HOUSTON — Breaking, the viral sensation from the 2024 Summer Olympics, has a long history in Houston –- and now there is a bright spotlight on the future of the sport.
Houston reVision, a youth mentoring organization, held a breaking competition Saturday at the Connect YMCA in Houston. Kids battled it out during several rounds of 1 v. 1 breaking until a winner was crowned. 13-year-old Joel Salas took the title with a big, engraved belt to go with it.
“It was an amazing experience. I had a lot of fun, and I felt very confident, do what I do, got the belt,” Salas said.
Salas was also announced as one of the members of Houston reVision’s first-ever AAU, or Amateur Athletic Union, team. This comes as breaking has garnered local and international attention as a growing sport, including at the most recent Olympic games.
“It means a lot. I like how it’s able to actually grow, and like the Olympics and stuff, and so, I’m looking forward to that,” Salas said.
KHOU 11 News asked Salas if his dream is to go to the Olympics for breaking, to which he replied, “Yes, it is. It’s a big dream I have.”
Houston reVision’s program manager Jose Cardenas said their AAU team will start competing in tournaments next month.
Houston has a rich history with breaking, which caught on in the 1970s as hip-hop culture spread rapidly across the city. Breaking has always been a staple of Houston’s culture. Cardenas said he is so proud to see an activity he did in his youth and he continues to do now as an adult – has become such a worldwide phenomenon.
“It’s kind of moving in a sports direction now. People are starting to give it that value as well. It’s always going to be a culture, it’s always going to be dancing, but it also has an athleticism to it that is like a sport,” Cardenas said. “We really wish we can get it into the schools, elementary, the middle schools specifically, and just use it as a developmental tool. It has a lot of great qualities, meeting people from different social economic backgrounds.”
Cardenas added that breaking is much more than just dance moves. It is a way to build community – and for Houston reVision, it plays a key role in their larger mission: to keep kids on the right track.
“Our main goal is to try to decrease the crime and juvenile justice, so we partner up with them by working and doing mentoring,” Cardenas said.