Kendo tattoo

[DigitalDowntown]

I doubt it will be a problem in the US.

[verissimus]

Just a postscript: given that we have such a hard time retaining beginners, I somehow doubt we're in a position to make a big deal about something like a tattoo.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Just a postscript: given that we have such a hard time retaining beginners, I somehow doubt we're in a position to make a big deal about something like a tattoo.

Not to mention that excluding tattooed people in the US or Canada would probably eliminate about 3/4 of your prospective students.

Don't sweat it. I'm not a tattoo/piercing fan but I would never reject a student because of it.

[ScottUK]

Excluding tattoos in the dojo would remove two of the three instructors at Heijoshin.

[Manuka]

Don't they have a martial Tattoo up in Edinburgh a little north of you Scott?

[davehale]

This is a very interesting thread. I have two large tattoos on both sides of my rib cage. In my karate days, visiting sensei (Japanese or not) commented on them in a positive manner in the changing areas. I never gave much thought to others reactions, especially not Japanese sensei. I got them for me and not to flaunt. After reading this thread from beginning to end, I must say I'm a little nervous what may happen if my kendo sensei who are Japanese see them.
This thread started several years ago so I am wondering what/if there are different views now. To any of you who have been to Japan recently, are "old school" Japanese men still looking down on tattoos? Is the general public gaining acceptance? What about bath houses? If I ever get to visit Japan, it would be disheartening for me if I could not experience one because of my tattoos.

[Lloromannic]

More people have them because there are more young people now. They are still looked down on by the same people. ome bath houses have a no-tattoo policy, some don't, it usually posted at the entrance.

[dillon]

The majority of public bath houses and onsen in Japan ban tattoos. The sign saying so is not always super obvious so it's best to ask anyway if you don't see a sign (or if you're booking the ryokan-onsen). Despite the intention being to keep out members of the underworld, more often then not they won't make exceptions for foreigners as the point is not to make the other guests uncomfortable. As such, you might find places that have private (exclusive use) facilities where you can avoid other guests so the bath house or onsen will be willing to let you use that area. These tend to be more expensive than the general use areas as one might expect for private facilities. You miss out on ojisan/obasan banter though ("this winter business is so bad, blah, blah.")

Although there are some young trendy Japanese getting "one point" tattoos (e.g. Western style tattoo confined to a small area rather than traditional body covering irezumi), they are a very small group who probably realize that they have sacrificed participating in part of their own culture for the sake of being cool and international (they rather be a graphic designer in London anyway). Lady Gaga is quite popular here but whether she would be invited to be the guest of honor of some super traditional ceremony or even to the general area of an onsen (not that a superstar would be allowed to mingle so freely with the general public by their agents) would be another matter.

I don't know about budo sensei general attitudes but my guess is that it really depends on the sensei and the dojo. Best to ask the specific dojo. A lot of dojo you would only get into by introduction by a current member so there's already a degree of difficulty regardless of tattoo. The main issue with tattoo here is that a business doesn't want to spook their other customers so it's likely that within small social circle of a dojo there's tolerance for the Westerner sporting a tattoo (perhaps more lenient than for a Japanese or other East Asian).

If you are interested in an introduction-only/best-to-have-introduction dojo you should be careful how you ask the introducer as you don't want to put them in a situation where they have to choose between you and the dojo. Best to ask "I'm interested in this dojo but not sure if they would accept me with my tattoo." rather than "Can you introduce me to this dojo?" The former question allows the introducer to politely decline your request if indeed it's a bad idea. The later question puts them on the spot of having to either outright say no to you in a less than harmonious fashion or they have to go ask the sensei in which case the sensei might have to say "sorry but you're going to have to say no to this person", which puts the introducer in a difficult spot.

[b8amack]

I got myself a treat while Im here in Montreal! I have always wanted a small tattoo I have fixed, but it turns out that it was too difficult. So I decided to cover it instead. This is what I decided on in the end:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...5/IMGP1865.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...5/IMGP1864.jpg


Theres no way in hell I would ever get the same old fish/flower/dove etc. that everyone else has. The origonal tattoo meant "to be different" so I figure it still does.

Great tattoo.

[UnimportantHero]

After reading this thread from beginning to end, I must say I'm a little nervous what may happen if my kendo sensei who are Japanese see them.

Cannot speak to this personally, despite having line work tattoos that reach down my hands and fingers, because I have not had much contact with sensei from Japan. But all the stories that I have read here on Kendo World have pretty much been positive so long as the people with the tattoos possess otherwise respectful and considerable attitudes.

[davehale]

Thank you all for your responses. I knew when I got my tattoos there would/could be negative opinions about them. But I got them for me so the only way to see them is if I'm not wearing a shirt. It may be a drag if I can't attend a bath house, but that's not the only thing to do in Japan.
Dillon, I appreciate your response. I think wording a request so they can politely decline is a must. Thanks again.

[Skiesmostwanted]

Thank you all for your comments. I went to my first Kendo class today and no one seemed (visibly anyway) bothered by it

[motlive]

Hmm.. I havent started yet, and when I sat in on a class last week I was wearing a jumper so you couldnt see them. I have basically 2 sleeves done (one is Japanese themed), best ask my instructor how he feels about me attending his classes.