The mill is a popular "Bboying" movement and requires practice, discipline and above all dedication. To make a mill, continuously roll on your torso on the ground in a circular motion, use your arms and chest for support as you twist your extended legs and form a "V" shape. The trick to achieving this is to use the strength of your arms while generating energy and momentum with your legs.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Learn the Basics
Step 1. Kneel on the floor
Before doing the mill you must bend down to the ground. This will help you position your hands correctly so that you can support your body when you begin to rotate your legs. When putting your hands on the ground, keep your head forward, a few inches off the ground.
Step 2. Get into position to hang-glide
You need to already be familiar and comfortable with this position so that you can perform the mill. To be able to do it correctly, place your left elbow between your waist and ribs, your right hand on top and to the right side of your left hand, and form a diagonal line between both hands. The fingers of your right hand should point straight ahead and away from you, while the fingers of your left hand should point to the left side so that they are at right angles to the fingers of the other hand.
- The "hang-glide" is a version of a "freeze" (frozen), which is a technique that consists of stopping moving your body in order to make it appear that you are "frozen" in the air, literally. This is similar to the turtle, with the exception that in the turtle both elbows are stabbed in the stomach, rather than just one.
- This move is also called the "crab position" by some.
Step 3. Push the floor with your right hand while lifting your legs with your knees bent
This will put you in the position you need to be to begin rotating your legs. You should already have the strength to lift your legs a little, as if you were going to stand on your hands. Now, your legs are ready to turn counterclockwise.
You can also perform this movement in reverse. Place your right elbow on your stomach and your right hand outside, so that you can rotate clockwise
Step 4. Rotate your left leg counterclockwise
Now, dig that left elbow into your stomach and lift your right leg hard so that your left leg can rotate counterclockwise and cut through the air at a 45 degree angle as you go up. This leg will be the one that winds the movement and gives you the strength and momentum to swing your right leg forward. Bend your knee slightly to make it easier for you to move your leg. You will have less control if you lose this too high.
- As your legs move higher, your upper body and head will move closer to the ground because your weight will be swinging. You will need to maintain a strong center of gravity to prevent your head from dropping too close to the ground or not high enough to lift your legs.
- Although you need to know and master the hang-glide position before you begin to rotate your legs, you can begin to rotate that leg and then place your left elbow on your stomach. You can place your elbow on your stomach after kicking your left leg into the air, so you have more height when you kick. Some people do start with the hang-glide, but it's up to you to figure out which one works best for you.
Step 5. Rotate your right leg to the front of the left
Now, the force in your left leg must have given your right leg enough force to be able to start rotating in front of the other. The right leg will drop a little as the left leg swings forward and then naturally rises. It might seem a bit confusing that it isn't the front leg that moves forward first, but you need the rear left leg to generate momentum for the right leg.
- You should also bend your right leg a little when you roll it forward to the left.
- Keep in mind that even though your legs are said to form a "V" shape, in a true mill the legs are actually further apart and if you get enough momentum they can look more like a straight line than a V and will look almost like the propellers of a helicopter.
Step 6. Throw your left leg under your right as you land
Now that left leg will rotate underneath the right leg, almost like a scissor, as you turn around and begin to fall. To fall, release your left hand and lean on your left forearm. Roll to your left shoulder and then to your back.
To fall, move your left elbow out of your stomach and bend your forearm so that it meets the triceps. This will help you reach your hand out to support yourself on your back
Step 7. Raise your left leg and throw your right leg under
At the same time, roll over your right shoulder and return to the hang-glide position. This may be the hardest part. Basically, you have to build enough momentum to get back to the position you started in and be able to repeat the mill over and over again. If you don't get enough momentum, you'll get stuck on your back and won't have enough speed to roll onto your hands again.
At the beginning you can practice a little more slowly so that you master a cycle well, because in order for you to repeat the process you will have to generate a lot of speed and momentum, and that can be difficult when you are just learning
Step 8. Get back into hang-glide position
As you roll onto your back, use your left hand to push off the ground to make it easy for you to roll onto your side. As your left arm helps you roll onto your side, press down on your right forearm and use it to push your body a bit to get to the starting point.
- Then, turn towards your chest, push the ground with your hands and position your stomach again on your left elbow, with the left hand underneath and with the right arm out, just as you did at the beginning.
- Returning to a stable hang-glide position is essential to maintain your momentum and balance as you repeat the mill. You won't be able to turn your legs without losing your balance if you don't have a solid base.
Step 9. Rotate your left leg and repeat the process
Once you've learned the basics of the mill, you can start over and work on really mastering it. When you're ready to stop, practice stopping on your left hand and turning at the waist with your legs bent. You may only be able to do one or two grinders in a row when you're first starting out, but the more you practice, the more you can do without losing your momentum or balance.
If you want, you can also transition to another move like the backspin
Part 2 of 2: Mastering the Mill
Step 1. Improve your technique
As you become more comfortable with the grinder, you can work on its valence, fluidity, and creating full motion with the grinder. At first, you may think that it is a step-by-step movement, but when you really master it you will see that it is a fluid movement.
Work on practicing your kick and getting a good whip effect with your left leg
Step 2. Make a handless grinder
In the handless mill you also have to rotate your legs, but you will be rotating on your head instead of using your hands. This will be more difficult, but it will allow you to do different movements with your hands for variety. If you're comfortable turning on your head and doing the grinder without hands, here are a few tricks you can add to your repertoire:
- The genius. In this handless mill, cross your hands over your chest.
- The confusion. Here, place your hands on your face.
- Blender. In this variation, place your hands on your thighs.
- The lotus position. For this movement, make a mill with your legs in the lotus position.
Step 3. Make a halo
Once you feel that your grinder has the necessary speed, you can try to halo, which is an even more advanced move. The halo is similar to the mill in that you will also use your hands and chest to support yourself while rotating your legs, but in the halo you will rotate your legs much closer to the ground instead of at an angle, or they can go in the opposite direction and move more and more. vertical until it looks like you're standing on your head.
You can consider it a halo because your legs will move so fast that you will be doing a unified movement
Advice
- Practice a little each day.
- A slippery floor will help.
- Watch many videos to understand leg movement.
- Remember to kick and not turn.
- Don't lose hope and practice correctly.
- Your head should not touch the ground at any time.
- If you can't hang-glide, train your forearm muscles and do bicep curls to strengthen them.
- Stretch your groin and also your legs.
- Keep your legs straight and in a V shape at all times.
- Have fun and don't stress. If you can't do one part, practice another.
Warnings
- Rest well. Don't overdo it with practice or you could end up injured or in poor posture.
- Wear sneakers and socks, you don't want to hurt your fingers or ankles.
- Wear a polo that covers your shoulders or one with long sleeves because you will turn on them and you do not want to suffer a friction burn.