How to Choose Clothes and Shoes for Krump

Krump (Krump) is an abbreviation that stands for Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise. Since krump originally emerged as a religious dance, its attire was defined by the canons of the religion that created it. Initially, krump was a sharp, aggressive dance with constant partner contact and many fast movements, so clothing needed to be comfortable.

The religion, or rather the people who created krump, were highly spiritual, and it is believed that krump was originally performed only in black clothing. Dancers often had their faces covered and, when possible, wore cloaks or capes.

Shoes were also black but comfortable. Since krump involves many jumps and airborne movements, shoes must be lightweight with soft soles to ensure efficient thrust.

However, krump reached its peak development in the southern neighborhoods of Los Angeles among youth and teenagers who needed to release pent-up aggression. Krump facilitated these desires while also teaching good movement, displaying strength, and earning respect. Soon, most street youth performed the dance instead of arguing or fighting. Although there is a risk of injury, it is significantly less than in a typical brawl.

Krump quickly spread across America, giving a sense of power and freedom to all poor and seemingly broken people. Naturally, they had no money for cloaks, masks, or other religious paraphernalia. The dance became popularized, and comfort became the main priority in clothing. Clothing must allow easy movement for jumping, stomping, and performing all basic moves.

One of the fundamental moves in krump is chest circles, so while clothing should be comfortable, it should not be baggy, otherwise most movements will not be visible. Krump is a very fast dance, but it relies not on fine motor skills but on large muscle group movements, high-amplitude jumps, and various strikes.

When choosing clothing, move your whole body; nothing should rub or pull the fabric. Otherwise, you risk tearing your clothes or being unable to perform certain moves. Dancers believe that your clothing should fit as if you're not wearing anything. Follow this principle when choosing, and you won't go wrong.

Shoes should be comfortable. If you can afford branded shoes, that's best. Sneakers should be partially rubber or plastic; fabric ones won't last long.

The sole should be flexible for effective jumping thrust, but also wide, as landing after a jump can be painful with a thin sole, and repeated landings can lead to joint problems.

Of course, due to the dance's popularity, its religious aspect has partially faded but not disappeared entirely. Therefore, clothing has always been dark, occasionally in nude tones, but never flashy or bright.

The dance itself is flashy and bold. So when choosing clothing, opt for dark colors, possibly capes, but don't forget the main rule for krump attire—comfort.

Accessories are also an important factor. Almost any shade contrasts well with black. Dancers often add gold belts or, for female dancers, something colorful in their hair. This draws the audience's attention and prevents the dancer from getting lost in a dark venue.

Since krump is always performed in pairs or groups and is often a battle, dancers agree beforehand on what color additional headbands or belts they will wear. This is not so much for style as for the audience.

When two equally black figures perform a battle, the audience can get confused. Dancers refer to themselves or their group by the color of their accessory, adding the color to their name.

In reality, krump is a free style independent of conventions and canons—a social style suitable for anyone. So don't dwell too long on religious nuances to choose the right clothing. Pick what is comfortable and what your soul desires, and you won't go wrong.

Remember, it's not the clothes that make the person, but the person who makes the clothes. Of course, you can buy the most expensive and high-quality clothing, but if you can't perform krump well, the clothes are meaningless.