thinkin' about getting inked.

[vtlion]

hey gang.  i know some of our community must have gotten cut before.  I'm thinking seriously about getting my first tattoo and I need some advice.  Here's the story:

I have always been a huge fan of Bruce Lee.  not just his films, but his philosophy.  I have read the Tao of Jeet Kune Do many times and I try to apply a lot of what Lee taught to my own life.  Anyone who thinks of Lee as just another action film star should really consider reading the Tao, you are missing out (particularly if you are involved in any type of athletic or competitive pastime).

Well, my life is very complicated right now both emotionally and professionally, and I am thinking about getting the JKD symbol tattooed somewhere that I will see it in the mirror every day and be reminded to productively redirect all of the negative energy that comes my way in the course of a day.  (JKD translates to 'way of the intercepting fist")

So here's what the symbol looks like. I'm not interested in the writing.  For those interested, it says "using no way as way; having no limitation as limitation"; a brief synopsis of the sentiments underlying the philosophy of JKD.



anyway, the sticking point isn't the symbol.  its the placement.  center of the pec?  front of the shoulder? side of the shoulder?  I'm not looking to show it off; at least not often.  this one is for me.

suggestions?  and keep it clean, people 

[Jay_wolf]

Depends how mych pain u think ur gonna take ,

Pec is pretty painful , about 7/10   Upper arm around 3 /10

Anywhere with bone kills, i just had a tribal piece done on my chest, and when it came to shading on the collar bone , it felt like a nail rubbing against the bone , owie ,

Top of the arm would be good , fleshy muscley , however , i think chest pieces are really nice , and i think on the Pec , u wouldnt have to show it off, u could wear a vest and its still hidden , and its still close to ur heart , and u can just take ur shirt of if u wanna show it off

Quick aftercare , Find a Type of Hemmeroid Cream , it works perfect , keeps the skin nice and moist and reduces Scabbing , so u dont loose the colour ,  its a bit emmbarristing asking for it , but it works wonders , Hope u make a good choice dude

[bombadillo]

I've gotten a few now and I can say don't do it if your life is in turmoil (sp) or you're gonna regret it some way some how later on.  I say if you know you want it, Give yourself a lengthy amount of time to really really really (because it ain't gonna come off) ponder the idea of it on your body.  I got my first chinese character on my upper arm and its a really nice looking piece still after 6 years now.  I got my next tattoo on my other shoulder and covered most of the shoulder with it.  I got my next piece that is nothing more than art this time, no symbols or anything else on my leg as it wraps around the whole leg.  It hurt like a mother going over my shin.  Anybody who says that doesn't hurt is a liar.  Anyway, point being, I gave myself exactly 1 year after I decided that I wanted it to mull it over.  The year passed, and one day I didn't say anything to anyone, I just got myself a tattoo that day and loved it.  I still like it and will eventually get more if I can decide on something thats gotta be on my body for the rest of my life.

[vtlion]

I've gotten a few now and I can say don't do it if your life is in turmoil (sp) or you're gonna regret it some way some how later on.

Yeah, I've though about that.  This is something I've been wanting to do for years.  The time just feels right now.  Before, there was always an excuse not to do it.

[Jay_wolf]

The shin is ment to hurt alot ,  its just bone and skin , i could imagine how bad that would be

and yea if someone says they dont hurt , they are a damn liier

[yamahonkawazuki]

indeed, i had a medic alert bracelet ikned on my wrist. hurt like all hell

[jserio]

i have 2 tats. one on each pec. both are sybols. one if for love and the other is good luck. they weren't that bad really. but they aren't very big either. i like em. i want more. just don't have the money for it at this point.

[jserio]

thought i'd post a pic of my tats. 

[jserio]

the good luck one may not be the correct sign.    it was my first tat. i got it and didn't really do any research bout the sign i found. (i found it on a temp tatoo ) the second one, i did a bit more research so it should be correct. 

[97gs500e]

i like temporary tattoos

[Jay_wolf]

Jserio, they are on the muscley bit oif the pec , so id believe that they didnt hurt that much , however it did hurt lol

Mine didnt reallly hurt , until the colllorbon... that was so bad

MY Tribal is a Cover of a old tattoo , and i needed 2 layers on Ink , just to hide it

This is my old dragon , my first tattoo at 16 , didnt really hurt , small and took about 30 mins



The cover up , that was around 10 hours after i had it done

[frankieG]

i have a band around my right arm which hurt like hell.  it was not a half way job which wimps get  :cobyokoo:   i also have on my back  on the left shoulder by the blade which did not hurt at all.  my advise is to make sure your tat will not be seen with a t-shirt on.  someday you may need a job that frowns upon tats and it could affect your future business prospects.  for heaven sake stay away from a tat on the neck, forearm or face.  trust me when you get older, I'm 44, you may it.  i don't regret mine but being able to have them hidden when necessary has worked well for me.   so that is my two cents 

[Jay_wolf]

The inside of the arm , is ment to be a killer! owie , yea ,with a t shirt on , u cant see mine ,

[vtlion]

well folks... its going down.

tomorrow evening.  the symbol I described, close to the size and location of Jay_wolf's dragon.  maybe just a bit higher on the pec.

holy crap.. i'm crazy excited and nervous, but i'm going to do it.  I'm sure my friends will snap some pictures.

will advise.

cheers all

[Jay_wolf]

Dragons call all covered

Most important thing dude , Breathe  , it may sound stupid but it hurts so much more if u hold ur breath, In thro the nose out thro the mouth , steady and gentle 

[vtlion]

DONE!!!    I LOVE IT!

[vtlion]

and the breathing was definitely the key.  Those Tai Chi classes really paid off... 4 seconds in, 6 seconds out...  ah......  man that hurt at first, but after a few minutes of carving it started to get numb.... until he started in on the red arrow... that area got a little sensitive. 

Three hours since I got it, and zero 'buyer's regret' so far 

[frankieG]

don't be babies it does not hurt that much

[vtlion]

Frankie is right.  it was really not bad at all.  I'm not saying I would line up to experience that sensation, but its worth it for the results.

[bombadillo]

quit your sucking it in!