How to Practice a Back Drop

If you are a fan of breakdancing, you have seen the back drop down many times by breakdancers of any caliber. The back drop is one of the most popular transitions to take you from the toprock position (dancing on your feet only) to the downrock position (breakdancing on many different parts of your body). The back drop is considered by some breakdancers to be a suicide move because it looks very dangerous, even in practice.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Mattress
• Music with a danceable beat
• Large open space

1. Drag your mattress out to practice the back drop until you can consistently land this drop several times in a row.
2. Toprock until you are into the song and ready to attempt the transition. Always toprock some so it is natural for you to make the transition.
3. Crouch down low to prepare yourself to jump backwards.
4. Jump up and back while arching your back.
5. Throw your hands up with the palms up to just above your shoulders as you jump back.
6. Lean your head forward as you jump and throw your hands up. You must move your head so it does not come in contact with the mattress (or the ground) when you do the back drop.
7. Land on your shoulders and your hands as softly as possible. Your feet should be in the air when your hands and shoulders hit the mattress.
8. Bring your feet down to the ground but keep your body arched as much as possible for style.
9. Lower your midsection to drop down into a downrock position. You will be in the crab position.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for a big mattress at a local garage sale to use for your hours of practice and to safeguard you when you fall.
• Think of the back drop as doing half of a back flip.
• Reverse the back drop (called a kick up) for an impressive move from the downrock position to the toprock position.
• After you learn the back drop, move on to learn other drops so you can mix up your transitions at will.
• Make sure you take care in doing the back drop, because doing this move improperly can cause serious damage to your body. You must make sure your hands are in the proper place to catch yourself as you jump back.
• Don't attempt the back drop off of a mattress until you have landed the drop successfully without much effort many times.