Break dancing is an urban dance style that combines acrobatics and characterization with upbeat dancing. Break dancing requires agility, flexibility, balance and a significant amount of body-weight strength. The most fundamental break-dancing moves engage the entire body, including the arms, chest, abs and legs. Strengthening these muscle groups will prepare you to break dance with success.

Biceps, Triceps and Forearm Muscles

The arm muscles, including the biceps, triceps and forearm muscles, have a major role in break dancing; and it is necessary to develop these muscle groups to be successful at it. Performing moves such as turtles, flares, hand glides and windmills all require strength in the upper and lower arm muscles. According to the Kurupt Breakdancing Crew, these moves require the arms to hold up your body weight while you are sliding, rotating or swinging your legs around. Strengthening your arm muscles will allow you to execute these types of moves more easily and hold poses longer.


Your pectorals, or chest muscles, are also responsible for balancing your body weight when performing many break-dancing moves. Moves such as hand slides and turtles require a good amount of pectoral strength, according to For these moves, the body and arms must be held in the pushup position. Doing exercises such as pushups will help develop your pectoral muscles and make you better prepared to perform these types of break-dancing moves.


Many break-dancing moves require you to hold your lower body up in the air while doing other maneuvers. This can only be done with strong abdominal muscles. Moves such as head spins require ab muscles to hold the legs up and keep the body vertical while you are spinning. Moves such as flares use the abs to keep the lower body up so your legs can spin around without touching the ground, according to Kurupt Breakdancing Crew. Having stronger ab muscles will help you hold your legs up longer and execute these types of moves with more precision.

Hamstrings and Quadriceps

When break dancing, the leg muscles, including the hamstrings and quadriceps, are often used to generate spring or spin. Moves such as V kicks, or Russian kicks, use the hamstrings and quadriceps as springs to catch the body weight in a controlled manner and kick the legs out. Moves such as windmills, back spins, head spins and flares use centripetal force generated by your leg muscles to whip your legs around your body in a circular motion, according to The Physics of Break Dancing. Stronger leg muscles can help you spring higher, whip harder and spin faster.

About the Author


Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images