Chase Light, Become Light: B-Girl Royal’s Rise to World Champion
At just 17 years old, Guo Pu, better known as B-Girl Royal, has already established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of Breaking. With a remarkable trajectory that includes victories at the 2025 World Breaking Championship in Fukuoka (Adult) and Porto (Youth), a gold medal at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, and multiple Continental Championship titles, Royal has proven her talent and dedication on the global stage.
Ahead of her participation in the World Breaking DanceSport Festival in Brisbane on 17 and 18 January, WDSF had the opportunity to sit down with Royal to discuss her incredible achievements, her personal and athletic development within Breaking, and her feelings on being crowned top B-Girl worldwide in both, Adult and Youth global rankings.
What first drew you to Breaking, and how did your early experiences in China shape your passion for this art form?
My first contact with Breaking began when I was six and a half years old, during a TV audition for the Chinese Spring Festival Gala. At that time, I performed the double row keys of the electronic organ, sang songs, and danced Chinese folk dances.
Mr. Mike, who was a judge at the audition, noticed my potential and later approached my family, offering to teach me Breaking for free, confident that I would love it. I went to his club the very next day, marking the beginning of my journey in Breaking.
I think my year of studying electronic keyboard and piano, along with my musical sense and foundation in Chinese ethnic dance, helped Teacher Mike discover my talent. Through his teaching methods he helped me developing this aspect of me and formed my current style.
How has your family supported you throughout your journey with Breaking? Are there particular friends, mentors, or teammates who have played an important role in motivating or inspiring you? Tell us more about your early memories with DanceSport.
In the early days, my family was unsure about Breaking, but Teacher Mike spoke with them and explained that he would teach me for free. Over time, they became fully supportive of my practice and encouraged me to follow my passion.
In learning Breaking, Teacher Mike played the greatest role. He taught me everything, including life values, and told me not to fear any difficulties. For the past 10 years, he has accompanied me every day in practice and taken me to various parts of China for competitions and studies at his own expense. This process has never stopped, including all my activities abroad last year. He has been with me all the time. He is like a father for me and his help is huge.
How has your training evolved from your youth to becoming a world-class competitor, balancing technique, creativity, and athleticism?
When I first started learning about Breaking, Teacher Mike spent over a year teaching me all the knowledge related to Breaking music. At the beginning, I didn’t have any exposure to powermove. He believed that powermove should be practiced at an appropriate time as my body grows and muscles develop, and should not affect my physical development.
In the first two years of learning Breaking, he didn‘t arrange routines for me. He took me to practice all the basic skills of top rock and foot, and only allowed me to practice my ability to do top rock and foot freestyle with music.
In the third year, at the age of 9, he started taking me to practice all powermoves and asked me to try to use one basic skill to make changes and create some movements that were my own.
He arranged all my training and took me to find better teachers to learn about some aspects. My method of balancing skills, creativity, and athletic ability is music, and music for me is the most important. In class, Teacher Mike has been emphasizing the importance of music.
After Breaking entered the Olympics, he told me that competitive sports demand being higher, faster, and stronger, which meant I needed to improve my physical fitness and abilities. However, Breaking is an art. The so-called art is that you need to understand the source of each movement, who invented it, and so on. Only by knowing these things can you know what you are jumping on, and you will be more interested. We need to practice with self-discipline like athletes, but our brains need to think like artists.
Interest is the best teacher, and you can happily create your own movements and jump down. He asked me to do it this way, combining music in height and depth to create freestyle.
"We need to practice with self-discipline like athletes, but our brains need to think like artists."
What obstacles have you faced along your journey, and what has kept you motivated through difficult times?
I think there were two most difficult times for me. The first was during the Olympic points race in Hong Kong, which was the most crucial match for me to qualify for the Olympic qualification round. Because I had only participated in the World Championship in Seoul, and Asian Championship before, I achieved the first place in the women’s preliminary in Hong Kong.
The second time was on a major stage in Brazil. Both of these were the same action mistakes, and I felt very guilty and started to hate myself. But under the guidance of my teacher, I entered training again. I thought that the way to overcome fear was to face it. I started training crazily, for 8 hours or even longer every day. I realized that what I wanted to defeat was not my opponent, but yesterday‘s self.
"I realized that what I wanted to defeat was not my opponent, but yesterday‘s self."
Having achieved the number one ranking in both Youth and Adult divisions, how do you approach the pressure of high-level competition?
After achieving these results, I think what I am facing is how I can infect everyone and jump out of myself happily, instead of defeating opponents. If I put defeating opponents first, I will only think about winning and losing. I feel that if I entrust everything to my body and brain to be friends with the music at that time, that is myself, and the issue of victory or defeat is left to Judge. So my pressure disappeared.
Which victories or experiences in your career have been most meaningful to you, and why? Reflecting on the World Breaking Championship in Fukuoka last December, how did it feel to achieve first place? What moments or memories from the event stand out most for you?
For me, one of the most meaningful competition was the Breaking for Gold World Series in Shanghai, where I faced Ayumi for the first time and reached the final. It was then that I realised how much I had improved.
In WDSF World Breaking Championship in Fukuoka I wasn’t in the best physical condition. But I don’t think I’m the only one who faces challenges like this. What matters is overcoming those difficulties. Winning under these circumstances showed me that I had grown even more. I let the music guide me, danced through it, and expressed my story, and that’s what truly made me happiest. I entrusted myself fully to music, letting it guide my dancing and help me tell my story. That is what makes me happiest.
How do you see Breaking evolving as a global sport, and what role do you hope to play in its future?
I believe that Breaking gives people freedom, happiness, and infinite possibilities. I hope to learn from more OGs, absorb more knowledge, and pass it on to the next generation.
What advice would you give to young B-boys and B-girls aspiring to follow your path, and how do you hope to inspire them?
I want to tell them that Breaking, music, and creativity are the most important things. Keep a happy state to practice and compete, chase after dreams, bravely be yourself, take action and enjoy the process. There may be boredom and injuries in the process, but definitely happiness is the most. Although things are difficult, they will be accomplished. Although the road is far, it will come soon. Persist and you will discover how much potential and strength you have.
"Persist and you will discover how much potential and strength you have."
How has Breaking shaped your personal philosophy, both on and off the competition floor?
Believe in light, chase light, become light, emit light, remain humble and low-key, and be grateful for everything that Breaking has brought you, and be grateful to everyone who has contributed to Breaking.
With the 2026 World Breaking DanceSport Festival in Brisbane approaching, how are you preparing for this inaugural event? What are your personal goals and expectations for your performances in both the Youth and Adult categories?
I am currently training harder, and this time I will participate in three events to try the intensity of the competition. I want to make history again.
"I want to make history again."
How do you view the B-Boy and B-Girl community in Australia, and what impressions do you have of your fellow competitors from the region and around the world?
When I was very young, I dreamed of visiting Australia because I loved the scenery and animals there. I’m really looking forward to connecting with the B-boy and B-girl community, socializing, and making new friends with athletes from Australia and around the world.
Beyond competition, how do you envision contributing to the Breaking community in the years to come?
I think that once I have built more experience and knowledge, probably after turning 20, I will share it globally, passing on what I’ve learned and helping more people fall in love with Breaking.
As the World Breaking DanceSport Festival in Brisbane approaches, B-Girl Royal continues to push the boundaries of her art and athleticism, combining creativity, technical mastery, and a deep connection to music. Beyond the medals and titles, her focus remains on inspiring the broader community of B-Boys and B-Girls, sharing knowledge, and contributing to the growth of the global Breaking community. WDSF President Shawn Tay added:
“B-Girl Royal embodies the spirit of our community, she inspires through talent, dedication, and heart, and her achievements uplift the global Breaking family.”
Her journey is a reflect of resilience, passion, and the transformative power of DanceSport, a reminder that true excellence comes not just from victory, but from the joy, expression, and personal growth found in every step on the journey.
You can follow B-Girl Royal on Instagram
Photos courtesy of B-Girl Royal
Photos of 2025 World Breaking Championships in Kurume by Haru Graphics
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