Smooth needs help with his hits (and leg hits) Gurus, critiquers, poppers apply

[Smooth]

Hey guys, Smooth here again, blowin up your forum.

I need some help.

If you can please watch my vid (i let you know exactly what i need in my video), please, please do so and let me know what i need to do.

Vid:

You Tube

Also, if you can lay the knowledge on me about saccin (which kinda relates to walkin out in the sense that you gotta move your legs) and poppin while doing it... please... help me out with that too. Cuz i know i need to learn how to isolate my leg movements including saccin, while at the same time, hittin on it too... which i'm having a hard time doing.

Guys, really... please and thank you x 1 billion.

-Smooth.

[Smooth]

wow i feel pretty stupid for not even seeing that rate my clip thread above this... my bad... if you guys need to move this... do so...

ooops.

[Tino]

Yo what up Smooth. Nice vid. Im as eager as you are to get good quick man. I am fairly new to popping but here's a lil of what I know.

So I heard you mention the guy that sid you wanna hit right before the clap, well I've been told to try to hit the very end of the clap. Fresno timing is boom, CLAP, boom CLAP...... The way I was taught to do fresno is a light hit on the boom and when u hit the clap its harder but u simotaneously start switchin sides. Idk if that makes sense. Here peep this, its an old clip but perfect for timing. Look at Ceech (the guy in white), also notice if you watch thru youtube he says, "I'm supposed to be aiming for the end of the beat, not the beginning"....

You Tube

Your hits look clean but it looks like your timing is a little off. You're a little too soon on the clap. Try waitin jus a fraction of a sec before u hit the clap n switch sides. I would suggest practicing to music thats a lil more slower. That track u had in the back was sick but if u practice to slower beats you'll have more time to hear the beat rather than trying to keep up with it ya feel me.

As far as walking while u hit, this is a koo drill to do to work on movement. Keep the same fresno timing, take a step forward nd hit, boom CLAP, then step right back nd hit boom CLAP, do the same with the other leg. So without the hits your basically jus stepping forward for 2 counts then stepping back, then switching legs. Once you got that down switch it up. Step forward with ur right nd hit, boom CLAP, then ur left... etc. etc. Eventually you'll be able to walk on the beat and keep the fresno timing...

Let me know if any of this helps bro. Keep practicing homie. Much respect.

[Smooth]

Thank you for all the help brosef... i'ma do that in my practice session tomorrow.

I'm gonna practice along with that clip you set me up with.

Still one other question to address though... my legs. Is there a right way to hit them, without causing damage?

Also, when you i move my legs out and stuff.. am i hittin both legs, or just the "anchor leg" that's holding me up, while the other one moves out?

I don't know if you already addressed that in what you said, but if you can clarify for me, i'd really appreciate it.

-smooth

[Smooth]

And i'm gonna go for the end of the clap... that actually sounds right... and those guys look like they're really on the beat. Just gotta get my timing down... practice practice.

[inventfmc]

A couple of key words to help you.

Anchor. Hit that one.

Tense. Your thigh muscles to hit your legs (ps, bend ur kneed slightly BEFORE tensing).

Walk. Try just WALKING. But hitting your arms as you do it, dont break the rhythm of your stride. Then add other parts of your body.

Practice. Everything will come with time. Nothing is overnight.

[Smooth]

Thank you guys, so much.

Can't wait to wake up tomorrow... well... today... and give it another shot haha.

[DJRenegade]

I'm bored and I have a lil time.
Ur hits are not so good.
It looks like ure forcing them out.
U need to relax and stop trying to hit everything.
Spend a good while just trying to isolate and hit ur arms without jerking them.
Stop 'chucking' ur arms up.
Where u pop. STOP.
Stop raising ur chest up.
Good, clean, crisp hits are all a matter of timing. Try to stop dead when u hit.

Kev

[inventfmc]

Originally Posted by DJRenegade

I'm bored and I have a lil time.
Ur hits are not so good.
It looks like ure forcing them out.
U need to relax and stop trying to hit everything.
Spend a good while just trying to isolate and hit ur arms without jerking them.
Stop 'chucking' ur arms up.
Where u pop. STOP.
Stop raising ur chest up.
Good, clean, crisp hits are all a matter of timing. Try to stop dead when u hit.

Kev

solid advice here... things i also noticed but failed to mention as i went several hrs between watching ur vid and commenting...

[DJRenegade]

Just to add.
Ur music is toooooooo fast.
Just watched the 2nd clip. U need something that pace.
And do the drill they r practicing...1000 times.
Until u can squeeze it out like the guy in white.
No joke.
The most important, keyest part of this dance is how u hit and how clean it is.
Everything else is just mincing.

Kev

[Smooth]

Thanks for the tips DJ... i'm gonna put all that in to practice and see what i get tonight.

If anyone else has anything they want to share... don't be afraid to... even if it seems redundant, insight from different people opens up new ideas.

[popitgood]

when you get good at your upper body hits, they will feel like your hitting your spine (according to gucchon). what i do to try to get these sorts of hits is focus on my lats and abs. hitting your lats will cause your shoulders to go back and your chest to go out a bit. but hitting your abs will work against this motion. it's this battle between these two muscles that give me a decent upper body hit.

for the arm hits, focus on the whole arm, not just the wrist. feel every little muscle.

also, there are multiple ways to hit. think of dimestops...there are so many different ways you can move into the stop, and they all involve different muscles. for example if i was tilting my upper body up and then dimestoping, i would hit a few different muscles then if i was tiliting down.

for leg hits, do NOT think about snapping the knee forward and backwards. think about the quads, the glutes, the hamstrings. your hitting your muscles! not joints or bones. also, a good way to practive your control is trying to hit your legs in the air (do not jerk them! hit them!), however they will never look as good as your leg hits on the ground.

also, the walk out, believe it or not, is extremely hard to get it right and make it look good! sam has walked out for countless years to look so god damn funky.

one last helpful point. keep your weight balanced between your two feet when your doing transitional moves. this will cause your upper body to move with your legs and keep you centered. if you don't do this, you will look awkward.

[Smooth]

Popitgood



Damn yo, thank you for the great explanations...

[Boy Wonder SS]

leg hits will take a long time to get...when you make a video and want to show us stuff....do it slow so we can see and dont wear shorts.

try to practice these things on a pace like the 2 4 (or fresno timing)

also, this might help:

You Tube

[Smooth]

Yo boy wonder... i was actually using that video to practice along with, believe it or not... i got that video offa bboy.org, in that same thread where i found the other popping advice.

I'm gonna keep usin that and the other vid posted, and i'll wear some sweats to give you guys a look at my progress...

Thanks for the positive support. If i learn how to pop and do all that, combine it with my waving.. i know it'll be dope... it's just gonnna take some time to get the walk out, the saccin, the feet switchin and all that.