Krumping

Introduction & Assessment

Krumping started in South LA in the early 2000s as a powerful, expressive street dance built on four moves: the arm swing, the chest pop, the stomp, and the jab. It's raw, emotional, and incredibly athletic. Start by watching "Krump Dance Explained" and videos of Tight Eyez — he's one of the originators — on YouTube. Don't try to copy yet. Just watch 30 minutes and feel the energy. Then search TikTok for #krump to see how the style looks today. You're ready for the next step when you can name the four foundational krump moves and describe what makes krump different from hip-hop or popping.

Foundation Building

The chest pop is where it all starts. Drive your chest forward in a sharp burst — it comes from your core, not your shoulders. Watch "How to Krump: Chest Pop Tutorial" by ImDaveyRockit on YouTube. He breaks it down rep by rep. Practice 20 chest pops, rest, repeat. Then add the arm swing: a full-body arc motion that starts from the shoulder. These two moves together give krump its signature power. Practice in front of a mirror for 15 minutes a day. You're ready for the next step when you can do 10 clean chest pops in a row with visible snap and throw arm swings that use your full shoulder range.

Skill Development

Connect the chest pop to the stomp and the jab. The stomp isn't just your foot — your whole body drops into the floor. The jab is a sharp arm extension that stops short, like you're punctuating a sentence. Watch "Krump Fundamentals" by Krump Kings on YouTube — they post free tutorials. Try stringing stomp-chest pop-jab into a 4-count sequence. Freestyle for 30 seconds between practice sets; even if it's messy, freestyle builds your feel for the music. You're ready for the next step when you can link all four foundational moves into a 30-second sequence that stays on the beat.

Practice & Refinement

Pick two or three songs that make you want to move — classic krump tracks include "Buck Em Down" and anything by Lil Jon — and freestyle to each one for the full song. Record yourself every session. Krumpers call this "getting your buck": finding the feeling in the music and letting it move your body. Post to r/dance on Reddit and ask for feedback. Look for local hip-hop and street dance open sessions; Salt Lake's Brolly Arts Center and downtown dance studios sometimes host freestyle nights. You're ready for the next step when you can freestyle for a full 3-minute song without stopping and your movements visibly respond to the music's rhythm changes.

Challenge Mode

Find one other person — a friend, a sibling, anyone — and take turns freestyling for 30 seconds while the other watches. This isn't about winning; it's about dancing with an audience and responding to energy. Watch krump battle footage on YouTube from KOD (King of the Dance) competition to study how competitors read each other. Start adding character to your moves — krump is storytelling through your body. You're ready for the next step when you can complete three 30-second battle rounds with a live audience and maintain your energy and character throughout.

Mastery Demonstration

Film a 2-minute krump freestyle and post it publicly — TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. Tag it #krump so the community finds it. Then teach someone else your chest pop and arm swing; coach them through 15 minutes of foundation work. Krump has always been about community and passing the art form forward. Find the Salt Lake hip-hop community on Instagram by searching #SLCdance — there are open cyphers and events year-round. You're ready for the next step when your video gets at least one piece of genuine technique feedback from the krump community and you've successfully taught the two foundational moves to a new person.