Dapmaster

Because everyone wants to be a part of something epic.

dapmaster definition : a cool person with a handshake for the entire team via @definithing

— A. Cedric Armstrong (@cedteaches) November 22, 2015

 For the purposes of this post, let’s call dapmaster the dude that makes everyone feel better about being at work or anywhere that involves interactions with a group of people. Every group has one – and if you do not, then you are missing out on a bond and you need to find a dapmaster!

What is dap? Dap is the form of handshake and friendly gestures that is sometimes explained as dignity and pride introduced to and popularly used by African-American soldiers in Vietnam. It is best known as a complicated routine of shakes, slaps, snaps, and other forms of contact that both parties involved must know completely – including the pound hug. Examples include pregame rituals performed before NBA games and on college campuses where a large group of brothers congregate between classes on the Quad during the semester.

 At my current job, I sometimes (by default) fulfill the role of dapmaster as I have in at least one position in the past decade. Yes, it’s a soft skill that takes time to develop as do relationships with your coworkers – and sadly, I won’t add it to my LinkedIn profile since we still live in a day and age where giving dap is still met with scowls and sometimes confusion: In those times, I’ll just go traditional and simply shake your hand. The real reason why I dap is because not everyone washes his or hands when they exit the restroom. Am I a germaphobe? To an extent, yes; yet I don’t keep a bottle of Germ-X in my pockets at all times.

What do you do when the dapmaster comes around?

 Give ‘em dap.

Every group needs a #dapmaster

— suffyawn (@BrownDiabetes) July 10, 2013

He’s no threat to your organization and career pursuits, but everyone still needs one. The dapmaster is still a vital member of the team albeit a low-rank member. For professional reasons, upper management does not engage in dap. Otherwise, you look perpetually pissed-off like today’s GOP anytime President Obama uses precedence to justify a legal action [see: the Commerce Act for PPACA or the Refugee Act of 1980] or the average delusional Arkansas Razorbacks fan [read Relax from earlier this year or check social media for how Archie Goodwin and Malik Monk were castigated after choosing to play college basketball for the University of Kentucky.]

When it comes to giving dap, everyone does it differently. There are many variants of the gestures including:

• The “lock and fly” used in the West Indies and Caribbean Islands popularized by the Rasta community. It consists of two movements: a full flat-palm grasping of a partner’s hand followed by sliding of the palms in a forward motion finally finishing with a flexion and extension of the fingers.
 • The “exploding dap” is recognizable by the opening of the fist and fist’s departure from its original location with the intent to mimic an explosion. • The simple “fist bump” in which their closed fists gently yet swiftly impact. It is also the most common form of dap.
 • One popular variant involves slapping one’s hand with the other’s hand, each sliding their hand toward themselves and culminating to the impact of their closed fists.

 

Four straight wins. 👊🏾 #CavsKnicks https://t.co/w3f6zT0wgF

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 5, 2015