Victor Montallo, 28, from Orlando, FL, is arguably one of the most talented breakers in the world (that’s a breakdancer for you, papa) and recently claimed the top prize at the 2022 Red Bull BC One World Finals. This competition is known as the most prestigious braking competition. Having outlasted his opponents on the planet for nearly a decade, “Supa” Montalvo likes to be constantly active to work on his strength, agility and endurance. And, while breakdancing is definitely considered a niche sport right now, it’s also a discipline that’s on the rise. With the inclusion of breakdancing in the Olympic Games in 2024, M&F Caught up with B-Boy to find out how he got started, honed his craft, and became one of the most innovative movers on the scene.
Congratulations on winning the 2022 Red Bull BC One World Final. How was that experience for you?
I celebrated with my wife and my close friends. I was really nervous! Even a week before the event I was waiting for it to be over. I actually didn’t train as hard as I wanted. I only had them for three weeks and they were extremely intense. I was doing a lot of interval running and interval breaks, which consisted of 30 minutes of all-out sets, followed by 20 to 30 seconds of rest. I also incorporated a lot of calisthenics. I later went to Vegas for a big party. I still feel like I’m actually enjoying that win because I went to Vegas, spent a little time at home in Los Angeles where I live now, then a little vacation in Japan, after that. Hawaii Now it’s back to LA to train!
When did you first fall in love?
When I was 9 or 10 years old, I remember my cousin called me and there was this music playing in her room. He taught me a couple of tricks and I remember it was really hard, but I loved how hard it was. The next day, I was too shy to go back so I stood outside her door listening to music. It was something about the style of music that made me want to move and dance. And at this age, it just clicks automatically. Braking quickly became something I loved to do and it was so natural to me that it eventually became a career.
Breakdancing is definitely a family affair for you, right?
I will practice with my cousin. He would put the cardboard down on the carpeted floor and we would just dance. My uncle is Hector Bermudez and my father is Victor Bermudez. They are the twins who started breaking up when it got really popular in the late 1980s. They formed a crew with their other siblings and were five breakers out of ten. From what they told me, at the time, they had to juggle all these events to meet various breakers and crews to fight around their city, Puebla, Mexico. When he left Mexico and came to America at the age of 18 or 19 to start a new life, because life back in Mexico was really hard and it was very dangerous.
You were only 14 years old when you won your first breaking competition. Do you have any memories of that first victory?
I remember it was one of the happiest moments for me. I was surprised, but I worked really hard for it. I remember friends wanting to hang out before the competition but I turned them down so I could continue training. I had to win this event. All that training was worth the win though!
Does breakdancing have a routine where you do certain moves or is it more freestyle where you decide what you want to do? What processes and thoughts are going through your mind when you are dancing?
For me, it’s more feeling and freestyling at first, as I discover new moves such as my signature moves (the ‘Super Montalvo’, which is a one-handed spin, and the backflip-to-flair combo). But at the same time, you need structure when it comes to competing in big events and competitions, such as Red Bull BC One or Olympic qualifiers. So, it’s half freestyle and half structure. When I’m dancing or fighting, I get really nervous. I have a lot going on in my mind and can be quite stressed. Sometimes, honestly, I can’t wait for the event to be over. But at the same time, when I’m struggling, I tell myself positive things like ‘you’ve got this, don’t worry’ and I always have plans B, C, and D, just in case. In case!
Must be very hard to break from a physical point of view?
Once, I had a really bad back spasm that caused a lot of pain in my lower back. I couldn’t sit or sleep and doing anything was very painful. But luckily, one of my uncles is a chiropractor so they fixed me up and I was good to go in two weeks. Another time, I had a bad shoulder injury. I tried to do a move where I throw myself in mid-air and I’m spinning, but I accidentally fell on my shoulder and it really swelled up. Right after that I had a competition and had to compete with a swollen shoulder. I also had water in my knees once, and I wasn’t really able to dance. But when I need to, I still work around my injuries. If I get injured, I know which parts of my body I can’t use, and so I find different ways to dance and move on the ground.
The older I get, the harder it is to break down, so I need to keep up. This means I have to eat better, stretch more, and be more physically active.
I remember when I was younger, I could party all day and wake up the next day and compete and do amazing but I can’t do that anymore. I have to go to bed early and get ready. It’s a lot of preparation, stretching and diet.
What does your training regimen look like?
When it comes to breaking down, I train for two to four hours every day, depending on how I feel. But I am also physically active throughout the day. I am always doing something. I like to run or bike on the beach. Other than interval training, I don’t have a set training schedule because it’s just a day-long thing where I like to be active. I have intense training sessions at the Red Bull Athletic Performance Center (APC), where Red Bull athletes train. Then, on other days, I like to train in my friends garage.
Break dancing requires strength, speed, agility, balance and endurance. What methods or exercises do you incorporate to work on each aspect?
Calisthenics has helped me a lot because it has helped with balance and strength. I’ve also been incorporating boxing and Muay Thai to keep things fun. The mental aspect is also important. Breaking up is very physical, but for me, it’s almost more mental. There is a form to learn, where many breakers, stuck on the physical side, lack training. You need to learn about dance and perfect your strategy as you fight to be the best.
Do you need to watch your weight as a dancer?
I try to eat three meals a day, my first is a light breakfast but honestly, most of my mornings, I don’t eat. I go straight to training and eat a big meal afterwards. I also drink a lot of water. Diet is really important to me before a big event. I stay away from salty or sweet snacks like chips, candy and cake. I always tell my wife not to bring home any snacks because I will eat them all! For protein, I eat a lot of chicken and fish. like salmon. I try to avoid beef because it makes me feel heavy. And of course, I eat lots of vegetables and drink lots of water.
Do you have a good support system?
I have a couple of crews that I’m involved with, but I practice with mostly. Squadron in Los Angeles. But, most of the time, when I train, I’m by myself or with my wife, who is also a breaker. When I’m in full training mode for a big event, it’s just me, pushing myself to the limit. It is an honor to be sponsored by Red Bull. Many breakers don’t get sponsorship opportunities. It is amazing and there are many benefits that Red Bull provides to its players. I am able to compete in any event in the world through Red Bull and I have met many wonderful people through Red Bull.
How excited are you for breakdancing to be a part of the 2024 Olympics?
For me, I’m just in the moment and so I’m only worried about the qualifiers right now. I’m just hoping to qualify and go to the Olympics. But it’s amazing that breaking is going to be part of the Olympics and I hope to represent the United States. I think after the Olympics, and even before, there will be a lot more opportunities for Breakers and more big companies will start sponsoring Breakers. I look forward to making even more money through a career break so I can provide for my family in the future!
Follow “Supa” Victor Montalvo on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/supamontalvo
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