Training versus time

I'm starting to train capoeira again with some new groups and thought to reflect on how many different places I've done this.

My accountant brain enjoys a good spreadsheet, so it naturally manifested in this list:

These groups are in 14 places across 9 countries; 🔁 means trained regularly, and 🎟 means participated in a workshop or special event.

I'm not sure how to make sense of time versus experience.

My first class was on December 13, 2021, which amounts to about 4 years ago at time of writing, but regular training in groups and solo during that time probably amounts to about a year and a half.

But also some training is more impactful than others, so what is the best measure of experience here?

I think about two quotes.

One is "Do you have ten years of experience? or ten of the same year?" which I heard from Jess Martin.

It can certainly be valuable to have a broader perspective from diversity of experiences, but, also…

when it comes to the body, maybe there's more potency to practice Bruce Lee's single kick 10,000 times.

I'm far from good at this, and as with other aspects of my life, my skills would be deeper if I stuck around and solidified a kind of 'base'.

I do like how this shows an aspect of how I travel to connect with people rather than tourist attractions, more-so than my list of cities; Mestre Mago told me it shares the idea that capoeira lets you feel familiar in unfamiliar places.

I definitely value meeting so many great people, and feel grateful for being welcomed into so many places to be part of the movement, music, and camaraderie.

Someday I'll have a nice game I can share. For now here's me practicing and singing on my own.

If you're interested to learn more or try capoeira, there's probably a group near you even though it's invisible to most people. Here are some games I like: