like I could probably practice for another 30 minutes or whatever, you know, let's do it. Um, or if I'm still not feeling after the drills, I'm like, yep, nope, that was it.
But at least I did something. At least I finished something. I got some kind of a workout in, um, and these drills, like the real basic things, like, I use a lot of Moy’s drills, B-Boy Moy. Um, and you can look them up on YouTube.
Hitomi: B-Boy Moy?
Snap1: Yeah. B-Boy Moy. He’s the one who actually…
Hitomi: I’ll definitely look that out.
Snap1: Yeah, he has basic drills. Advanced drills.
He's the one who actually, like, developed that concept a long time ago. And he actually happens to be one of my friends and one of my mentors. So I learned that from him. But from those basic drills, you can kind of like figure out if you want to create your own or like get get the idea. And they're not really hard drills.
Like, all you really have to be able to do is like six steps and push-ups. That's like really that's really all you need to be able to do to do these drills. Um, so that's that's what I do on, on days that, it is my practice day, um, and I’m really am not feeling it, I'm like, okay, I'm just going to go and do these drills.
It's going to be like a 30, 45 minute practice. Um, and then, yeah, most of the time I end up practicing longer. If not I'm like, oh, whatever. At least I did something. Um, so yeah, that's what I do. Um, and then, uh, that kind of goes into the cross-training piece. But if you have any questions about that.
00:16:51
Hitomi: Yes. I'm curious to know what cross-training is, um, how it's different from just drilling power moves or training with machines in the gym. And how can b-boys and b-girls use cross-training in their routine to improve performance?
Snap1: Well, um, so I have a degree in kinesiology, so I'm not completely illiterate when it comes to physical fitness and stuff like that. So, yeah, I have a degree in kinesiology and I'm about ready to start my Masters in strength and Conditioning.
Um, I haven't made any published articles or scientifically proven things, but like, I, you know, I do to an extent know what I'm talking about. So breaking is kind of a form of like plyometrics and like bodyweight training, you know, because I've done plyometric training and bodyweight training and that's kind of essentially like what breaking is, is bodyweight training. Right. Um, there are some people out there who genuinely believe that all you need to do is just break.
And that kind of goes back to like, the breaking all the time kind of a thing. Um, the thing is, is that breaking is really hard on the body. Really, truly is. Why don't you go ask the first generation B-Boys that can barely walk anymore? So, uh, cross-training helps to, uh, strengthen your dance, if done correctly.
And also helps prevent injuries. Again, if done correctly. Um, there's a many different kinds of ways that you can cross-train. And really it boils down to like what do you enjoy? And also like what are your goals in breaking?
So me, I, I simply just I love to lift weights like that is like I love to be strong, I actually do. So there's different kinds of strength training. We won't get into it. But like I like to do powerlifting, which means I like to just lift heavy weights. Um, but there's different kinds.
So like if I have, uh, competitions coming up, I kind of, um, change what I'm, what I'm doing. So if I'm doing, like, um, if I'm training for seven to smoke or something, or if I'm training for Olympic qualifiers, which have like 15 rounds in them — so long — um, then I train like more endurance, um, and explosiveness, power type training. Um, endurance. Yeah. So like running and HIIT training and blah, blah blah.
If I'm training for like a footwork battle, I'm doing lots of cardio, lots of leg workouts and stuff like that. Um, but if I'm just like in an off-season, then I train what I want, which is just to get stronger. It is important for females to lift weights and get stronger. Like a lot of females have this misconception that like as soon as they start lifting weights, they’re just going to get huge, that it's that's not it's not going to happen. It takes years to like get big and get muscles. And you also have to train a specific kind of way to like get big and bulky, and look like a man, if you will. You have to train a specific way. So like going and lifting weights is not going to like make you look like a, like a man. Like, I've been lifting weights since I was 15 and most people have seen my physique and I don't look like, am I muscular? Yes.
But I don't look like a man because I haven't trained that way. Um, so anyways, um, but there's other.. You don't have to just lift weights. You can do like a HIIT kind of workouts, which I really recommend for breakers. HIIT and Tabata, which is high-intensity interval type training. Uh, because what do we do as breakers?
We go out and we do 30 to 45 seconds of like really high-intensity stuff, and then we rest for however long. That's what HIIT is. And then Tabata is a even more intense like version of that. Um, and you can do that by running or doing kettlebell, kettlebell things or bodyweight things like push ups, air squats or like whatever. Um, plyometrics.
Um, like there's all different... Again, it goes back to like what it is that you like to do. I like fitness, so I do it all except plyometrics, like plyometrics because, I don't know, I feel like plyometrics is a lot like breaking and I already do enough of breaking, so I don't want to do plyometrics. Um, so hopefully that answers the question.
Um, it just, it also is injury prevention if you work out correctly. Um, it helps to build the joints. It helps to build like the protective cartilage and whatnot around your joints and whatnot, which we use for breaking. It strengthens, um, if you strengthen the right muscles that like your neck and stuff like that, it just it helps to prevent injuries and then also just helps you get the moves that you're trying, that you're trying to get. And also breaking is hard on the body.
So like I don't I mean I don't want to break every day like it hurts.
00:21:39
Hitomi: You know like some people say like even in cross-training you should incorporate like breaking moves. But as you said, it really depends on every person. Like their preferences is what you mean?
Snap1: Yeah, yeah. Breaking moves and you like you can. So that's why like I, I showed you um Moy’s drills. Moy’s drills are, are basic like very basic breaking things but and the concept of a HIIT exercise. So like, real quick, like one of his examples is to do like 30 kickouts. 3 sets of 30 kickouts with like 20 to 30 second rest in between. That's HIIT and Tabata. Okay.
That's that is a, that's a workout. That's 90 kickouts. That's a lot. So yeah. Like you can you can incorporate that stuff like in and a lot of times when I'm, when I'm working out as like a burnout or whatever at the end of my workout session, like maybe I'll do a couple of rounds, um, of breaking or some footwork rounds or like whatever, um, handstands or hold handstands and do, like handstand taps or whatever, or like, like, uh, elbow freezes and like switch elbow like whatever.
You can do that too. Um, and but you can treat it like working out. Um, so this is going to kind of get into what I know some one of your questions was, um, so there are when I, when I structure my practice, I do go in with like an intent, like I sometimes will have like a power day. Um, and so I kind of will treat it like working out. I'll be all like, okay, I'm going to do three 3 of 10 windmill swipes or whatever, or I'm going to do this many halos, three sets of, uh, windmill halo, uh, three sets of as many flares as I can do or whatever.
Um, that's what I do. But again, that's what I enjoy doing. So this is what this is what it's taken me like a decade to figure out that, like, I enjoy doing this kind of thing. But, uh, there has been times where I go in and I'm like, all right, today's power day.
Um, if. And then all of a sudden it turns into footwork or it turns into, like, it's a set day, like, I feel like just working on my sets or blow up whatever. Um, so you, uh, what I'm trying to get at is that you should go into a practice with, like, an intent and a plan so you don't feel lost, or you're just kind of sitting there like, what do I do? You just go in with a plan and intent. But if it changes, like, that's okay.
It's the same thing. When you battle, you throw around, you're like, alright, I'm going to do this. Nope. Did something completely different because that's what your body wanted to do. That's what you were feeling.
So go in with an intent and a plan. Um, but if it changes based off of, like, how you're feeling, like, go with it. It's just practice.
Hitomi: Yeah, because even when you're battling, like, it really depends on the music that comes, you know, right at the time. And so yeah.
Snap1: It depends on a lot of things. It depends on the music. It depends on your energy level. It depends what your opponent just did. Like the vibe of the crowd.
Maybe they're not feeling power and you got to, like, really funk out some top rocks or whatever. Like, it depends on a lot of things, but that's a different conversation. And then if you're in the Olympic qualifier, it really depends because it's all point-based and everything, and you have to do certain categories and stuff like that, but that's a different conversation.
00:24:53
Hitomi: Alright. Um, so I was kind of curious, like when you're doing, for example, the power move sets with like windmill to swipes, do you, how much do you incorporate rest in between like each set? Is it about like, do you have any set amount of time or do you go with the flow?
Snap1: So when you're building up, first of all, the quantity, like how many sets and reps you're doing and you're also reducing time of rest and whatnot. It's called periodization. And periodization is like building slowly over over time.
Hitomi: Periodization.
Snap1: Periodization. Yeah. So it's the same concept with anything. Lifting weights, you know, you slowly lift more and more over time. You lifted you lifted this much this week or last week. Next week, try and lift 5 pounds more. You did this many windmill swipes last week.
Try and do one more. But that's it. It seems like a basic concept, but there's a name to it: periodization. So with resting, the goal here with endurance and whatnot, um, there's a lot of like old school boys, not even old school b-boys and b-girls, but just people in general that say like, a lot of battles are won by who has the most endurance. And it is true.
But because you'd pull out your best stuff, the more energy and the more power you know that you have and you can last longer. So the goal when you're training is to obviously try and recover faster. So when I am doing my sets or, um, my drills or whatever, I do try and like lessen them, when I first started doing them, I would do like maybe, a ratio of like 1 to 1.
So a ratio of 1 to 1, what it means is like however long it took you to do the drill or the set or whatever, then you can rest that same amount of time. But my opinion, your goal should be that you get to half of that time. So it would be like a 1 to 2. Meaning, um, so when I'm doing drills or anything, or I'm doing rounds like breaking rounds or whatever, I'd be like, okay, so it took me 40 seconds to do this drill or this round or whatever. That means I get 20 seconds break.
But it takes time to build to that. That's why I say, start with like a 1 to 1 ratio. So it took you 40 seconds to do something, rest for 40 seconds, do it again and then drop it down.
Okay? 40 seconds, rest for 30, with the goal of trying to get to like 20 um, seconds.
Hitomi: So that as well is like practice.
Snap1: Mhm. Yeah. You want to try and, but um there's a I mean you don't want your whole practice to be like that. Like that would be crazy. But like when you're doing like drills, when you're doing drills or if you're doing rounds, you know, like, uh, not against anyone. Like if you're if you're just, like, throwing rounds, like you're training stamina for rounds or whatever.
Yeah. Time yourself. See how long it took and then try and, like, make the rest time, um, less and less. That is how you can better condition yourself. But again, don't make your whole practice like that.
Just, you know, like a certain part of your practice when you're when you're with the intention of trying to increase your endurance, your stamina.
00:28:12
Hitomi: Okay. How long do you always, like, make that kind of round to be like, one round?
Snap1: That, if I'm doing, like, that intense part of my practice, it would be no more than 20 minutes. I have some I have some drills that should usually will last ten minutes. I have some drills that are a little bit longer and maybe last about 20 minutes. Um, or if I'm doing like, there were… When I was at the height of my training, there was some one day a week I would do just straight rounds, I would do, I would really push myself the first like maybe ten rounds and then after ten rounds, like those breaks were getting longer and longer. Um, but yeah, but you try and just and keep like a notepad, like I keep notepads and be all like, well, it took me 33 minutes to do 20 rounds.
That was shit. Next week I would try and do it in like maybe 31 minutes or something like that. Um, or the same thing with drills. Like I would time myself and be like, okay, it took me this much time and you know, you will get to like a point where and like some of these drills like I am at to a point now and the like that, like I really, truly cannot get any faster with these drills. I really can't, but, um, still like trying to hit those targets again with the intent.
The intent thing.
00:29:34
Hitomi: Okay. So for example, if you decide to do like ten windmills, for example, in about 30 minutes or 10 minutes, then would you have rest in between, like each windmill, or do you just push through and work as much as you can and then have rest? Um, in the ratio that you mentioned before, like one to 1 or 1 to half.
Snap1: Um, that kind of depends. Like it depends if, um, if you have windmills, like, if you actually have these windmills and you're just trying to use them as, like a, um, like a stamina thing, um, to work your core and your legs and all that kind of stuff. Yeah. I would like, do ten windmills. Um, and I'd see, like, how long it took me to do ten windmills. Um, or I would just wait until I'm not dizzy anymore, and then I would do it.
Do it again? Um, yeah. I would time myself, see how long it took me, and then, like, try and rest less than that or whatever. Um, that's just an example. Now, that kind of caveat to all that, when you're learning power, when you're learning the move, there is kind of, oh, there's a few different ways that you can learn the move.
Um, one method is to do as many of that as you can, no matter how like sloppy it looks. The mindset is to do more than like you think you can do or do more than like you even know you can do, even if it looks sloppy and like the form is shit, like you're... And I do have flares a lot. Um, I try and like I can't do ten flares, but I'm like, I'm going to do ten flares, and then I'm like the fifth one, like I am dragging and it looks it doesn't even look like a flare anymore. It really doesn't. And it looks like I'm I'm just I don't know what I'm doing.
But like, that's one thing. That's one, uh, method of getting better. Like it power or really anything in general is like, just try and do more than you think you can or, you know you can do. So that's why I kind of ask them, like, well, do you have the windmills? Because you probably shouldn't do ten windmills for stamina training if you don't have ten windmills.
Hitomi: True. That's kind of true because what I'm like learning with I think myself, I'm learning windmills. And then I'm kind of in the process of fixing my silhouette. And so in that case, it's not really a good idea to do like ten windmills as a drill, right?
Snap1: No, not for like stamina training, not for like, like stamina or strength training.
You definitely want to do something that like you, you can do or come close to to doing. Um, I wonder…I do is a windmill halo and I try and go for 10. Um, like I put in my mind to go for ten, but normally I may do like 7 to 8, but I can do it like I can do the move. So yeah, but when you're, like, learning the move, yeah, you probably shouldn't be doing 10 of it unless that's your intention.
Like what I was talking about with the flares. Like I can't do ten flares, but I'm trying to get my flares better, so I'm trying to do more than I can do.
00:32:40
Hitomi: Okay. Do you ever do, like, um, if you're learning flare, for example, for the first time? And do you kind of, like, take a video of yourself, like one by one and you do, like, one time, um, you stop, you pause your training and go to… go watch the video and do that again?
Snap1: Every practice. You're not weird.
Hitomi: Every practice.
Snap1: Every practice, like I'm filming myself. I post a lot, um, on my Instagram stories of like my practice.
Hitomi: I watch them.
Snap1: Yeah. Um. Thank you. Um, it's, I mean, I post like, yeah, to sort of the people can, you know, see what I'm doing and inspire and like the reason why everyone else posts. But a lot of it's for me like I, I really very much I don't know, it's just easy for me to do it on Instagram Stories that I just and then I go back and like I watch them and stuff like that.
So I'm not crowding my phone with a bunch of footage. But yes, I record myself every practice or like every time I'm about to do a set or whatever it is I'm doing. Yeah, I hit record all the time. A lot of times I record power or moves that I'm learning in slow motion so I can, you know, really look and see where my issues are and stuff. So, yeah, you know, you're not weird for doing that. Everybody should do that.
00:33:52
Hitomi: Thank you. And one last question. How do you combat self-doubt? So the thing is, regardless of how much I train, I notice negative self-talk popping up in my mind like, is this leading to where I want to go? Is it even possible to achieve my goals, which all come from the place of I'm not good enough kind of thinking. Do you have any tips for people with a similar struggle of self-doubt?
Snap1: Yeah, you're definitely not alone. Thank you for sharing that, because a lot of people choose not to share that. And they just, especially in breaking, because, you know, breaking is I don't want to say an egotistical, uh, dance, but it's like.
Putting on this persona, right? Like we're going out and battling it out in front of all these people. Like, tough. You gotta be tough and confident. So yeah, thanks for saying that, because a lot of people should say that, because I can guarantee that about 99% of us all feel that way, or have at least at one point in our lives.
So, yes, lots of self-doubt and, um, uh, I've realized that in breaking this is a it's a very common thing. And I think a lot of it is because, um. Your skill… Um, and, and, you know, like. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's it. Just like your skill is judged by your peers. That's that's what it is. That is what breaking is. That's what it always has been.
You have always practiced. And then what do you… back in New York. Right? Like they tried to show each crews up different parts of the cities and whatnot. You had to come with the skills to be correct and to win.
That's… so like mentally, that's very stressful that you have to basically like you're aiming to be good, right? Like you are aiming to come to these circles and to these events to have something to show, to show your worth. So that is, you know, very stressful. That’s very much it, because you are ultimately judged by your peers. Ultimately. That's how you get your name.
That's how. That's how… Like your peers decide if Snap1 is dope or wack like so... It's stressful and it's always going to be like that. So it takes time to, um, to develop just like your physical skills.
It takes a lot of mental skills also to be able to, uh, walk away from practice with your head held high. The pot calling the kettle black. There's been so many times that I walk away from practice and I'm like, I am shit. Sorry for my language, like, I suck. You know what? Like, I don't… like… I've been doing this for over a decade now, and it looks like I've only been doing this, like, for, like not even that long. I can't do this move. I can't do that move. Like, I don't even know. Like I just don't even know it. Like it.
I'm in tears. Like, I mean, the whole night. Okay, so, like, it's all right. You are not alone. A lot of people feel like that.
So how do you combat it? Well, um, just like anything physical, like mental things— they do take practice. Okay. And, like, one method may work for me. May not work for you.
So, um, just like learning how to do something, you have to figure out what works for you. So. But here is what I have found. And like what works for me. You very much have to self-reflect a lot, and you have to, um, really, uh, count the little things you really, truly do. Like focus on those more than, like, focus like, uhh I went to practice. One thing that I do focus on a lot is that I focus on the fact that, um, what I'm doing right now is better than like hundreds of thousands of other people who don't do anything, and they just work.
And then they come home, and then they sit on their couch and they don't do anything. They don’t anything with their life. There's millions of people who don't do anything with their life. Okay. So the fact that, like, you're just going to practice or you're pursuing something like this makes you a lot better than millions of other people, um, and you're doing it for yourself. So that's number one.
That's like the grass root of everything that like, you are doing something that millions of people don't have the discipline to do because they don't want to sacrifice, because they don't want to do something that's hard. But you are. So keep that in your mind. Um, and then number two, um, I know a lot of it stems because, uh, you know, you don't… you're not getting a move or whatever. Like, that's what a lot of it does stem from, at least for me.
Like, I get frustrated because I can't get this pattern. I can't get this move or, like, whatever. You just have to realize that you are going to have good days and you're going to have bad days. Um, and you also have to look at your progress, like realize like how far you've come. It's again, it's a enjoying the um, what did I say. Enjoying the process.
Right. So there's that. And then, um, yeah, like work on your mental just like you work on your physical.
Um, read books like on mental, like, health and stuff like that. That's one thing that I did learn in my studies is that, um, everyone thinks that mental health, like, you just you have to constantly work on it. Just like working out and breaking. You do have to constantly work on the on the mental. Um, but again, it all stems from, um, you're doing a lot more than other people.
And then also look back where you started, like look at how much progress that you yourself… Don't compare yourself. Don't do it. Don't do that. Don't compare yourself to other people. That's the other thing.
Don't do that. Just, just don't. That is going down the wrong rabbit hole. Don't compare yourself to other people. Compare yourself to yourself.
Like where you were, uh, however long. Where you were last week, where you were a week ago. And pat yourself. It's okay. It's okay to pat yourself on the back. It's okay to… to not be humble and be all like, “Man. Like. I am awesome.”
Hitomi: Okay. Thank you so much for the beautiful advice. That really helps. Um, if you had a sentence to say to our viewers, which is going to be in Japan and also international, what would you say?
Snap1: Uh, sentence about, like, breaking? Aa sentence about what?
Hitomi: Breaking, maybe. People who struggle with self-doubt, let's say that.
Snap1: Yeah. Um. Let's see. I would say… Wait before…
I'm assuming this is probably going to be the end of the thing. But there is one more topic that I want to share real quick.
Hitomi: Yes, please!
00:40:28
Snap1: Very important. Yeah, very important for people because I saw it was one of your questions: should be b-boys and b-girls train a little bit differently? All right.
Here's the thing. Um, here's the thing. B-girls or just, you know, women. Okay? Women have this thing called hips crazy, right?
Birthing hips like, bigger hips. Guys are a little bit more top-heavy. They have a little bit broader shoulders. Where I'm getting at with that is like, that is the reason why power and upper body things is hard for b-girls. Because all of our weight is down here.
All the guys is is up here, which actually helps them with power and stuff like that. That is why the hips drag. That's why flares are hard. That's why power is hard. That's why your hips are sinking down when you're first learning footwork.
And this is that and the other. That's why that's a that's a physical thing that you will not be able to change. But you can get over it. And that is the reason why I say cross-training is a must, because you need to get stronger. You need to get strong.
Women need to get strong. Breaker or b-girls need to get stronger in the upper body so that they can get their hips up there and also in their core. That's like the big thing, the upper body and the core, which can get the hips up there. That's what you need to do. You have to work on look up, you know, like lower ab exercises and do those for your cross-training or during your practice or whatever. And then that is the reason why you need to have a stronger upper body so that you can get the hips up there.
So that also means that when a lot of time when b-boys are training b-girls or teaching them, they… that they have no idea. They have no idea about the hips. They have no idea, like the struggles, like they don't get it. Like just do it this way or just do it like that. No. Okay? The way that the b-girls do moves is different from b-boys. It has to be because we have to get the hips up.
It's a… it's a balance between momentum and also the technique of doing things where B-Boys can just, um, kind of just like throw it. Like force it. Like force moves. B-girls can't because they, they have like the hips dragging down. Namely the hardest power moves for b-girls to initially learn: Wind Mills, Swipes and Flares because of like, the hips. Right. So when B-Boy is trying to teach them, they don't take into that consideration of those hips. And, um, I'm just going to leave it at that because we could we could have like a whole other podcast about, like how to teach, um, and overcome that. But the short answer is that, yes.
Like, you need to get stronger up here and in your abs so you can get the hips up. B-boys, stop trying to teach b-girls like how to do moves like a like a dude, because it's not going to work because of they're hips. Next time you try and like teacher b-girl a move, watch their hips and I guarantee you it's going to drop and you need to figure out how to get it up. So that's, that's what that's that's that. It's a very important thing. And a lot of people don't realize that.
Um, but once you do, I've watched a lot of b-girls over like learn their power because of like. Yeah, right. Um, like for example, um, when you do, when you do swipes, um, one way to get the hips up is, um, you need to keep the heaviest part of your body closer to like, your, your upper body. So what do I mean by that? So when B-Boys or just people in general, when they do swipes like their arm is like out here and their leg is like way out here, okay.
The thing is, is that you actually need to bring it closer so that you can have more support for the heaviest part of your body, which is your hips. Um, and then once you learn the move, then you can, you know, kind of get, like mine are extended because I've been doing swipes for like ten years. But when I was first learning them, that's why it's easy, easier to learn swipes from like a three step or two step because your body is closer and like you have more power. Whereas when you're out.. Same thing with flairs. Like B-Boys will have their arms, like all the way out here. That's really hard for us because again, like the hip is way out here and that's just more weight that we're trying to muscle through.
Um, anyways, yeah, so there is very much a physiological difference between b-boys and b-girls. So I just wanted to share that golden nugget.
Hitomi: Thank you so much. I didn't even think about hips. Okay.
Yeah. I was like, when doing windmills and swipes. And at first it was like really hard. But then I saw all the, you know, guys who started at the same pace, you know, doing it like really easily. And so thank you so much for sharing that.
Snap1: Yeah, that's that's the thing is, because I started around the same time as most of my crew. Um, this is my original crew, by the way, and they're all guys. We all started, like, at the same time, and then they just, like, getting power like crazy, and. Yeah, that's that's just that's the M.O., right? But yeah, there's a difference.
There's a difference between males and females. Um, and then before I do my… my sentence thing, I sent it to you. And I don't want to take up a whole bunch of, like, the viewers time and stuff like that. And of course, I can elaborate on this a little bit more or ask question answer questions.
00:45:24
This is a little bit of the nutrition side of things, but I learned when I went to the, um, the, the, um, the USA Training Olympic Training Center, um, in Colorado.
Um, and this is like the notes and the stuff that I took from our nutritionist in terms of like how much carbs and protein and like your timing and stuff like that. Um, but a real just quick gist of it is, um, you eat carbs and protein kind of based on your body weight. And there's also a timing to it you typically want to have, like carbs, good carbs, complex carbs, not sugary donuts like good carbs. Um, right. Um, anywhere from 1 to 3 hours before your training session or your practice.
And that is going to be on this sheet about how much. Obviously, if it's like an hour before you're going to, um, battle, you don't want to have a bowl of spaghetti, maybe have an apple or something, right? Um, so that's that's on there. It also talks a little bit about like some collagen. Um, and I think like some electrolytes, probiotics, stuff like that.
00:46:32
Hitomi: Do you want to do the sentence thing? Or it's okay.
Snap1: Yeah. Yeah yeah, yeah I just sorry I really wanted to say those things. No, those things are very helpful. Sentence.
Okay. If I had one thing to say. Um hmm. Uh oh. So, um, I would say, uh… With breaking going into the Olympics and becoming a bigger thing to the world, always remember that we are artistic athletes and to never forget the culture, because if you've been doing this long enough, you will realize that this culture is a true gift to the world.
Hitomi: Thank you guys for listening to this episode. If you have any questions or comments, please drop them down on the forum section of the website or email us at breakorial@gmail.com. See you on the next episode. Bye!
Comments