Hello, Focus, we are very happy to have you at Chronix Pro and thanks a lot for sharing your opinion. First of all, let us start with the beginning of your journey. Tell us, please, how did you start your path in breaking and hip hop in general? The story behind it. And what stands behind the nickname “Focus”?
Thanks for asking guys, it’s an honour! Ok, I got involved with breaking as a kid in 1995. I was at a disco for kids while suddenly there was a circle in the middle. The coolest kids in my school were doing the worm and back spins. My mind was blown, I had never seen anything like this before.
My best friend at the time, Jarno, started training and asked me to get involved, too. At first I was mad nervous to join the guys but fell in love with the dance quick!
So did nearly everyone else, in my 5000 people village Muurame almost all the guys my age breaked for a little while. Looking back, that’s kind of weird since almost nobody in the whole country was breaking that time. Run DMC “It’s Like That” became a hit two years later and started a new wave of breakers.
I named myself Focus because that was what I did. I showed up to the practice first and left last.
I also always liked photography. In photography there’s a term called Focus point, where all the rays of light come together to form a clear picture. I liked the idea with combining all aspects of the dance, bringing together the power, footwork, tops and freezes, of being original and connected with the music while battling hard with style and character. To become the focus point of b-boying.
When we were forming the crew way back, everyone suggested names to be used. My suggestion was Focus Crew because of the idea. The others didn’t feel it so I was like ok, I’ll use it for myself then.
There isn’t much information about history of Finland of breaking. Tell us, please, more about the first generation and the evolution of the scene. Also feel free to give us some names, so young generation to be more informed about Finnish scene.
Well, breaking started in Finland in 1983. There are many stories of how it first started. There was a documentary about Rock Steady Crew on TV that year that got many started. Once Beat Street hit the cinemas the next year it was on.
80’s scene was big with a lot of rivalry. The most famous crew from Helsinki was Electro Dynamics, who had a lot of style as well. Another strong crew were Spiders from my area that took the Finnish Championships few times; also my teacher Mikko Ahlgren was from that crew. RC Street Crew had a b-boy called Jesse13, who was the only one who kept training breaking by himself throughout the dark times between the first and second generation.
As far as current and new generation: the scene is lively and cultural, jams have a lot of circles and party vibe which is dope. Joensuu B-boys have been holding it down for years. Floorphilia Crew just represented in Battle of the Year.
Flow Mo prospects Sparks and N-Joy hold it down for my crew next generation. Shoutout to bboy Niklas as well, an up and coming strong b-boy from my old city.
You are one of those who represent one crew from the beginning. Share the story of your crew and what does “real crew” means to you?
Flow Mo is what I represent from the heart, been there since the birth of the crew 2002. But I’ve had my share of other crews coming up over the years, too. My first crew was MidPoint Rockers from 97. For short time I repped Ghost Crew and Beef Noodles from Sweden as well. Soon I realized if I want my family to make it, I need to give Flow Mo everything I have. Ever since that it’s been one crew only.
Flow Mo was started out of necessity. We had two of the strongest crews in the country at the time, MidPoint Rockers and Helsinki based Savage Feet. Both crews had many members moving on to other things in life. Who was left still had a strong hunger to make it happen. No crew from the country had made international noise yet. We joined forces and started traveling to battle outside the country. And became best friends in the process.
A real crew is a family. It’s based on the longevity, friendship and loyalty. If I have troubles in my life, my crew is the ones I call first. That’s deeper than competitions. That’s why I tattooed the logo on my chest, FM stays close to the heart forever.
Event that helped more b-boys hear about you and your crew is the legendary event Circle Kingz (read more about Amjad and Circle Kingz). What does the event mean to you? And as you travel a lot, do you think that the scene needs more raw events like that?
Circle Kingz is part of my growth. Me and Hatsolo rocked it six times out of the seven it was held. Three first places, three second. Second place was a loss to us, that made us train even harder for the next year.
Circle Kingz represents also a change of era, first in European breaking and soon influenced the whole world. Prior CKz that generation of the European scene was heavily into airpower and tricks only, with crews like Pokemon and Five Amox leading the way. We had a different approach and were made fun of in the events. After we won the first CK, soon Europeans was more aware of foundational approach again.
At that time no-one could beat the Americans in Europe. If you were invited from the States to Europe to battle you won the jam, period. Don’t get me wrong, who were invited were in many ways on a dope level, in versatility and confidence. After we won Rock Steady in the first edition this was another thing that changed. Friends back home literally didn’t believe us once we called home after the battle. So CKz was influential on many levels.
Not all jams cannot be like Circle Kingz. Not every organiser has the vision and understanding of Amjad. And that’s cool, we need all kinds of events for the scene to grow. CKz was done at the right time, right place, with the right people and Skeme Richards on the decks. That vibe can’t be duplicated.
Nevertheless whenever I run into a jam with a raw vibe on my travels, that fills my heart with inspiration. We don’t need an oversaturation of raw jams every week. There’s something about waiting for months and finally getting there. We still have a good share of ill jams with a raw vibe. Universal Concrete Jam, Real Deal, Flow Mo Anniversary, Age of Aquarious, V1 to name a few. Support the ones that’s still there, otherwise they as well will be gone soon.
What do you think about the Youth Olympic Games and Breaking being part of them? What does it give to our culture and does it take from it? Your thoughts about it…
As me it’s a new, yet just another platform out of many to present our art to the public. I’m actually really happy about it. It reached millions of new eyes who now might find a new lifestyle to improve their lives. Same as theatre, it’s not the original way of presenting the art but then again, competition with brackets, stages and hosts is not. For the next generation it’s an amazing new opportunity.
Naturally the culture won’t be a big part of it like it is in a cultural event from within the community. I don’t regard what we do as sport but art, which creates controversy, of course, when something like the Olympic Committee is involved. Yet, if they want to survive today and in the future, they need to expand their vision of competing. They need us, and in return the new generation gets recognition, maybe sponsors and new people involved. I think it’s a fair deal, if it’s done right.
The underground won’t change and I don’t think it will affect it in any way, except for late night topics of conversations after a beer or few. The ones who do it for the love and culture won’t go anywhere, was breaking in the olympics or not.
The generation from late 90’s, early 2000’s started with the attitude being different from others and making own moves, it was just that era. Why nowadays young generation still can not get it as we see that most of them (not all) are dancing in the same trendy way with all that crazy moves that makes them winning? Should we somehow change it or it is just the scene today?
It’s true that the 90’s generation had a strong drive to be original. In my crew this was rooted very deep too, even on the level of fundamentals. If I did a combo of head spin to a chair freeze, you wouldn’t see another b-boy do the same transition. Everyone had their approach that was very different from one another.
Naturally that came also from the lack of knowledge and understanding of foundation. Yet the strive to be original was stronger than today’s generation which I miss. Styles of continents, countries and crews have come more close to each other. I guess it’s natural development with globalisation in everything and anything. The scene evolves where it needs to, we can just do our own thing and influence by our work and effort whatever we can.
What does legacy mean to you? What a b-boy should do to keep his legacy alive?
Legacy comes from years and years of hard work. Can’t expect quick results on anything. Legacy comes from taking action over and over and over again. Even when you fail, get smoked, hurt, insulted and broke still getting up and putting in that effort. We all have doubts and fears but it’s the ones who take action who will be remembered.
Legacy to me is also about influencing in all fields. Limiting your expression to just entering competitions only gets you that far. We’re creative people and can express in many ways. Make events to support your local scene. Always teach and pass on what you learn cause otherwise your scene will die out. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen many times. The more you give the more you get.
Practice other crafts than just the dance as well to fulfil your expression and live a full life as an artist. Let others worry about your legacy, focus on putting in work and making it happen.
Tell us about what’s going on with the project B-Boy & B-Girl Dojo?
I been working with the B-Boy & B-Girl Dojo since 2015. With AT we filmed everything we know of breaking, developed the concept and set up the platform. It’s been a pretty amazing journey this far. I’ve had a thousand students online on all continents except Antarctica.
A lot of cool stuff has happened with it. Been teaching live classes through Skype. The students have became a community of itself. Just finished the first International Breaking Teachers Education course. Been coaching in places like Uganda online without traveling for the teachers of Breakdance Project Uganda. They do incredible work at the suburbs of Kampala.
My latest project with the Dojo is the Knowledge Drop! It’s a free youtube show to inspire the scene, not holding back with this one. Anyone reading go check it out at:
This project is mainly about the knowledge from different perspective and about those who Deserve To Be Known. We see all around the world 90% the same faces. Promoters mainly choose to invite pretty the same dancers without searching and looking for somebody fresh. Please, write down some names of those who deserve to travel and represent their style and vision. It could be dancers, DJ, graffiti artist, promoter or any other.
Promoters got the power in this game of breaking. But don’t let it fool you. Rep from the heart, keep going when other people stop and your name will be remembered.
Promoters, a lot of great people already get their shine which is good. Book Dark Marc, Skeme Richards and Maurizio the Next One for your event to get some soul. And Amjad to host it.
Thanks a lot!
Thank you guys for asking, appreciate it to the fullest! Anyone reading go check out my new youtube show the Knowledge Drop to get inspired! Link here:
You can follow Focus on Instagram here.
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Core Team is thankful to Focus for this interview and support to our idea of spreading valuable knowledge.
Image credits: Focus