The Knack

How to Spin on Your Head

THE HEADSPIN is one of the more difficult moves, but it's worth learning because it looks spectacular. First thing, never do it on concrete! You need a vinyl surface to do a headspin, something like kitchen lino. If you don't do it on a shiny surface - carpet, for example - your head will stay still and you could literally break your neck.

Always warm up before-hand; stretch your head forward, backwards, sideways - anything to warm up the muscles in your neck. When you're ready, do a headstand. Once you're upside down, do the splits with your legs and make a kicking motion with them. You should be pushing your legs round and then your whole bottom half will follow. Your hands are on the floor, moving around as well, which is what keeps you balanced.

Do one spin, the whole way around, and then just keep doing it. When you get up enough speed, let go with your hands and you'll keep on spinning. How often you go round all depends on how good you are. Some people go round once, some go round 40 times. You get dizzy when you first start doing it, but then you get used to it - it's like a ballet dancer doing loads of pirouettes, they don't get disoriented because they train.

With practice, you can spin and know exactly where you are when you stop. Don't do it for too long when you're beginning, though, you've got to work your way up.

Wear a hat. Buy any hat and then sew deck-chair material on the top - it's the best stuff for spinning on. Some people do it without hats, but it's really not very good for your head and, apart from that, it can make you bald!

Lil' Tim from Freestylers is favourite to win the 1999 Individuals Competition at the Playstation UK Break-dancing Championships, Brixton Academy, London on Sunday 5-11pm: tickets pounds 14.50 (0171-771 2000; or e-mail www. ticketweb.com for details)