First: Great thread! Ness + 3 pts.
I've been fortunate enough to meet some dope people, the best way for me to list them is by era of my own progression in the artform. A lifetime of gratitude goes to the following:
Mystic J
Centripetal Force
This guy started me off. I wasn't able to find anyone to teach me how to bboy for years. J would come out on BART from SF to the east bay just to teach me how to break. He was an oversized guy (tall/overweight) which made learning from him even more ironic when people said I was too tall to bboy. He taught me the basic stab and windmills.
Unji
Rockforce 2nd Generation
Showed me that no matter how tired you are, you battle at the end of practice. I'd listen to his old battle stories for hours. Definite influence in me battling. He also showed me the chair freeze.
My-D/Enemy
EgoSmashers / Soul Control
I learned a whole new motivation for bboyin from Enemy. I went from practicing an hour a day to 4-5 hours a day after working with him.
Megaman
Soul Control
Taught me one of the most important parts of the dance, toprocking. I literally asked him, "how do you do that? How do you step to the snare drum??" He also helped me learn combinations with the little power moves I did have.
Charles
Climax / Soul Control
Inspired me to not hold back and whip my long legs. A big inspiration for helping me get my flares and elbow flare.
Woody
DC5 (Portland)
This dood was a big influence in learning that there are other styles outside of California. Taught me that footwork is an art itself and it has many layers to it.
Paulskee
Rockforce 2nd/3rd Generation
If it wasn't for this cat I wouldn't of understand the actual steps to footwork. I kind of made up my own thing and mixed it with the basic 6 step. Skee showed me 3 step, 4 step and to rock CC's on both sides.
Vietnam
Rockforce 3rd Generation / Killafornia
Nam was the next to really show me the battle game after Unji. He showed me how to space your moves and play my cards right. He also taught me the importance of transitioning from move to move was.
WesKravin
Full Force
Another outside of cali influence for me. Wes showed me that styles are endless and back then they were somewhat regional. I already was doing threads but to learn the "vegas" style (that's what it was called back then) helped me mesh what I learned from paulskee, woody and my threads all together.
Ronnie boy
Full Force
First time I stayed with this guy, I stayed at his spot for a week. We battled everyday and for madd long. Ronnie showed me that being ready go for mad rounds and conditioning is important. Ronnie also showed me the importance of mixing your power/style.
"The education of a man is never completed until he dies." - Robert E Lee
On that note....a few folks I have met and I'd like to learn from....
Poe1
NoelRockswell
Stunts
Thx to everyone contributing, this is a fresh thread and it's really dope to read everyone's tree and who we've mutually all met/learned from.
- R³