You’ve got your baby freeze locked in. Your chair freeze is solid. You can hold a solid headstand and maybe even hit a clean hollowback. That’s an awesome foundation, but let's be real—holding a static freeze is only half the battle. The real magic, the stuff that separates the beginners from the killers, happens in the transitions.
The flow between freezes is where you express your style, power, and musicality. It’s the difference between looking like a collection of cool poses and being a true, fluid b-boy or b-girl. Stagnant freezes are a thing of the past; it's time to make your top rock and footwork seamlessly connect to your power.
Ready to level up? Let's break down five intermediate transitions that will add serious flair to your sets.
1. The Swipe to Handstand
This transition is a classic for a reason. It builds incredible momentum and lets you explode into a handstand from almost any position, making it a powerful and visually impressive move.
Why it works: It uses the rotational energy of a swipe to propel your body upward, making the handstand feel lighter and more dynamic than just pressing into it.
How to drill it:
- Start in a low squat, planting both hands on the floor in front of you.
- Kick your legs out together to the side (e.g., to the right), using that motion to spin your body 90 degrees.
- As your legs swing around, push off hard with your left hand and allow your body to continue rotating.
- Your kicking momentum should naturally carry your hips over your shoulders. Spot the ground and lock out into a solid handstand.
- Pro Tip: The key is a strong, synchronized kick and push. Don't just rely on your arms—your legs provide the power.
2. Chair Freeze to Turtle Freeze
This is a fundamental power move transition that teaches you how to shift your weight and balance on your arms. It looks slick and is the gateway to countless other power moves like crickets and turtles.
Why it works: It teaches you to manipulate your center of gravity, moving from a freeze with a wide base (chair) to one with a more compact, precarious base (turtle).
How to drill it:
- From a solid chair freeze (one elbow stabbed into your hip, other hand on the ground for support), lean your weight forward onto your supporting hand.
- As you lean, slowly begin to unwind your legs. The leg that was hooked over your arm will start to release.
- Shift your stabbed elbow out to the side, placing it on your knee or thigh to create a shelf for your new foundation.
- Once stable, you can adjust your free hand and other leg for balance in the classic turtle freeze position.
- Pro Tip: This is all about controlled, slow weight transfer. Practice the lean and the unwinding motion without rushing to avoid collapsing.
3. Shoulder Freeze Kick-Up to Hollowback
This transition is pure style. It turns a standard shoulder freeze into a dramatic, back-bending hollowback, showcasing both flexibility and control.
Why it works: It uses a leg swing to generate the leverage needed to arch your back and lift into the hollowback position, which can be difficult to press into from the ground.
How to drill it:
- Get into a tight shoulder freeze. Make sure your weight is securely on your shoulder and your arms are framing your head for stability.
- From here, forcefully kick your free leg (the one that's not tucked) up and behind you. This kick is the engine of the move.
- As you kick, push through your hands and actively arch your back, driving your hips forward and up.
- Use the momentum to settle into the hollowback position, balancing on your hands with your head dropped back and your chest open.
- Pro Tip: Flexibility is your friend here. Work on your bridges and back bends off the wall to make this transition smoother and more controlled.
4. The Thread-Through (From Turtle)
This is a slick, ground-level transition that adds a complex, weaving look to your combos. It involves "threading" your leg through your arm frame, creating a knot-like effect before unraveling into another freeze.
Why it works: It demonstrates a deep understanding of your own body's geometry and looks incredibly technical without requiring massive power.
How to drill it:
- Start in a solid turtle freeze.
- Pick one leg (let's say the right) and lift it high, bringing it over your supporting arm (your right arm).
- Now, "thread" that same leg under your left arm, which is your other supporting arm. This will require you to lean and shift your weight onto your right arm.
- Once your leg is through, you can plant your foot on the ground on the other side, effectively transitioning into a low variation of a baby freeze or a prep for a jackhammer.
- Pro Tip: This feels awkward at first. Go slow and focus on the pathway of your leg. It’s more about finesse than force.
5. Headstand to 90-Freeze
This transition builds raw pushing power and shoulder strength. Going from a vertical headstand to a horizontal 90-freeze is a huge test of control and is guaranteed to draw cheers.
Why it works: It’s a direct application of strength, moving your body from one plane of movement to another while maintaining total control.
How to drill it:
- Hold a strong, balanced headstand. Your hands should be planted firmly, fingers spread wide.
- Begin to slowly lean forward, shifting your weight from your head onto your hands.
- As you lean, engage your core and start to lower your legs, keeping them together and straight.
- Continue leaning and lowering until your body is horizontal to the ground, your arms are fully bent (in a handstand push-up position), and your legs are straight out in front of you—hello, 90-freeze!
- Pro Tip: This requires serious triceps and shoulder strength. Supplement your training with handstand push-ups against a wall. Don't be discouraged if this takes time to master.
Putting It All Together
Don't just practice these transitions in isolation. The real goal is to chain them together. Try linking two or three in a row. How does a Swipe to Handstand feel when you then lower into a Headstand? Can you flow from a Thread-Through right back into a Chair Freeze?
Experiment. Play with the order. Find what feels good to you. That’s where your unique style is born. Remember, clean execution always beats flashy but sloppy attempts. Drill these slowly, focus on form, and the speed and power will come.
Now get out there and break some new ground. Your freeze game is about to get a serious upgrade.
