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Apr
27
Essay Vato Logo
Filed Under Uncategorized
Have you ever taken the personality test where you’re asked to decide what kind of car you would be? You know, “If you were a car, what kind of car would you be and why?” I guess it’s used to kind of define your self. I decided to try and define Tap or Die using this test, and with the answers try to come up with some sort of logo.
Here are the questions I’ll use: If you were a …color, car, animal, famous person, season, movie genre, music, shape, food, body adornment, a pair of shoes what kind would you be and why?
This will be a little different because the answers will be what I want Tap or Die to be, not what it already is. This should be interesting.
Color-(undecided) black, green, blue
Black
is authoritative and powerful; because black can evoke strong emotions too much can be overwhelming
Blue
is calming; it’s seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed. The color of sky and the ocean, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives.
Green
is considered the color of peace and ecology. However, there is an “institutional” side to green, associated with illness or Government-issued that conjure up negative emotions as do the “slimy” or bilious greens.
I think I’m leaning toward blue. Jiu-Jitsu is blue; it’s calm and Tap or Die will be trustworthy, dependable, and committed and we’ll want to be a constant in people’s lives—Blue it is!
Car-bicycle (beach cruiser or three-wheeled bike)
Neither the beach cruiser nor the three-wheeled bike goes fast; jiu-jitsu can be fast, but should be practiced slowly, take your time and enjoy the journey. It takes a long time to get your black belt in jiu-jitsu; it shouldn’t be about the belt as much as it is about the journey towards the belt. Take it slow—there’s nothing slower than a three-wheeled bike–trust me I have one. So for this answer we’re not choosing a car, we’re going with the three-wheeled bike.
Animal-three legged pit bull
A three-legged pit bull is the perfect animal to represent Tap or Die. One of my favorite animals on the planet is the pit bull. It’s tough, determined, and misunderstood. The “three-leg” part I like because even with three legs the pit bull can whip most dogs in a fight. Some people call jiu-jitsu one-dimensional because it focuses so much on the ground, but it’s like a three-legged pit; even with three legs it still can whip you.
Famous Person-Lao Tzu (famous philosopher)
Lao Tzu was a Taoist. He was responsible for the famous paradox “Those who know, don’t tell; those that tell, don’t know.” If jiu-jitsu was a person it would have to be a philosopher, someone who is open to enlightenment, someone who searches for knowledge to be at peace with themselves. We learn techniques in order to get closer to to the art of jiu-jitsu; to understand jiu-jitsu is to understand yourself.
Season-summer
Jiu-jitsu is hot; it is Brazil; it is summer.
Movie Genre-horror/comedy (think Shaun of the Dead)
One of my favorite movies is Shaun of the Dead. I love zombies. Shaun of the Dead takes what some people might think is scary—like brain eating zombies—and makes it comical, makes it less scary. Jiu-Jitsu does the same thing. It takes something that might be scary, like being attacked, or fighting someone in a cage and makes it easier to deal with, makes it a lot less scary.
Music-reggae (in a good mood), punk (in a bad)
Reggae is smooth and has a slow rhythm just like jiu-jitsu, but the wonderful thing about jiu-jitsu is it can be turned up; it can go from reggae to punk in a millisecond.
Shape- no shape
Jiu-jitsu is infinite, no shape can contain it. So for shape, the answer must be no shape.
Food-taco-cart tacos
Taco-cart tacos are the perfect food. What makes them perfect is their simplicity, meat, corn meal, and vegetables—done.
Taco-cart tacos are available to the masses and they’re effective at giving the body what it needs—enough said.
Adornments-tattoos
I really dislike jewelry. It’s expensive, it can be lost easily, and it’s a form of braggadocio. It’s safe to say I don’t like it. The only piece of jewelry I wear is a wedding ring. I do like tattoos only because you can express yourself and you don’t have to worry about losing anything. Tattoos become a part of you, much like jiu-jitsu. It’s not only part of you, but you’re not going to lose it like a watch. Yes it might fade over time, but you can always go in and get a touch up.
Shoes-flip-flops
Flip-flops are easy to kick-off to kick ass, and they have a built in rhythm just like jiu-jitsu.
Okay, I know this is a long post but I think it will be very valuable to Tap or Die as far as identity goes. So far Tap or Die is blue, three-wheeled bike, three-legged pit bull, Lao Tzu, summer, horror/comedy, reggae, and punk, no shape, taco-cart taco, tattoos, and flip-flops.
Alright, now everything is crystal clear.
I bookmarked your site and will be back here soon. Good luck with it all.
very nice great post