Garret

The turtle is one of the most popular breakdance moves out there. It involves the breakdancer supporting his body on his arms/elbow while spinning around in circles.

To learn this impressive breakdance move, first learn the turtle freeze. You do this by stabbing your elbow on your stomach and keeping your legs tucked in. Your body should be parallel to the ground, and your fingers should be pointing outward, opposite of each other. Keep practicing the turtle freeze until you can hold it for an average of 15-30 seconds.

Next, learn the handglide freeze. This is similar to the turtle freeze, but only one arm should be stabbed, while keeping your other arm on the floor. Be sure that your stabbed arm IS NOT on the center of your stomach, but more between your abs and your sides. Your fingers for the other hand should be pointing outwards. When you can hold the handglide freeze for an average of 15-30 seconds, you are ready for turtles.

Now you have the necessary prerequisites for this breakdancing move. The next step is to choose a direction. It doesn't matter if you choose clockwise or counter-clockwise, just find a direction you're comfortable with.

CLOCKWISE:

Go into turtle freeze. Keep your right arm stabbed as you move your left hand about 90 degrees so that you are now in handglide position. Shift your body onto your left arm so that you are in a position similar to the turtle freeze, but with the fingers of your right arm facing upward. Move your right arm so that you are in turtle freeze again. Repeat this process until you have at least a 360 degree rotation. Congrats! You have just mastered this breakdance move!

COUNTER-CLOCKWISE:

Go into turtle freeze. Keep your left arm stabbed as you move your right hand about 90 degrees so that you are now in handglide position. Shift your body onto your right arm so that you are in a position similar to the turtle freeze, but with the fingers of your left arm facing upward. Move your left arm so that you are in the turtle freeze again. Repeat this process until you have at least a 360 degree rotation. Congrats! You have just mastered this breakdance move!

Dan Svinsky is a webmaster and breakdance instructor. He runs a website that's a helpful resource for beginners that want to learn how to breakdance.