Team Bergamo opens ceremonies in Puerto Rico.

March 11-15, 2004

The tournament opens with a traditional Rooster sparring match. If you look closely the Roosters are wearing boxing gloves.

 

A look at the complete set-up for Sui Generis IIII, the night before the demonstration.

 

Master Bergamo and Leif Becker set up breaks for the demonstration.

 

Team Bergamo in Puerto Rico. From left: Leif Becker, Raphael Velez, Ralph Bergamo, and Drew Serrano.

Team owner Ralph Bergamo, and team members Drew Serrano, Raphael Velez, and Leif Becker traveled to beautiful Puerto Rico to be part of the second largest tournament on the island, the 11th Annual Junior Olympics Championships. Promoter Bill Zafiropoulos invited the team after forming a strong relationship with Master Bergamo, who was introduced to Mr. Zafiropoulos by Team Bergamo's Puerto Rican representative Fernando Camanero. The team was invited to perform an extreme breaking demonstration for the thousands in attendance at the opening ceremonies. As well as performing, Master Bergamo and Master Serrano were charged with running breaking divisions under their newly formed USBA guidelines.

The Team thrilled the audience, made up of spectators, competitors and Masters from various Martial Arts, with their performance of 'Sui Generis IIII'. The 4-minute demonstration included form, weaponry, and the team's trademark breaking. After 37 individual and synchronized breaks through concrete (which the team had to have specially cut from concrete building blocks the day before because the island lacks standard patio blocks), wood boards, closet poles and bats, the team finished the demonstration to the roar of those in attendance. The team was also made to feel like celebrities signing autographs for hundreds who have been following Team Bergamo's career.

Later that day the team ran and judged the breaking divisions under the USBA guidelines. The competition was very exciting with high jumping multiple kicks in the Creative Wood divisions and breaks through cement, wood and river rocks in the Open Creative divisions. The event went off without a hitch and was enjoyed by all.

Team Bergamo is set to return to Puerto Rico later this year to compete as well as perform, and the USBA is planning to hold The Caribbean Championships there in 2005.

Team Bergamo and some of the breaking competitors who made the tournament a success.