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."

"Breaking is more than competition and confrontation," the 18-year-old said. "It's about showing who you are, your style, your attitude, your culture. We all have our own stories. When those stories meet and clash on stage, that's the purest moment."

Now 22, Shigekix is a household name in the breaking world. Inspired by his sister, B-Girl Ayane, he began dancing at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks. He won bronze at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and, at 18, became the youngest-ever champion at the Red Bull BC One World Final in 2020. He won gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and served as Japan's flagbearer at both the closing ceremony there and the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he finished fourth.

On the other side of the floor, Lithe-ing's rise came later. In 2021, while Shigekix was already a global name, Lithe-ing, then 16, traveled abroad for the first time to compete at the World Breaking Championships in Paris, where he failed to make it out of the group stage. But, with the momentum of China's Olympic preparations, both the sport and Lithe-ing developed rapidly. Within a few years, he emerged as one of China's most promising new-generation B-Boys.

The two previously met in the semifinals of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and the group stage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with Shigekix winning both. But, he acknowledged the rapid development of Chinese breaking.

"China's breaking has progressed so fast," Shigekix said. "From the youth to the adult levels, I've seen so many talented dancers develop quickly. Their moves are getting cleaner and more personal. Litheing is one of the standouts. Every time I come to China, I feel that pressure from how fast they're improving."

Rather than feel threatened, Shigekix embraces the challenge.

"Competing with fast-rising new dancers like Lithe-ing pushes me to keep going. You can't stay still at the top. You have to evolve."

For the Chinese B-Boy, facing a world-class opponent like Shigekix doesn't discourage him, it gives him clarity.

"I felt the gap today," Lithe-ing said. "But, it also made me think."

"What's impressive about Shigekix is not just that he's been at a high level for so long, but that he keeps evolving — technically, creatively, mentally.

"His control, his timing, his presence on stage — those are all things I need to work on. I hope next time, I can bring a more complete version of myself."

After the final, the two shared a smile and embraced. The result was decided, but that fleeting, improvised moment of "drunken fist and cheers" left a lasting impression.

For the battle, they were opponents, but on the stage, they were two dancers sharing a moment of mutual understanding and respect.

Xinhua