From bouldering to BMX, emerging sports gain a grip

Breaking convention

On Oct 3 at the Aichi Sky Expo, all 27 judges' votes across the three rounds of the women's breaking final went to China's Guo Pu, or B-Girl Royal.

The result capped a journey that began when she was a child attending a Spring Festival gala audition in Pingyi county, Shandong province.

Guo was 7 when she went to the audition. After the event, rather than leaving with the other participants, she approached street dance coach Li Shilong to ask about her result. Li noticed her potential and invited her to try breaking.

From a small dance studio in Pingyi, she progressed to the Shandong provincial team and then the national training squad, competing at major domestic and international events. In December 2025, she won the B-girls title at the WDSF (World DanceSport Federation) World Breaking Championships in Kurume, Japan.

Before the final in Nagoya, Guo admitted she was "extremely nervous". The tension gradually eased once the music started.

"Music is what helps me relax," she said. "The music really spoke to me."

Her routines also incorporate elements of traditional Chinese culture, including tai chi, Peking Opera footwork and movements inspired by Chinese calligraphy.

"I've been studying these elements for a long time," she said. "I wanted to incorporate them to show people some of our Chinese martial arts."

For Guo, breaking allows dancers to interpret music and movement in their own ways. "Everyone has a different understanding of dance, but each interpretation is valid," she said.

That emphasis on individual expression is also central to breaking's appeal beyond elite competition. While structured training can improve strength, control and execution, the sport's creative roots remain important to the communities that sustain it.

Grassroots competitions can help preserve that connection. The China Breaking Dance League introduced an under-9 category this year, giving younger participants an opportunity to compete and perform.

Breaking's development, however, cannot be measured by medals and competition results alone. Although the sport will not be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic program, its appeal also lies in music, fashion, social connections and the sense of belonging that participants find in street dance communities.