Tattoo's

[kandaandm]

I'm thinking about getting a quarter sleeve on my right arm. Do you think it detracts from you physique?

 

[Bonesaw]

Im pretty tatted up and I would say if you go with black and gray it would be OK. I have a half sleeve that is full color and it defiantly takes away from detail in my arm. Black and gray on the other arm and not as bad

 

[thebrick]

I have 5 myself. Tattoos are a very personal decision. The way I see it, its your body, your choice. Ink does mask muscle definition, especially something with a lot of coverage like a sleeve.

 

[Bonesaw]

Dont mean to hijack your thread but we should turn this into a gallery to show of memebers tat's LOL I love skin art.

 

[tkav1980]

the problem i have with my tats is that one of them makes my left arm LOOK alot smaller than my right. it bothered me so bad i kept measuring them over and over again...lol.....but i have noticed that on a few friends that have sleeves it does take alot away from definition. but tatoos are a really personal decision. dont let my opinion sway you one way or the other. if its something you really want then i say go for it.

 

[mike1107]

whole arm or forearm ?

 

[JohnnyPro]

I don't have any tattoos, although I love them. My girlfriend has a lot. I just don't think it's a good idea for a competitive bodybuilder to have large tattoos. The judges may subconciously let that enter into their decision making. Of course you can cover them if you don't have too many and no really big ones. I am thinking about getting a wrist tattoo.

 

[boss]

Tats

I agree with "TheBrick" it's a very personal decision but I personally love them and have several. My opinion to your questions is yes a sleeve would detract and lessen the muscle visibility but it may complete you more from a personal level when you look in the mirror...

Just my .02

Boss

 

[EL DIABLO]

I'm literally covered in high quality black and gray work from the neck down, although it MAY affect definition visually, if your big your big...period. From a competitive stand point I'm sure it my be different...but with full sleeves or not, a 21" arm is a 21" arm. A said above, it's a big decision and should be thought out with great care.

 

[bula]

bodybuilding is about so much more than size. detail. balance. symmetry. conditioning. imo, the wrong tat can definitly affect these criteria. choose wisely.

 

[deltaguy]

Dont mean to hijack your thread but we should turn this into a gallery to show of memebers tat's LOL I love skin art.

not sure that is a good idea if someone is trying to remain as anonymous as possible. but yeah, I love ink too so if anyone is OK with posting their shit up more power to them.

I have a friend whom has an insane back piece which incorporates both arms in half sleeves and down below his waist to cover part of his ass. He is also a dedicated body builder and personal trainer with a pretty freaking awesome physique. Unfortunately, the tat def 'masks' some of the definition of his back. Maybe if it were black ink it may make a difference but truthfully, I am not sure.

 

[Bonesaw]

not sure that is a good idea if someone is trying to remain as anonymous as possible. but yeah, I love ink too so if anyone is OK with posting their shit up more power to them. .

Ya I thought of that after I posted.

 

[Ashop]

I'm thinking about getting a quarter sleeve on my right arm. Do you think it detracts from you physique?

are you planning on competing?

 

[pesty4077]

Being from the era of the 80's tatoos were frown upon in that time. Times have changed(look at former bodybuilder Dorian Yates) he went to the top. I am a biker(own a harley) never got a tattoo, but I have saw some that I thought were tastefully done. It is an individual decision.

 

[kandaandm]

No Im not competing

 

[Big Bapper]

If you are going to get any, make sure they work with the countors of your body.

 

[mikeheavypecs]

I don't have any tattoos, although I love them. My girlfriend has a lot. I just don't think it's a good idea for a competitive bodybuilder to have large tattoos. The judges may subconciously let that enter into their decision making. Of course you can cover them if you don't have too many and no really big ones. I am thinking about getting a wrist tattoo.

Hey JohnnyPro,
You are correct! I like tatts and have a couple small ones myself. However, I have judged both NPC and IFBB shows where a bodybuilder has such colorful and dark tatts that I can not even see muscle tie-in's, separations etc At that point I just say "I can't see what I need so I'll go on to the next best competitor" (to put it nicely). Of course usually this is in NPC shows, because most pros know how tatts can be judged by certain judges and/or they creatively use make-up to do a great job in covering it up. Lee Priest is one of my "favorite" bodybuilders but his tatts have become "contraversial" recently....

Hope this helps. I just hate to see a bodybuilder with awesome genetics and quality of muscle the day of the show not win because the judges can not fairly do comparisons with other contestants.......and usually out of frustration put the top guy down a couple points.....but this is usually the way it is.

Mike

 

[microbrew]

I got a tribal on my left forearm, from my elbow to my wrist, looks good. Actually makes my forearm look even better.

Micro