What can get a breaker disqualified?
A · Advanced · Judging and penalties · 2 of 4Misbehaviour, which covers physical contact with the opponent and obscene, abusive, racist or violent gestures. Judges press a misbehaviour button. When a majority press it for the same act, the breaker gets a warning. A third warning means disqualification from the whole contest. Every disqualification needs a final decision by the Chair.
How it works
- What it is: athletes "should refrain from overtly obscene, lewd, rude, racial, abusive, discriminative, sexual or violent gestures/acts".
- Mild: accidental contact. One press: 2.66 per cent.
- Moderate: deliberate contact. Two presses: 5.34 per cent.
- Severe: a deliberate, aggressive breach. Three presses: that judge's vote for disqualification.
- A warning: given when a majority of the judges press the button for the same act.
- Three acts: a third warning, for a third act, disqualifies the breaker from the entire contest.
- One act can be enough: if a majority of judges each press three times for a single serious incident.
- They stay: warnings last until the end of the contest and are shown on screen.
- The Chair: every disqualification is "subject to a final affirmative decision by the Chair".
- Timing: no one is formally disqualified before the end of the round robin phase.
- The result: a disqualified breaker is placed last, with rounds and votes deleted. The screen shows "DSQ" or "DQB".
The glossary has the misbehavior penalty, disqualification and the Chair.
Tricky cases
Is taunting the opponent allowed?
Yes, within limits. Responding to the opponent is part of the dance. Obscene, abusive, racist, sexual or violent gestures are misbehaviour.
A breaker's foot clips the opponent by accident during a spin. Is that a penalty?
Yes, a mild one. Accidental contact is the lowest grade, a 2.66 per cent deduction with each judge who sees it.
One judge presses the button three times and no other judge presses it. Is the breaker out?
No. A majority of the judges must consider the act to merit disqualification, and the Chair must confirm.
Do warnings from the group stage carry into the final?
Yes. A breaker's warning status stays in effect until the end of the contest.
Why the rule exists
Battles are confrontational by design: breakers gesture at each other and mock each other as part of the dance. The rule draws the line at contact and at abuse. Requiring a majority of judges and then the Chair keeps one judge's reaction from ending a breaker's competition.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Round robin | A breaker whose actions merit disqualification loses all rounds and votes of that battle | BRRM Appendix I |
| Knock-out | The opponent advances | BRRM Appendix I |
| After the event | Lower-ranked breakers move up into the places | BRRM Appendix I |
| Racist, extremely violent or extremely sexual acts | Judges are instructed to disqualify | BRRM 4.6.4 |
From the rule book
World DanceSport Federation, Breaking Rules and Regulations Manual, version 4 (January 2023), sections 3.4, 4.5.1, 4.5.3, 4.6.4 and 5.1.5, and Appendix I. Checked 14 October 2026. This version has been superseded; check the current manual. Official document: WDSF Breaking Rules and Regulations Manual (PDF).