Capoeira. Design. Life.
Before I start this article, I’d like to thank me (pat-pat), because in my sixteen years as a designer, I’ve maintained the philosophy that dedicating time to joy outside of design is crucial to being a “good” designer. It’s easy to convince ourselves that we must grind forever to be our best.
While I do not diminish the value of investing in our work and education, we must accept that we are enough as we are, and our presence to life is what guides us on paths that we otherwise could not imagine.
So what is Capoeira?
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that blends with dance. I found Capoeira a year after I got my first design job because I followed the sound of the music. I loved it because it was unapologetically energetic, and free, and the people practicing it looked so healthy and vibrant. I learned later that capoeira was invented by enslaved African people in Brazil who blended it with dance and song to mask their martial art in secrecy. They used Capoeira to escape slavery and create massive, well-organized refugee cities in the wilderness upwards of 50,000 people. In modern-day North America, I believe that Capoeira provides many benefits, including community, exercise, mind-body connection, self-expression, and abundant examples of Black Leadership, both Brazilian and otherwise. Capoeira has also helped me build a unique, resilient philosophy in life and design.
Some great droppers of wisdom are Mestre Papiba, Mestra Colibri, Profesor Lobo, Profesora Clari, Profesora Menina, Instrutor Arrepiado, and Aluno Gunga. Others not mentioned here have also helped me greatly.
What Capoeira has taught me about Design (and Life)
Yes AND
Sometimes we mess up, and that’s ok. If we freeze when we mess up and waste time being angry and blaming/judging ourselves or others, we get kicked in the face. If we can keep moving and learn from the situation, we can get better.
Make the response match the stimuli
When we overreact to protect ourselves, which often happens when a very fast kick is coming, we take ourselves out of the game completely. Staying observative and only moving out of the way as much as is necessary increases our capacity to respond.
Don’t let fear make you close your eyes
We were learning a new sequence that included a difficult kick to dodge. Mestra Colibri pointed out that I was closing my eyes, making dodging impossible. Sometimes when I get overwhelmed, I don’t want to look. But if I stay observant, I can take small steps so that it’s less likey something will sneak up on me.
Learning how to fall is the best skill
Not knowing how to fall doesn’t mean that you won’t fall. Learning how to fall by intentionally falling (in a more safe, controlled way) means that when the time comes, you’ll be better equipped to handle it.
I look forward to this list continuing to grow as I do. :)