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Street dance technique4 minutes

Learn the arm wave: How to master the perfect wave motion

By Bernhard De LucaUpdated

In short
  • The arm wave is based on the targeted isolation of individual joints from the fingertips to the shoulder.
  • Each point of the arm is raised and lowered one after the other, while the remaining joints remain still.
  • A clean execution requires training muscle groups that are rarely isolated in everyday life.
  • Regular, slow practice in front of the mirror is the key to a fluid and convincing wave movement.

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Find your groove together

The perfect arm wave looks like pure magic, but it is the result of precise isolation. With the right technique, you break down the movement sequence into simple stages and put it back together fluidly.

What you need for your training

  • A large mirror for self-correction
  • Warmed-up wrists and shoulders
  • Some space to the side for outstretched arms
  • Patience for the isolated training of individual muscles

The magic of optical illusion in street dance

The fluid movement of a wave, which seemingly travels effortlessly from a fingertip through the entire body, fascinates audiences worldwide. In street dance, these movements are among the absolute basics when you explore the topic of popping vs. locking. The arm wave is about controlling the joints of the arms one after the other with such precision that the illusion of traveling energy is created. This skill is based on extremely clean street dance isolations, where you learn to move individual parts of the body completely independently of one another.

To make this optical illusion perfect, you must be able to control the individual stations of your arm in isolation. If you want to learn the arm wave, patience is your most important companion. The brain has to activate new neural pathways for every joint, from the fingertips through the wrist and the elbow to the shoulder. As soon as these stations are mastered individually, you connect them into a single, fluid movement. The great thing about it is that you can practice this technique anywhere and without a partner to massively improve your general body awareness in street dance.

6 steps to the perfect wave motion

  1. Lowering the fingertips

    Extend one arm to the side at shoulder height. Start with the fingertips of the extended hand: bend only the first finger joints, while keeping the palm and wrist completely still and stable.

  2. Lift the knuckles

    Now lift the knuckles of your hand while your fingertips point downwards. This subtle movement forms the transition for a clean hand wave tutorial and paves the way for the wrist.

  3. Push the wrist up

    Push your wrist upwards while your fingers point flat downwards. Make sure that your elbow and shoulder remain completely still on their horizontal line during this step.

  4. Raise the elbow

    Lower your wrist again and simultaneously pull your elbow upwards. This is the most challenging part of learning Popping waves, as the elbow must break upwards in isolation.

  5. Raising the shoulder

    Lower your elbow and pull your shoulder up towards your ear. The rest of your arm now hangs loosely downwards. You have successfully guided the wave to the center of your body.

  6. Passing the wave

    Slide the movement across your chest to the other shoulder. Lift the other shoulder while the first shoulder sinks back down. From here, the wave runs back outwards in reverse.

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Isolate correctly instead of swinging uncontrollably

Like this

  • Control the joints one after the other
  • Keep your shoulders low during the movement
  • Practice extremely slowly to identify mistakes
  • Keep your finger joints flat for the hand wave

Don't do this

  • Move multiple joints at the same time
  • Pull your shoulders up to your ears due to tension
  • Work with momentum and too much speed
  • Clench your fingers into a fist uncontrollably

Your training plan for smooth waves

Before training

Preparation

While practicing

During

After training

Follow-up

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. It usually takes two to four weeks of daily practice for the movement to look fluid. The individual joints first need to build up the necessary muscle control. With patience, success will come all by itself.

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