Offering up a toast with a twist

"I really loved that moment," said Japanese breaker Nakarai Shigeyuki, better known as B-Boy Shigekix, smiling as he stepped off the stage.

Having just defeated China's B-Boy Lithe-ing (Qi Xiangyu) 3-0 in the men's final of the 2025 Asian Breaking Championships, the Paris Olympic semifinalist once again showed his class.

But, what lingered with him most wasn't just the victory.

During the battle, Lithe-ing incorporated elements of traditional Chinese martial arts — most notably a "drunken fist" routine — into his set, delivering fluid, rhythmically sharp movements that lit up the crowd. In response, Shigekix improvised a playful toast gesture, mimicking a drink, sparking a lively exchange that drew cheers from the audience.

"That was a really special moment," Shigekix said. "I've learned a bit about Chinese traditional culture, like kung fu, and I've always been fascinated by it. I knew Lithe-ing had a martial arts background, and I'd seen him do kung fu-inspired moves before, but when he pulled out this particular one, I felt something different. I looked it up and realized there's meaning behind it. Breaking battles aren't just about moves, they're about communication and creative exchange."

Lithe-ing was also touched by the moment.

"Shigekix has always struck me as a focused, serious dancer," he said. "He sometimes interacts with opponents, but it was the first time seeing him respond in such a lighthearted and playful way. I was surprised, and then I realized, it was a form of respect. He saw the kung fu I brought in and responded in his own way."

To Lithe-ing, this kind of interaction lies at the heart of breaking culture. "Every dancer brings something of themselves to the stage, sometimes it's rooted in where they come from. When you see that, you're not just battling, you're exchanging culture, style, energy."