ONeillMartialArt

I've been doing a lot of research lately on tattooing, it's methods and history in different cultures. One of the styles which fascinates me is Japanese 'Irezumi' (Tebori, for the method, not the style). This is where the ink is inserted under the skin by hand, with out a gun, using a single needle.

After doing some further research, it appears that this style also has a modern counterpart, known as "Stick and Poke," which utilises essentially the same tools as Irezumi, but typically less sophisticated than in a professional Japanese parlour.
As with any art style, the quality among pieces varies, but there are some truly amazing works out there.
I'm considering fixing up some equipment and giving it a go, not only on myself, but I've discussed with other the possibility of inking them.

There's a lot of hate out there for this method, and for people deciding to ink themselves, but i think it's a quite wonderful means of expression, with a methodology that goes back centuries to the earliest instances of tatooing.

I will be working on my equipment on Wednesday, and probably working on the tattoo (the Kanji for Tiger) over the weekend.


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Also WHOA! I'm gonna dye my beard ginger!

Dear Me,

Repeat after me:

"I will upload stuff. I will upload stuff. I will upload stuff."

No go do it.


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In related news, yesterday I swam for the first time in at
least 5 years. It felt really weird.
I'm gonna keep at it to improve my fitness levels, though.

Been doing nothing recently except little 5 minute sketches, some of objects, some portraits. I'll put them up in the new year once I've un-buried my scanner

I've been exploring knot-work and slung shot weaponry recently. I've just made a slungshot cosh, of about 8", and next I'm going to make a Surujin/Manriki-kusari, with a length of approx. 2 metres.

The weapons are made of 550 Paracord, the stuff with 7 internal strands, with monkey fist knots around steel ball bearings. This means they have the advantage of being able to be unraveled and used as cordage in a survival situation once they are no longer necessary as weapons. They are also designed to appear as bracelets, etc. until removed, to allow open legal carry (man, I'm so crafty )

Wow. I've done nothing in a super long time... o.O
There are reasons, and here they are:
1- Started back at college, so that was super time-consuming,
2- Had a karate grading, which I flew through,
3- Had a karate competition which I had to prepare for for ages...*
4- The police keep arsing around with my application.

* All the hard karate work paid off though, because I took Gold in the 3rd-1st kyu Individual kata, 2nd in the adult mens black and brown belt kumite, and my team Tora Tora Tora took silver in both kata and kumite events.

I have continued to do stuff, I've just not put it up here, and I will attempt to do so over the winter break.