Footwork records Vol.4(Brendan a.k.a. Boxcutta)

The 4th installment of our interview series focusing on footwork!
I had the chance to speak with this person who, as fate would have it, lives in Okinawa.
I still can't believe that in this lifetime, I would get to interact with someone so amazing.
World-famous and master-class. Bboy Boxcutta!

About the person.

・Name: Brendan a.k.a. Boxcutta
・Represent: Soul shifters crew/Fraggle rock/Hblienz/Think twice
・From: Seattle USA

Originally from Seattle, currently living in Okinawa Prefecture.
There is no doubt that his quality and flow are world-class.
With a style that places particular emphasis on flow, his moves are smooth from start to finish while also having clear dynamics and playfulness.

Boxcutta is active globally and creates fresh footwork.
He shared his way of thinking and the source of his imagination.

Brendan a.k.a. Boxcutta spoke.

ーーPlease introduce yourself.

Brendan a.k.a. Boxcutta (hereinafter, Boxcutta): I am Brendan a.k.a. Boxcutta.
The crews I represent are Soul shifters crew, Fraggle rock, Hblienz, and Think twice.
I am from Seattle, Washington.
This is my 20th year of breaking.

ーーPlease explain your footwork.

Boxcutta: The thing I focus on most in footwork is flow.
By focusing on flow, the movement becomes smooth.
And there are various technical steps in footwork, so I focus on these two things: flow and technical movement.
For the foundation of my footwork, I am conscious of building an introduction, development, turn, and conclusion (kishōtenketsu), and I use the basics of footwork to expand the range of my movements.

So that I can move to wherever I want to go.

ーーHow do you create your footwork?

Boxcutta: It's different every time, but sometimes I move as I feel,
and try out new footwork through freestyle.
Sometimes I want a different feeling, so I look for different styles or feelings I get from other Bboys, and sometimes I even imitate them.
As a feeling of how I perceived that person, you know.
Sometimes I move slowly, and sometimes I don't even listen to music. I just sit still and think of new movements.
Sometimes it's different again, how should I put it... I catch the rhythm, like a cadence (the number of rotations in cycling; the speed at which you pedal).

ーーCreativity outside of breakdancing

I have a friend, a Bboy from Seattle named Byron, and he taught me his way of thinking about footwork.
It's about the growth process of a flower, like a 6-step; the life of a flower circulates like a circle and has 6 different cycles.
The life of a created flower produces a pattern. Just like everything else in the world.
If you pay attention to that pattern, there are 6 different points.
You can connect these different points to each other.
This way of thinking of his helps me perform various patterns of footwork.
The patterns I want to do, that is.
There are infinite ways to connect them, and you can create anything with continuous footwork and patterns.

ーーWhat kind of practice do you do to perform clean footwork?

Boxcutta: To improve the cleanliness of footwork,
first, you need to know the technique.
Next, what you need is the necessary muscle. I mean the muscle to support yourself in every position.
I think practicing moving slowly is effective.
If you practice with slow movements, you will develop the strength to endure in every posture.
This method also serves as practice for flow.
Move as slowly as possible. That way, you can control your body.

--Who are the Bboys/Bgirls that inspired you?

Boxcutta: When I was a kid, I was really influenced by Bboy Megas from Boogie Brats.

He does a lot of threads.
Not the classic style like 6-step.
He has various variations and moves freely.
I think he really has a lot of, how should I put it, a lot of illusions. When it comes to footwork.
When he thinks about moves, he has unexpected ideas.
He thinks completely differently from other people. His footwork is tricky.

And then, there's Bboy Abstrak. From Skill Methodz.

I often watch his flow, and he never breaks his power moves, footwork, flow, or combinations.
In other words, he builds a single move with an all-set style.
There is no point in his moves where the flow stops.
The flow never breaks.
And he also has a lot of small details.
I really like that about him.

--Please give a word to Foot satisfaction.

Boxcutta: I'd like to thank Foot satisfaction.
You are expanding the footwork community and helping everyone improve even further.
It leads to increasing the knowledge of all Bboys and Bgirls.
So, I thank you guys.

--Thank you very much!

Finally

On the Foot satisfaction Instagram, we are uploading several videos, including this interview.
We will continue to update, so please check it out!