Hall of Fame Break Dancer and Avid Runner Forrest Webb Talks with Dr. Leo Kormanik About His Career

Mind Body Marathon

In this episode of the MindBodyMarathon, Dr. Leo Kormanik interviews Forrest Webb, also known as ForrestGetemGump. Forrest shares his journey from being a former professional breakdancer to becoming a health enthusiast and runner. Recently, he was inducted into the Breakin' Hall of Fame in New York City, which will be part of the upcoming Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx. Forrest reflects on his breakdancing beginnings in the 1970s, his peak years in the 80s and 90s, and the evolution of breaking as it gained mainstream popularity, notably through the Rocksteady Crew's appearances in media.

The conversation shifts to Forrest's transition from breakdancing to running, which began after a series of personal challenges, including the loss of his mother and dissatisfaction with the entertainment industry. He shares how he struggled with weight gain, reaching 260 pounds, before committing to running and ultimately losing weight, getting down to 185 pounds. Forrest recounts his initial experiences with running, including training for races without prior knowledge of running techniques, and reflects on how these changes transformed his life.

In this segment, Forrest Webb discusses his personal journey with weight gain and the pivotal moment when his wife remarked that she didn't recognize him, which sparked a change in his mindset. He began running as a coping mechanism, realizing its positive impact on his mental health and relationships, as he found that running helped him manage stress and become a better partner.

Forrest contrasts the environments of breakdancing and running, noting that breakdancing is highly competitive and can lead to humiliation if one loses a battle, while running is less about direct competition. He shares his early experiences with breakdancing, including a significant moment when he lost to a more skilled dancer, which motivated him to improve his skills.

He also describes the structure of dance battles, which can be organized competitions or informal "dark circles." In organized competitions, dancers are paired randomly and battle for a set number of rounds, while dark circles allow for spontaneous challenges among dancers. Each battle typically lasts between 30 to 45 seconds per dancer, depending on the number of rounds.

Forrest Webb discusses the evolution of breakdancing competitions, highlighting the contrast between informal battles and organized events that gained prominence in the 1990s. He notes key competitions like the Pro-Am in Miami, the Freestyle Session in New York, and the Battle of the Year in Germany, which showcased both performance and competitive elements. He emphasizes that while European competitions received recognition, breakdancing remained vibrant in New York through local crews.

Webb also delves into the complexities surrounding breakdancing's inclusion in the Olympics. He explains the disagreements among different organizations vying for national governing body status and how this affected the scoring and judging for Olympic breakdancing. He criticizes the judging criteria, which he feels may not accurately reflect the creativity and skill of the dancers, leading to outcomes that don't align with the talent showcased in other competitions.

He expresses concern over the perception of breakdancing as less entertaining than expected, suggesting that the scoring system favored less innovative moves. Webb believes that the sport’s essence lies in its dance roots, making standardization challenging. He reflects on the subjective nature of judging and the importance of the connection between performers and the audience in informal battles.

Finally, he shares his current training goals in running, aiming to participate in the Boston Marathon and complete the six world major marathons.

The speaker shares their eating habits, practicing intermittent fasting, and a low-carb diet, which they find helps maintain their weight and energy levels. They reflect on their past eating patterns and how their busy lifestyle in New York influenced their eating habits.

Discussion shifts to their experiences with dancing, specifically breakdancing, and the importance of flow state in both dancing and running. They recount memorable performances where everything clicked, emphasizing that being in a flow state means being fully immersed in the activity without self-judgment.

Finally, the speaker mentions their music work and where people can find their mixes on platforms like Mixcloud and SoundCloud, highlighting their passion for DJing alongside their athletic pursuits.

You can order the Dr. Leo Kormanik's book Faster Without Fail on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4eEsB7M.

Be sure to also check out Dr. Leo's Running Rehab YouTube page at www.YouTube.com/@RunningRehab.