Dan S

Accept Wotan, reclaim your heritage.

Hey, shit, when I started to get tattoos, "Traditional" was what we called the flash on the wall that everyone got. Didn't see, at least outside the hardcore tattoo world, a lot of truly custom work in the 60's and 70's. For a time after that, no one wanted flash, it was all custom stuff, and if the tattooist drew it on with a ballpoint as he went, so much the better! Glad things have turned around.

Bienvenidos a LST, 'mano. Toss some pix up in yer galleries, let see yer style!

Ship looks fine to me, and the rope-n-anchor, well, sweet.

I've got 6 kids, and we've kicked this one around. One thought was the parrot I have on my inside forearm, it was done by Dale Grande in what, 1975? Something like that. Anyhow, I was at CTC getting some work done, and one of my kids spots the original flash hanging over Nick's bench, so they were all talking about getting it. Another we've talked about is our family coat-of-arms, but none of us was really crazy enough about it as it is to get it. Since I'm the oldest son of the oldest son of the etc., shit, I can change it if I want to! It's been the same since the 1800's, but what the hell. Anyhow, that's where we are, design phase. We're using most of the elements of the original crest, and adding and subtracting. Number 4 son is seriously talented, and he's come up with some sketches. Next step is I give it to a friend who's a graphic designer, and let him do the finished product for us to look at...then we'll see.

I tell ya, having kids jacks EVERYTHING up! USed to be, I could just walk into the shop, get whatever I wanted to get, no problem. Then the kids started coming. Shit. now I had to plan and make appointments to get tattooed. And NOW! They really jack things up. I try to get in for a tattoo, half the time one of our kids is sitting in Nick's chair getting worked on...little humps!

I see you've met my lawyer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never saw tattoos as anything but a part of normal life. My Lady was tattooed when we met, and now we just go to the parlor together, works well.

Gruessle, Dasha, wilkommen am LST! hofenlich Sie konnen finden was Sie hier suchen.

Glad you like the interviews, Bob...got some incredibly gifted people here. Wecome to LST and enjoy your stay!

That's an easy one...big stack-o-Franklin's on one side of the scale, bars on the other!

Doesn't look too shabby, but being a perfectionist myself, I'm going to have to examine it much more closely before I can render an opinion...

Trust me on this one...GET TATTOOED!!!

Shall do, but it will proly be awhile. I just went back to face it again...ask a native what "Al's Kid's" were. And I even had a bud from Olathe, but he'd be in his late 50's by now, so I'm guessing you wouldn't a known him. Now, if you ever decide to visit the Big City, hey, hit me up! Be happy to give you the Cook's Tour.

I've been trying to remember since this thread first started, and just can't. Where I grew up, seemed like every other guy had at least one tattoo. Remember, I grew up in the late fifties/early sixties, so most of the grown-up males around me had been off to war at least once. Between old Airborne tattoos on my uncles, Outlaws M.C. tattoos on my neighbors, and various and sundry others, I guess I'd have to say there never was a time when I wasn't aware of tattoos around me. Probably the first one that sticks out is my Uncle Bunks Airborne tattoo, and another Uncle's "bloodmark" tattoo.

If you have not time for the Art, then go straight to the mind of no mind. Do your Kata's when you can, but don't sweat 'em-if you weren't ready, your Sensei wouldn't be sending you. Empty your mind of any worry and doubt, and go in and nail it! Stick with the hot shower and stretches, though, really helps the morning of!

We just called it Martin City...I was one a "Al's Kid's". Got out in late '72, and man, it was still tules out there then. Hours drive to get to anything. Went back there a few years ago, looking around, shit-I couldn't find a damn thing I recognized. Went to St. Joseph in Shawnee-Mission for a year, couldn't even recognize the school, went to Grandview Senior for a minit, and I couldn't even recognize the damn town. Y'all let too many people in!!!!

Hi Kayla, and welcome to LST! So c'mon, don't keep us in suspense, whip that sucker out!!!

The webs on Kyle Tuttle, that type of thing I wouldn't even worry about. It is so obviosuly commercially done, I don't think anyone would say a thing-the style is all wrong. Now, if you went out and got a bunch of single-needle, or even 3-needle web-work, you might raise a few eyebrows. Nautical stars...they can be tricky too, depending on where you are. In Chicago that shit can be life and death, but it all depends on circumstance. You've got a nice big star on your hand or arm, and someone puts you in check-"what you be about, cuz?" Bangers here ride under either the 5 or the 6-pointed star, and displaying one or the other can cause hostility. Obviously, if it's a nice, pro nautical star, it shouldn't raise an eyebrow, but we aren't talking about the Mensa Society here-all it takes is the wrong shit in a blunt or the glass dick and you may run into a major attitude. The Rooskie stuff is in a whole nother category. It's straight prison, and no getting around it. 99.999% of the places you could go in the States I'm sure you would have no problem, but man, stay the hell outta Brighton Beach, East Rogers Park, West Hollywood, places like that! I suppose if a real Thief-in-Law saw an obviously Ami guy with camp tattoos, it could go either way-he might get a hella laugh out of it, or if the Stoly is just right, he might get a hella laugh outta splitting your melon. Oh, and don't plan on any vacations outside of the Americas with work like that. Official types in Euorpe nd Asia seem to keep a closer watch on that type of thing. I was photographed and "inspected" the first time I went into Germany, and also when I went into Thailand..."just making sure there are no criminal markings."

I will keep very good thgouhts for you Sunday! If your test is anything like my firdt-degree test was, you'll be more tired and more happy and more sore than you've ever been in your life by the time it's over! Last class is Wednesday? Spend Thursday and Friday doing physical review, Kata on Saturday, and sometime early Sunday, HOT bath or shower and stretch, then get your head empty. Mind of no mind, right? Just my .02, I'm sure your Sensei has laid everything out for you! Best of, not luck, you won't need that, but best of days to you, and congratulations. No one who hasn't tested for a dan-rank in a traditional art will ever know a more intense 6-7 hours.

I hear where he's coming form with the "and shit" part, I lived on the edge of KCMO for a coupla years when I was a kid...137th & Holmes.

There are about 60-odd schools in the Rochester area, everything from stone trad sutff to mma gyms. First question is always the contract-do you have to sign one, how much up fron, all that crap. Hate to say it, but there are a lot of predators out there.

The East Coast is a bit out of my range, but I do have some guys I know out there. Gimme a few days to ax around.

Welcome to LST, hope you enjoy your stay, and I'll look forward to reading your posts!

Well, I'll get yelled at by seventeen different people telling me that their art is better, but... If I had to pick ONE art to train in, and I had the goal of getting into shape, getting a good workout, and incidentally picking up some stuff that might save my ass someday, I'd find a good, non-sport TKD school and enroll in it. You will get whupped into shape right quick. The typical belief is that 3 one hour sessions a week are needed to maintain proficiency, and 4 to advance. If you can go every day, mo' bettah for you! Not sure where you are, but around Chicago, prices range from $35 a month up to "how much do you want to pay?" a month, but I would say that a good, honest school shouldn't cost more than $50-$100 a month for unlimited lessons. I would advise you to stay away from places that want you to sign contracts, pay upfront, all that shit, and if the name says "Sport" anything, run! IF you like, give me a rough geographic area and I will ask around about a decent school. I teach a very mixed-bag of m.a., have fairly advanced rank in a few, and for my little class, we'll start with 300-400 crunchies, 200-300 kicks, and then get on with the fun stuff. Oh yes...you will get in shape!