One would "burn" one's opponent with a variety of these hand gestures that would mimic an action that would be considered detrimental to the dancer's adversary.
The "winner" of these mock battles was usually the individual who was able to choreograph and execute his or her burns creatively and even artistically to the rhythm and syncopation of the music.
In this sophisticated and rhythmic form of Rock paper scissors, one would have to dance thoughtfully as to not step forward and inadvertently get one's head "sledge hammered".
Although it is common knowledge that Uprocking is supposed to be a mock battle, those who are less professional sometimes get carried away with the dance which can result in real violence.
According to dance researcher Harri Heinilä “ Evidence from newspapers does not support Schloss’ and Pabon's ideas of the beginning of Rocking / Uprocking.
The claim of the "Rocking" dancing that Brooklyn dancers had allegedly developed in the late 1960s do not also receive direct support from the newspapers of that time”.
Dancers throughout New York City in all Boroughs continued to invent new movements and gestures to create a street dance.
In Bushwick Brooklyn, you had Dancers like Lil Dave, Bushwick Joe, Chuck, Apache, Vinny, Noel, Blackie, Sammy, Papo774, Angel, Ralph Cassanova and several others who actually danced at the New York Clubs and contributed to this dance culture as much as anyone else throughout New York City.
In Manhattan and the Bronx there were dancers such as Dee Dee, Rubberband, Mexico, Salsa, Mike Dominquez, Danny Rodriguez, Markie D, Ito, Kid Terrific, Choco, Shaky, Willie Marineboy, Willie (Whip) Rivera, Frank Rojas, Enoch Torres, Robert (Lucky) Feliciano, Hector Barrios, Pete Martinez, and many others some of which are still active today around the world to this day.
One of the biggest City Wide Rock Contests was hosted by The Hoe Ave Boys Club on 174th St. in the Bronx in 1977.
Dancers from all Boroughs competed and it was won by Hector Barrios and Pete Martinez from the Latin Symbolics Rock Team.
Some talented Rockers preferred the gracefulness of dancing with women that the Hustle provided, as opposed to the adversarial and sometimes dangerous climate of competing against another male dancer.
The dancer uses the music's lyrics or sounds in his or her favor in order to create the physical narration of the mock battle that manifests.
In contrast to the circle formation in breakdancing, the Apache line allows multiple opposing dancers or crews to face each other and execute their burns.
Examples of songs that fell into this genre would be "It's Just Begun" by Jimmy Castor, and the live version of "Sex Machine" by James Brown.
These and many other songs were not quite soul nor rock and roll, yet, they provided the kind of hard driving beat that fueled the Uprock style of dance.