I didn't get anything perceptible from either tat outing. Even exercise I don't like pays off better than that.

I didn't get anything perceptible from either tat outing. Even exercise I don't like pays off better than that.

Then I am still in the game. Or willing to try it out.

I mean, there was a pleasant sensation once the OUCH and $%^&NEEDLE@#$% stuff went away, but not enough to make it worth it had I not wanted some permanent darkness on my skin.

Maybe I should try martial arts. If I can find one where I won't be hit?

Y'all are reminding me. We has krav here now! On the one day a week we aren't fencing, maybe soon once we're over the flu.

If I can find one where I won't be hit?

Capoeira, some versions of kung fu, depending on the school. But the adrenalin rush is more intense the more intense the potential jeopardy, I find, and that pays off in the aftereffects.

I mean, there was a pleasant sensation once the OUCH and $%^&NEEDLE@#$% stuff went away, but not enough to make it worth it had I not wanted some permanent darkness on my skin.

Get bigger tattoos? I totally got an endorphin rush from my back piece and the bats on my forearm.

Capoeira, some versions of kung fu, depending on the school. But the adrenalin rush is more intense the more intense the potential jeopardy, I find, and that pays off in the aftereffects.

But I can start there and work my way up to knowing that I am going to be hit? I mean, I live with gravity and it's mean to me but I am conditioned.

Get bigger tattoos?

Not until there is something that I *need* bigger. Really, I'd rather be hit in the face than get a random tattoo. I am fine with random bruisese, less so tattoos. Heck, I am used to random bruises. Some quite impressive.

But I can start there and work my way up to knowing that I am going to be hit?

Emmett's been doing it for a couple months and he hasn't been hit yet. He's had to hit the floor a lot (they spend a lot of time practicing falls and scrambling away), and he's done a lot of punching and kicking. At his school, they don't do bouts until green belt level.

OTOH, Emmett and his friends hit each other pretty hard on a daily basis at school. (His frenemy Kolby, unprovoked, stomped on his instep. So when Kolby wasn't looking Emmett punched him in the kidney. That's like daily 13 y.o. boy stuff.)

I mean, I live with gravity and it's mean to me but I am conditioned.

Honey, gravity doesn't really love you. I know it says it does, but it's telling you LIES.

Not until there is something that I *need* bigger.

Okay, good point. I just always assume people have a list of tattoos they're waiting to get. (At last count it's something like 7 for me, possibly 8 if I can talk Pete into the design.)

Emmett's been doing it for a couple months and he hasn't been hit yet.

Does he have to hold shields for people to hit? In my experience, people who don't like getting hit don't like the impact of that either.

Does he have to hold shields for people to hit?

Definitely. Lots of that.