Move · Videos · Technique · 17 min

Breaking Toprock for Beginners: 10 Easy Steps

Breaking Toprock for Beginners: 10 Easy Steps — video by Kaio Play · 17:19

Video by Kaio on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Italian b-boy Kaio teaches ten beginner toprock steps for breaking, including the front step, salsa steps, kick-out, crossover, back step and criss-cross, with counts and ideas for the arms. Most of the later steps add small hops. A good start for anyone new to breaking.

  • 17 min
  • Beginner
  • Moderate impact
  • No equipment
  • Hip hop

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 10

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Front step: step diagonally across with the foot turned out, then back, knees bouncing. 0:13
  2. Keep your weight centred, open and close the arms, and let the shoulders and head bounce. 1:54
  3. Side salsa step: shift your weight side to side, then add a kick before each step. 3:33
  4. The salsa step forwards, then backwards, staying loose. 6:43
  5. Kick-out: kick forward, switch with a little hop, then kick the other leg back. 7:40
  6. Crossover: kick, hop and circle the leg round, slowly with counts, on both sides. 9:23
  7. Back step: like the front step but crossing backwards, then a hopping variation. 11:14
  8. Side-to-side kick: lift the knee with a small jump and kick out to each side. 13:10
  9. Criss-cross: hop open, hop crossed, moving your weight onto the front leg. 13:58
  10. Side to side, then the double-jump front step with two quick hops before each step. 15:35

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Keep the knees slightly bent and bouncing so the steps never look stiff
  • Keep your weight centred, not leaning back or too far forward
  • Relax the shoulders and head and let them bounce a little with the beat

What it works

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 3 takes load

  • Hips takes loadkicks, crossover leg circles, crossing steps
  • Knees takes loadbouncing knees, small hops and kicks throughout
  • Ankles & feet takes loadsmall hops in kick-out, crossover, criss-cross
  • Shoulders movesopening and closing the arms, shoulder bounce
  • Jumping or hopping. Impact goes through the ankles, knees and hips.

Easier option from the coach: Front and salsa steps are taught first without hops

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Kaio; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety