The Lock
The lock in any locking education will be the first thing you learn along with things like claps and pacing.
It is not an especially hard move but it is important to get it to a point where it feels comfortable particularly as you will do the lock many times in any freestyle or performance.
Although not as fancy as some of the other steps like the Which-a-way or Skeeter Rabbits, it is still important to pay attention to it. If this isn't right, your locking will not have the right rhythm to it.
The purpose of the lock is stop the dancing...before carrying on again. Therefore it should not flow through and be fluid, it needs to be a definite stop.
The rhythm of locking becomes disrupted without the stops. Bear this in mind when practising the move.
How To Do The Lock
It is possible to go straight into the lock from any movement, however the version shown below is frequently called the "up lock" or "up down lock" because the arms come up first before locking.
1. Bring both the arms up so they are either side of your head.
2. Bring both the arms back down by your side.
3. Imagine you are pulling something up with your arms. But instead of pulling up all the way you freeze the arms into position just in front of your body. The position when your arms finish are almost like your arms are around someone hugging them - your elbows will be bent.
At the same time as the arms lock lift the right heel so you are on your right toe, while the other leg is usually straight.
It is also possible to get into the final lock position by sliding the arms forward (instead of pulling up) before locking them (freezing them) into position.
The lock will be underneath you with the body gently tilted forward.
The lock can also be reversed so that it will be the left heel that lifts off the floor and the left toes in contact. The other leg will usually be straight as before.