Since the implementation of the O.U.R. System, judging has been more transparent where the bboys get feedback, the judges are accountable, and the audience is educated of all the most important aspects of B-boying.
One of the most common misconceptions about the O.U.R. System, is that the system itself will magically choose the correct winner, sort of like a crystal ball of truth. Unfortunately, the O.U.R. System, is only a method, process, or tool, used to correct many of the countless problems in the current subjective judging such as:
- Making sure that each perspective in bboying is preserved and accounted for on the judging panel
- providing the bboys and the audience an opportunity to know what the judges are actually looking at
- providing the opportunity to hold judges accountable for mistakes or doing a bad job
- making it easier for the judges to judge by narrowing down what they are looking at, usually to their area of expertise
- making it fair for any style or approaches to bboying an equal opportunity at winning by the way the winner is determined (by winning the majority of the different judges)
The best battle of the night, was definitely Jinjo versus Morning of Owl in the quarter finals. By examining the scores sheet below, you can determine exactly what each judge scored both crews, round by round, in each of the 5 pillar perspectives in B-boying. According to written standards in each of the 5 categories, the scores given are as follows:
Perfect = 5 points
Good = 4 points
Average = 3 points
Poor = 2 points
None = 1 point
In Foundation, Lil John scored Morning of Owl a "None" in all 5 of their rounds, possibly being the lowest 5 round score ever for foundation in OUR System history. Foundation is not only about the connection to the music, but also the Bboy flavor of confidence and swagger, using the Bboy formula of Toprock footwork and Freeze.
In Originality (judged by Free of Circle of Fire), Jinjo consistently scored a "Good" in each of their rounds. Morning of Owl, scored a "Perfect" only in their first round, however their 2nd and 3rd round only scored an "Average" with the final two scoring "Good". In order for someone to score a "Perfect" in originality, they must use only their own style, moves, and concepts from the beginning to the end of the ENTIRE round.
Dynamics was judged by Blue of Extreme Crew. Both crews scoring nearly "Perfect" in every round, except of the first round by Skim which scored an Average, and both Issue's rounds scored"Good". Jinjo scored most of their Dynamics from their complexity and flexibility while Morning of Owl scored from Pockets raw power, speed, energy and balance.
In Execution, Puzzles from Supernaturalz crew scored both crews an average of "Good" or "Perfect" except for the third round for Morning of Owl, who although not making mistakes, didn't have a clean style, scoring "Average".
The Battle category was Judged by the legendary Storm of Battle Squad. This category is about taking what the opponent does, and either doing it better, or adding on.
1st round, Skim started it off with a clean and original set of flow and footwork, mixing traditional style with new.
Issue responds with his original style, but not responding enough to Skim's moves or footwork, scoring "Average".
2nd round, FE responds similarly with a flow style mixed with power and scores an "Average". Pocket responds with super power, taking of his shirt, and scores a perfect.
3rd round, Octopus responds to the shirt move, goes into some tricks. Scores a "Good"
Morning of Owl responds with some tricks and threads and freezes, scores "Average"
4th round, Vero responds with an aggressive battling style, with some basic threads, foowork, tricks and freezes. Scores a "Good".
Issue comes back in with his original style, kills it, but not a response to Vero's round, scoring an "Average"
Last round, Jinjo responds with a routine, ending with a solo by Bboy Mold, into some original Threads, scoring a "Good"
Morning of Owl responds to the routine AND threads, with an even better THREADING ROUTINE, followed by a monster power combo by Pocket, scoring "Perfect"
So to recap the battle looking at who was winning,
After 1st round> 3-1 judges for Morning of Owl
Jinjo winning Foundation judge
Morning of Owl winning Originality, Dynamics, Execution judges
Tied in Battle
After 2nd Round> 3-1 judges for Morning of Owl
Morning of Owl winning Dynamics, Execution and Battle judges
Jinjo winning Foundation judge
Originality was tied
After 3rd Round> Tied 2 -2 judges
Morning of Owl winning Dynamics and Battle judges
Jinjo winning Foundation and Originality judges
After 4th Round> 2-0 judges for Jinjo
Jinjo winning foundation and originality judges
Tied in Dynamics, Execution and Batle
After final round> Tied 2 - 2 judges
Morning of Owl winning Execution and Battle judges
Jinjo winning Foundation and Originality judges.
Tied in Dynamics.
In the event that there is a split decision with judges, it goes to the Total combined scores.
Final total scores was 88-98 for Jinjo crew.
Final comments:
1) Morning of Owl did little to no foundation
2) Jinjo beat Morning of Owl in Originality by only 1 point.
3) In dynamics, although Pockets rounds were the most dynamic, Jinjo was equally dynamic in their own way, using flexibility and complexity mixed with power in all their rounds.
4) Morning of owl won Execution AND Battle in a last minute buzzer beater.
It all boiled down to the Total score, with Jinjo winning overall.
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