Japan’s Nori seals his place amongst world’s best B-Boys at Red Bull BC One Asia Pacific Finals

October 16, 2013

Japan’s Nori seals his place amongst world’s best B-Boys at Red Bull BC One Asia Pacific Finals

Japanese B-Boy Nori does a little winner’s dance after winning Red Bull BC One Asia Pacific Final, at Kushida Shrine, in Fukuoka, Japan, on October 12, 2013. // Nika Kramer/Red Bull Content Pool // P-20131015-00100 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //

Fukuoka, Japan: 13^th October — The Red Bull BC One Asia Pacific Finals crowned a new champion last night, as Japan’s Nori battled for the last qualifier ticket at the 10^th Anniversary Red Bull BC One World Finals next month in Seoul. Around 1,000 spectators crowded into the intimate setting of Fukuoka’s iconic Kushida Jinja and watched as he outclassed his competitors at the ancient Shinto shrine.

Nori said of his win: “I won because of my passion, definitely. The stage of the Red Bull BC One is like a boxing ring. I just focused on how I could knock my opponent out.”

There was plenty of hype at the event surrounding the showdown between the Japanese and South Korean B-Boys, with three competitors from each of these breaking powerhouses in the line-up. With Issei’s young energy, Taisuke’s clean innovation, Nori’s diverse choreography, Shorty Force’s skilled routines, Vero’s dynamic precision, and Kill’s powerhouse moves the crowd had plenty to scream about.

B-Boy Kill from Korea and B-Boy Nori from Japan have a stare-off before battling at Red Bull BC One Asia Pacific Final, at Kushida Shrine, in Fukuoka, Japan, on October 12, 2013. // Nika Kramer/Red Bull Content Pool // P-20131015-00088 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //

MC Wicket performs in the break before the final at Red Bull BC One Asia Pacific Final, at Kushida Shrine, in Fukuoka, Japan, on October 12, 2013. // Nika Kramer/Red Bull Content Pool // P-20131015-00094 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //

In the end, Japan’s Nori defeated South Korea’s Vero in a tight final round to take the title. Nori is the fifth Finals winner to win on home turf this year, with only Morocco’s Lil Zoo having taken a win on foreign ground in Amman, Jordan. Red Bull BC One judge Poe One had no doubt the right man had progressed: “Both were very consistent throughout the battle but Nori had different moves each time. Also Nori was always in battle mode, always looking at his opponent. He was more hungry to win.”

The line-up is now complete for the Red Bull BC One World Finals, taking place on November 30^th. All eight returning Red Bull BC One World Champions will battle against a new breed of competitors, as Nori joins B-Boys Arex (Latin America), Gravity (North America), Lil Zoo (Middle East Africa), Froz (Western Europe) and Robin (Eastern Europe) in the attempt to secure this landmark crown. Two final wild card entries will be announced in November.

South Korea’s B-Boy Vero battles Japanese B-Boy Nori in the final at Red Bull BC One Asia Pacific Final, at Kushida Shrine, in Fukuoka, Japan, on October 12, 2013. // Nika Kramer/Red Bull Content Pool // P-20131015-00099 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //

B-Boy Shorty Force from South Korea battles his fellow countryman Vero in the semi finals at Red Bull BC One Asia Pacific Final, at Kushida Shrine, in Fukuoka, Japan, on October 12, 2013. // Nika Kramer/Red Bull Content Pool // P-20131015-00098 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //

Since its inception in 2004, Red Bull BC One has garnered a reputation as the world’s elite one-on-one B-Boy battle event, and this year’s 10-Year anniversary event is sure to be the largest and most hotly contested competition to date.

Tickets for the Red Bull BC One World Finals will go on sale Monday, October 14, 10:00 AM CET on www.redbullbcone.com.

For those not making the journey to Seoul, the World Finals will be live-streamed on the site, straight from the Jamsil Arena in Seoul. Millions of people will tune in from around the world to witness the best B-Boys competing today.

Japanese B-Boy Nori and South Korea’s Vero wait for the judges’ decision after the final battle at Red Bull BC One Asia Pacific Final, at Kushida Shrine, in Fukuoka, Japan, on October 12, 2013. // Nika Kramer/Red Bull Content Pool // P-20131015-00093 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //