Flare (acrobatic move)

Last updated
B-boy street performer doing air chair in Washington D.C. Street Acrobats in DC - 2013-06-07 - 03.JPG
B-boy street performer doing air chair in Washington D.C.

The flare is an acrobatic move in which the performer alternates balancing the torso between either arm while swinging the legs beneath in continuous circles. It is a fundamental b-boying/bgirl power move, and in gymnastics it may be performed on a pommel horse or during the floor exercise. The move is commonly spelled flair in gymnastics and further may be called a "Thomas flair" after its originator, Kurt Thomas. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Step by step

The description assumes counter-clockwise rotation

The left leg begins about 10 inches behind the right (not lined up). If the breaker already has momentum, he/she quickly puts down his left hand close to the left leg facing the fingers away from the body, towards the left. Next, the left leg is swung around as hard as possible while doing a jump. The breaker is prepared to put down the right hand. All of the breaker's weight shifts to the right arm, and he/she kicks the left leg up as high as possible. The right leg swings under the left and then the left hand comes down in front, such that both hands are now in front. Arching his/her back and without touching the ground, the breaker kicks the right leg up again and swings the left leg around low for another rotation.

A progression for this move would be double leg circles on a mushroom (similar to a pommel horse but rounded and lower down). This consists of his/her legs rotating around the mushroom 360 degrees elevated roughly 40 cm off the floor with nothing but his/her hands touching the mushroom.

Variations

There are several flare variants:

Airflares

The Airflare, sometimes also called an Airtrack, is an advanced move that is similar in concept to a Halo, also known as Headtracks or just tracks. This is because they share the feel when it comes to piking your legs and swinging them in between the hand switch. While performing an Air Flare, the breaker is inverted with his torso at a 45-degree angle to the floor. (angle can differ. the smaller the angle, the greater the difficulty). his legs in a V-shape, and his arms straight. The hands are the only body part that touch the floor as the move is being performed. The bboy/bgirl whips their legs, then arms around so that he travels in a circular path. Air Flares can also be referred to as Air Tracks: however, Air Tracks was originally a single 360 spin in the air that would be a transition move linking to another. Later, people would start doing Air flares in the manner of a continuous Air track, rendering both names to be basically the same move, since the difference in execution is so minimal. (Air flares reach across the chest and Air tracks reach over the head - the inclination of the body is irrelevant in this case.)

Variations

There are many variations of the air flare. Some notable examples include:

  • Elbow Air Flares/Elbow Tracks - Using your elbows instead of your hands
  • Bent Leg Air Flares - One leg is constantly bent during the entire movement. Bboy Blond and Bboy The End are known for using this technique.
  • Hopping Air Flares - Both hands never touch the floor at the same time. A hopping motion is used to continuously hop from one hand to the other. The legs are sometimes bent in this variation in order to generate the hopping effect.
  • Tombstone Air Flares - The legs are closed and straight during the airborne phase of the movement
  • Lotus Air Flares - Same as a regular air flare but with the legs in lotus position
  • Toe Touching Air Flares - When one hand is on the ground, the other is used to touch the toes of either foot.
  • Clapping Air Flares - clapping both hands in a handstand between airflares
  • Munching Air Flares - The "munch" effect can be achieved by positioning the legs in munch-mill position in mid-flight. In a more advanced variation the bboy/bgirl keeps their legs in this position even when the hands are touching the floor.
  • Threaded Air Flares - bringing a leg through a loop created by the other leg and the non-supporting hand
  • Walking Air Flares - At least one hand is always in contact with the floor, even during the airborne phase of a regular Air Flare. This variation requires great flexibility in the shoulders.
  • One-handed Air Flares - A very difficult variation of airflare. The same swinging hand turns a full swing with only one hand at 180 degrees. Famous done by Bboy Punisher, Bboy Clil and so on...
  • Airflare 1.5 (a.k.a. Airflare Bombs, Airflare suicides) - The body rotates 540 degrees and the bboy/bgirl lands on their back rather than on their hands.

Sequence

Four rotations of the chair flares:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charleston (dance)</span> American swing dance

The Charleston is a dance named after the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson, which originated in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild and became one of the most popular hits of the decade. Runnin' Wild ran from 28 October 1923 through 28 June 1924. The Charleston dance's peak popularity occurred from mid-1926 to 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calisthenics</span> Form of strength training exercises

Calisthenics or callisthenics (/ˌkælɪsˈθɛnɪk/) is a form of strength training that utilizes an individual's body weight as resistance to perform multi-joint, compound movements with little or no equipment.

Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by performers to immobilize their opponents or lead to a submission. This article covers the various pins, stretches and transition holds used in the ring. Some wrestlers use these holds as their finishing maneuvers, often nicknaming them to reflect their character or persona. Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Push-up</span> Calisthenics exercise

The push-up is a common calisthenics exercise beginning from the prone position. By raising and lowering the body using the arms, push-ups exercise the pectoral muscles, triceps, and anterior deltoids, with ancillary benefits to the rest of the deltoids, serratus anterior, coracobrachialis and the midsection as a whole. Push-ups are a basic exercise used in civilian athletic training or physical education and commonly in military physical training. They are also a common form of punishment used in the military, school sport, and some martial arts disciplines. Variations of push-ups, such as wide-arm push-ups, diamond push-ups target specific muscle groups and provide further challenges.

Strikes can be offensive moves in professional wrestling, that can sometimes be used to set up an opponent for a hold or for a throw. There are a wide variety of strikes in pro wrestling, and many are known by several different names. Professional wrestlers frequently give their finishers new names. Occasionally, these names become popular and are used regardless of the wrestler performing the technique.

In professional wrestling, a neckbreaker is any throw or slam that focuses its attack on the opponent's neck. One type of neckbreaker involves the wrestler slamming an opponent's neck against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee, head or shoulder. The other type of neckbreaker is a slam technique in which the wrestler throws an opponent to the ground by twisting the opponent's neck. This also refers to a "back head slam" where a wrestler drops to the mat while holding an opponent by their neck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakdancing</span> Style of street dance

Breakdancing, also called b-boying, b-girling or breaking, is a style of street dance developed by African American and Puerto Rican communities in The Bronx, New York City, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handspring (gymnastics)</span> Acrobatic move

A handspring is an acrobatic move in which a person executes a complete revolution of the body by lunging headfirst from an upright position into an inverted vertical position and then pushing off from the floor with the hands so as to leap back to an upright position. The direction of body rotation in a handspring may be either forward or backward, and either kind may be performed from a stationary standing position or while in motion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kettlebell</span> Cast iron or cast steel ball with a handle attached to the top

In weight training, a kettlebell is a cast-iron or cast-steel ball with a handle attached to the top. It is used to perform many types of exercises, including ballistic exercises that combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training. Kettlebells are the primary equipment used in the weight-lifting sport of kettlebell lifting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windmill (b-boy move)</span>

The Windmill is a popular b-boying move. The breaker rolls his torso continuously in a circular path on the floor, across the upper chest/shoulders/back, while twirling his legs in a V-shape through the air.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6-step</span>

The 6-step is the basic sequence of breakdancing footwork. The dancer uses their arms to support their body above the floor while moving their legs in a circle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kip-up</span> Gymnastics move

A kip-up is an acrobatic move in which a person transitions from a supine, and less commonly, a prone position, to a standing position. It is used in activities such as breakdancing, acro dance, gymnastics, martial arts, professional wrestling, and freerunning, and in action film fight sequences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Float (b-boy move)</span>

The float (turtle) is a b-boying move originally coming from basic Gymnastics alongside variants specifically the Turtle. Though it appears to demand great strength, the float actually requires balance above all because the breaker's weight is supported on the elbows which are firmly planted ("stabbed") into the lower abdomen near the anterior superior iliac spine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spin (b-boy move)</span>

A spin is a b-boying move that involves rotation of the breaker's body about some axis in contact with the ground. It is possible to perform a spin on virtually any part of the body, but bare skin often causes painful and spin-killing friction with the floor. To solve this problem, many breakers employ pieces of cloth or wear long clothing, pads, or caps. When the dancer uses his hands to aid in speeding up the spin, it is called tapping. A dancer may tap for a few rotations and then glide for subsequent rotations. Spins form an integral part of many breakers' routines, while others eschew them in favor of more complex-looking repeated movements, back and forth, after each rotation in a given direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freeze (b-boy move)</span>

A freeze is a b-boying technique that involves halting all body motion, often in an interesting or balance-intensive position. It is implied that the position is hit and held from motion as if freezing in motion, or into ice. Freezes often incorporate various twists and distortions of the body into stylish and often difficult positions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2-step (breakdance move)</span>

The 2-step also known as Mini Swipe or Baby Swipe is a footwork sequence in breakdance.

This is a general glossary of the terms used in the sport of gymnastics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leg raise</span> Strength training exercise

The leg raise is a strength training exercise which targets the iliopsoas. Because the abdominal muscles are used isometrically to stabilize the body during the motion, leg raises are also often used to strengthen the rectus abdominis muscle and the internal and external oblique muscles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airflare</span>

The airflare refers to an acrobatic movement in which the performer rotates the torso around the vertical axis of their body whilst simultaneously traveling in a circular path along a plane parallel with the floor. The feet are not allowed to touch the ground during the execution of this move and both hands are used to execute standard airflares.

References

  1. Skills Named for U.S. Gymnasts Archived 2018-12-21 at the Wayback Machine // USA Gymnastics
  2. Lloyd Readhead (2013). Gymnastics: Skills- Techniques- Training. Crowood. ISBN   978-1-847-97537-9.
  3. Danielle Sarver Coombs,Bob Batchelor (2013). American History Through American Sports: From Colonial Lacrosse to Extreme Sports, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 260. ISBN   978-0-313-37988-8.
  4. Kent Hannon (1978-06-26). "Kurt Thomas, innovator of the Thomas Flair, has clearly - 06.26.78 - SI Vault". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2012-06-16.