The 14th edition of the world's premier 1-on-1 break dance battle tournament, the Red Bull BC One World Final, took place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Nov. 4. The tournament saw 2014 champion and home country favorite B-Boy MENNO down South Korea’s B-Boy WING in the final to claim the world crown once again in 2017.
Champion MENNO said of the tournament that despite being happy to have family and friends watch him compete, he felt a certain amount of pressure and tension during the tournament. Backed by the home crowd at Amsterdam’s Westergasfabriek venue however, the Dutch breaker put in a series of explosive performances as he moved through the rounds seeing of competition from Ratin (Brazil), Kill (South Korea), and Shigekix (Japan) on his way to the final with B-Boy WING and, ultimately, his second Red Bull BC One world title.
(photo:may nagoya)
(photo:may nagoya)
(photo:may nagoya)
“I practiced like crazy.” said MENNO of his victory, adding that even when away for one month on tour he didn’t miss a single opportunity to practice.
Coming into the 2017 finals the Dutch B-Boy remarked that he was perhaps in better physical condition than ever before. “I started practice early in the mornings with muscle training, always focusing on getting my body in shape.”
“With my friends and family here, I felt like I could come through and win.” said MENNO of the support he had at the tournament.
The Red Bull BC One All Star said he hoped that many of the younger generation would take up dance and aim for a similar goal.
(photo:may nagoya)
About Red Bull BC One
With the first tournament held in Switzerland in 2004, the Red Bull BC One is regarded, on any level, as the world’s premier 1-on-1 break dance battle tournament. Despite common use of the term “break dance” the style of dancing on show at Red Bull BC One is called “breaking.” Competitors and dancers adopt the “b” from “breaking” for use in their names as “B-Boy” or “B-Girl.” Japan qualifiers for the world finals have been gaining a reputation for a standard of competition that is world-class in itself. The 2017 world finals saw three Japanese breakers in competition across the men’s and women’s draws.
