Went to Red Bull BC One 2016 Final

Off to Nagoya!

While sightseeing in Nagoya, I went to check out the venue in the morning. I was surprised to see such a long line even though the doors wouldn't open until 5 p.m. When I entered the venue later, I realized that the seats were free within each designated area on the ticket, so arriving early to secure a good seat made a huge difference in visibility. Those who lined up early probably got great seats within their areas.

Thanks to the LINE campaign, the Drink Guru team was able to enter right away from the ticket exchange lane, so we didn’t have to wait and managed to get decent seats just in time. Phew, safe! ε-(´∀｀*)ホッ

With about an hour and a half until the battle started, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but various VTRs were playing on the screen. However, the footage shown was captivating for any BBOY. There was a documentary-style interview with NONMAN, a BBOY from Kansai, and ATS, a BBOY from Kanto, which I really enjoyed. It captured their personalities as BBOYs and as working adults, and personally, it moved me. The other footage was also amazing, and it made me realize once again how incredible it was that Red Bull entered the BBOY scene over 15 years ago. Even though the battle hadn’t even started yet, I was already getting emotional alone.

And then at 7:30 p.m., the BC One started right on time. The first round wasn’t full of surprises, but the BBOYs who were supposed to win made it through to the second round as expected.

The battle report would be too long, so if you're interested, check it out on Red Bull’s YouTube channel. By the way, I watched the video, but unfortunately, it was nothing like the live experience. The camera work was great, but the intensity and atmosphere you feel when you're there live can’t be captured on video. So, I highly recommend going to events in person, not just BC One. Red Bull puts on an amazing show, so it’s definitely worth it.

In this battle, it was unfortunate that Bruce Almighty didn’t make it to the finals. I thought he won in the semi-finals. Also, Nori from Japan was incredible. His top rock, floorwork, power moves, and freezes were all unbelievably stable. It was amazing.

In the final, Issei defeated Hong10 to take the victory. Overall, Issei was in excellent condition that day, both physically and mentally, and he definitely had the most energy and momentum of all the competitors.

Issei was the most determined to win, and you could see that in every movement. His skills were, of course, world-class, his stamina was more than enough, and his vitality was extraordinary. He was probably the most energized participant in the whole event.

The Secret Guest Was Amazing!

What shocked me this time wasn’t just the battle, but the unbelievable performance by ELECTRIC TROUBLE and GLASS HOPPER, and a mind-blowing secret guest show by EL SQUAD that started without any prior announcement! You know, the kind of dance with illuminated outfits that glows with light.

It’s rare to see top-tier BBOYs from all over the world battle, and on top of that, to see their light shows. It’s hard to believe that Red Bull and the event organizers kept this a secret!

With the first-ever Japanese winner in BC One history, this became an unforgettable event that couldn’t have happened anywhere else but Japan. I’m looking forward to more world-class events being held in Japan in the future! (●´ω｀●)