Breaking
Find out how Finland’s B-Boy Focus turned into a titan of the breaking scene by translating what he learned from the pioneers into an online education platform, before it became trendy or a necessity.
B-Boy Focus is not new to the breaking business. He started making moves on the scene 20 years ago and made a name for himself by tearing up battles worldwide with his crew Flow Mo, opening the 'Saiffa' Flow Mo Dance School in Helsinki 10 years ago and then by taking his classes to the online masses with the B-Boy & B-Girl Dojo.
He taught himself to DJ and, for five years, held down his own weekly radio show Flow Mo Sounds. Broadcast on Finnish national radio, Focus's show had listeners across the world tuning in to hear him spin records from his travels and share stories with other B-Boy and B-Girl heavyweights from the scene.
"Funny enough it wasn't breaking that first sparked the idea for my business, it was actually DJing," Focus explains. "I ran club nights for a bunch of years as well as DJed a lot back then. Because of that, I was teaching myself to scratch. I was learning on this platform at home called Scratch University when suddenly the idea came like "Hey! We as breakers don't have something like this, so I need to make it happen!"
Focus got to work deep-diving into as much information as possible to launch his dream business. "I always admired my teachers and looked up to them for being able to inspire others. The way I taught was highly influenced by them, so I was determined that would be the way I also approached business. I want to help people, not only do business."
I want to help people, not only do business
He started his own education platform BBoydojo.com and, not long after, B-Boys and B-Girls from all four corners of the globe were logging in. "I've been teaching steadily online for five years now. I might run a private class in South Africa and Japan on the same day. There have been 56 countries that have been involved with Dojo so far," he beams.
"One of the most exciting projects we've done is coaching the coaches of Breakdance Project Uganda. I've seen a lot of jams that they've thrown to gather breakers from all across Africa. To know you've helped grow a scene a bit from so far away, man, that's incredible."
To know you've helped grow a scene a bit from so far away, man, that's incredible
Fast forward to 2020 and there's never been a time where people needed access to creative expression, art and breaking more. Battles, workshops and jams might be cancelled, but business is booming for Focus.
"There's been a lot to do, people are motivated to take classes, so it's been busy. Thankfully I've been in the online game for a few years already, so I've had a bit of a head start," he laughs.
While prioritising his online masterclasses and webinars, his physical studio has also kept up the pace: "I'm using the experience I have from the dojo to move the studio and a lot of its classes online as smoothly and quickly as possible."
But the success did not come easily. "It's evolved slowly, baby steps every single day. The key is to be very patient, put in the work and stay consistent with it."
Not only are the hours long, but tackling so many different mediums as an artist and then delegating the workload is tough. "In the end, I see my business as a creative outlet and a way of expressing myself as an artist as well, and giving your art is difficult. I'm getting better at delegating to others so I'm able to flex my creativity into the other businesses that need it and myself too."
Work-life-balance and holding on to personal time is key for Focus. "It happens easily that a business can eat away your passion. You have to value your time and training so you maintain that hunger for dance." He admits he's been in situations in the past where he's tried to do too much and his quality of life has paid the price.
Now, Focus steps into the future with a clear frame of mind. Putting a strong emphasis on doing less and better, Focus says he wouldn't know what to credit as his most significant achievement. "I'm proud of all of it. Not just competitions, not just cyphers, not just travels, or Dojo, or the studio. Everything has just as much value and represents me in the same way. I can't pick only one."
Pausing before he logs on to teach his next Zoom class, Focus offers advice for the next generation who might be inclined to jump into the business of breaking. "Diversify your skills and energies. You don't have to limit yourself to one outlet. Learn from doing business and being an entrepreneur. It's not an easy way to go, but it can really change your life for the better. Being your own boss and being in charge of your own life, for me has been the best and only way."
