Flying Buddha

Interests: My girl Candy, Nas, teaching and learning

Credo: “You never know, where you will win and where you will lose - It's all in your hands. - Respect your enemy!"

Titles:

• 2009 1st Place
  Power Move Battle, Saint Petersburg, Russia

• 2009 1st Place
  Underground Base House Dance Battle, Marmaris Turkey

Profile

“I was born in the Ukraine. Since 2005, I lived by myself in Russia. My father is Korean and my mother is Russian. I have a crazy mix. I am crazy and I love to dance and B-Boy. In the RED BULL BC One, I will represent both Russia and the Ukraine.” - FLYING BUDDHA

Dmytro Li aka FLYING BUDDHA first saw B-Boys dancing on stage in the summer of 1999 at a camp for youth. By fall of that same year, he embarked on his own mission to learn the dance.

FLYING BUDDHA makes his living as a professional B-Boy. In Russia, he has appeared on TV documentary programs, the news and a dance show, not to mention “Street Rasers” a Russian movie released in 2007. Last year, he enjoyed many opportunities including competing in R16, UK B-Boy Championships World, IBE, Battle of the Year and Break on Stage. He has also appeared on a TV dance program in Japan. He has battled in China, Japan, Finland, Korea and beyond and is included on many DVDs generated from these battles. A few highlights of his dance career thus far include competing in Battle of the Year 2006, North Sea Jam 2007, Battle of the Year Russia 2008, Chengdu Championship 2009 in China and SDK Europe 2009. He enjoys an endorsement deal with Rydel House, a Hip Hop clothing company from Poland.

Dmytro has danced under other monikers including B-Boy Chan and B-Boy Dima Lee. His present name came to him by surprise during a battle. He explains, “At one time, I studied Buddhism and shaved my head bald (and I still do). Me and my bro Tony Rock were battling in the 2006 Circle Prinz 2 on 2 battle in Finland. When our time came to battle, the host announced, ‘And now, Tony Rock and Flying Buddha vs...’ I said, ‘Yo Tony! Why did you sign me up as ‘Flying Buddha’?’ He replied, ‘Because you are flying in your power moves and you look like Buddha!’ We won that event and everyone remembered me from then on as FLYING BUDDHA. Besides I like the name!”

While he is more attracted to power moves, FLYING BUDDHA appreciates all of the elements of the B-Boy dance form including style, foundation, originality, rhythm, stage presence and being well rounded. When battling, he first determines his goal and sets it in his mind that he will win. Resolve, concentration, awareness and focus are his main weaponry, but he has a whole cache of tactics that he will use, depending on who he is competing against. B-Boying is his mainstay but he also enjoys Popping, House and Freestyle dancing.

Like many of the most studious and respectful dancers, FLYING BUDDHA has a long list of dancers who have influenced him. He begins by crediting Komar, Tony Rock, Rezq, Wolt, Ken Swift, Lil Ceaser, Alien Ness, Crazy Legs, Storm, Maurizio, Poe One and Masta BK for revealing the execution of and science behind the foundational moves essential to any B-Boy. Dmytro expounds, “The old school is an integral part of B-Boying and it can be very dope, depending on how you do it.” He goes on to file his who’s who of B-Boys, not only based on whose style he admires but he also names their other strengths, including Ronnie Ruen’s power moves; the foundation and expression of Machine; both K Mel and Cloud’s smoothness; the beauty of Flea Rock’s movement; B-Boy Ivan’s energy and character; Smurf’s stage presence; the originality and innovativeness of Fokus, Junior, Benji and Cico and lastly Roxrite gets major props for his variety of moves, skills and character.

He hopes the judges will have an eye for style, expression, skills, musicality, flavor and originality. To his opponents, he gives notice: “I am coming to win. I will do the best I can. I am ready to battle!”