Olympic breaking (not breakdancing), explained

Originating during the 1970s in the Bronx, breaking pulls from a variety of urban dance styles and techniques.

What they're saying: Team USA B-boy Victor Montalvo says it's important to remember the sport's roots in hip-hop, graffiti, and DJ/MC cultures.

• "A lot of people talk about how breaking is losing its essence over the years. I feel like it's up to the newer generation to dig into the roots and bring that essence back into the dance," Montalvo told Axios' Maxwell Millington.

Between the lines: Montalvo doesn't mind being called a break dancer, but encourages people to use the term "breaker" instead, sharing that the breaking community endorses the term "breaking" over "break dancing."

Breaking is judged and scored on five criteria: technique, vocabulary, execution, musicality and originality, per Olympics.com.

1. Technique: How athletic and controlled a breaker is.
2. Vocabulary: How the breaker uses a variety of moves in multiple positions.
3. Execution: How cleanly each move is performed.
4. Musicality: How well a breaker stays on beat.
5. Originality: The personal style of the breaker.

Here are some terms to know:

• A battle is a one-on-one competition between two breakers, made up of multiple rounds.

• A throw down is a 60-second freestyle routine
• A round is two throw downs (one from each breaker)
• Popular moves include the top rock, down rock, flare, aire flare and freeze.
• Biting means to copy another breaker's moves
• Crashing is when a breaker makes a mistake
• The MC and the DJ ensure audience engagement and crowd energy.

What we're watching: Each country has four breakers and Team USA includes Montalvo, Jeffrey Louis, Sunny Choi and Logan Edra.

• Breaking will take place on Aug. 9 and 10. Stream here.