A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

J2′s Post-Injury Tattoos

wheelchair-1.jpg

J2, a BMX rider that was paralyzed after a spinal accident, has continued to represent the sport with tattoos since his injury. A catalog of his tattoos after swapping out his bike for an electric wheelchair, deeply intertwined with his life experiences:

  • His first tattoo was, not surprisingly, a BMX rider.
  • His second tattoo included two other sports he was involved in after his injury — snowboarding and skateboarding.
  • His third piece, another passion — racing.
  • His fourth tattoo was a spinal cord, representing his life changing injury.
  • His fifth tattoo was a joker, which he got to represent himself, as jokers are there to entertain, and to do it with their own personal sense of style.
  • His fifth and sixth tattoo sessions filled in some of the spaces between the tattoos with lighting — lightning was chesen because of his love of storms, and also because lighting and freak accidents can happen and strike anywhere.
  • Next a sunrise/sunset was added behind the action sports tattoos, to symbolize both the ending of something, and also the hope for a new start.
  • Finally, the smoke coming up from his vein and up his arm represents over fourteen years of using “nature’s most beloved healing plant”.

The tattoos were done by Miles Maniaci at Deluxe Tattoo in Chicago, IL.

wheelchair-2.jpg

Comments

56 responses to “J2′s Post-Injury Tattoos”

  1. Burnt Flowers Avatar
    Burnt Flowers

    That’s an awesome tattoo with an awesome background story… Shuts you up for sure.

  2. Burnt Flowers Avatar
    Burnt Flowers

    That’s an awesome tattoo with an awesome background story… Shuts you up for sure.

  3. Burnt Flowers Avatar
    Burnt Flowers

    That’s an awesome tattoo with an awesome background story… Shuts you up for sure.

  4. Burnt Flowers Avatar
    Burnt Flowers

    That’s an awesome tattoo with an awesome background story… Shuts you up for sure.

  5. greendayfan333 Avatar
    greendayfan333

    Wow I love his tattoos, they really suit him 😀

  6. greendayfan333 Avatar
    greendayfan333

    Wow I love his tattoos, they really suit him 😀

  7. greendayfan333 Avatar
    greendayfan333

    Wow I love his tattoos, they really suit him 😀

  8. greendayfan333 Avatar
    greendayfan333

    Wow I love his tattoos, they really suit him 😀

  9. fras Avatar
    fras

    great tattoos, but damn he looks sad 🙁

  10. fras Avatar
    fras

    great tattoos, but damn he looks sad 🙁

  11. fras Avatar
    fras

    great tattoos, but damn he looks sad 🙁

  12. fras Avatar
    fras

    great tattoos, but damn he looks sad 🙁

  13. Shannon Avatar

    At first I was like “why would you want to have all those tattoos reminding you of such a painful event” but then I realized that it’s not as if he’s going to forget anyway, so it’s probably helpful to talk about it via tattoos.

  14. Shannon Avatar

    At first I was like “why would you want to have all those tattoos reminding you of such a painful event” but then I realized that it’s not as if he’s going to forget anyway, so it’s probably helpful to talk about it via tattoos.

  15. Shannon Avatar

    At first I was like “why would you want to have all those tattoos reminding you of such a painful event” but then I realized that it’s not as if he’s going to forget anyway, so it’s probably helpful to talk about it via tattoos.

  16. Shannon Avatar

    At first I was like “why would you want to have all those tattoos reminding you of such a painful event” but then I realized that it’s not as if he’s going to forget anyway, so it’s probably helpful to talk about it via tattoos.

  17. transdermal Avatar
    transdermal

    sad story thoug, hope things will work out great for him… nice tattoo’s

  18. transdermal Avatar
    transdermal

    sad story thoug, hope things will work out great for him… nice tattoo’s

  19. transdermal Avatar
    transdermal

    sad story thoug, hope things will work out great for him… nice tattoo’s

  20. transdermal Avatar
    transdermal

    sad story thoug, hope things will work out great for him… nice tattoo’s

  21. owned Avatar
    owned

    6-3-99…date of the accident?

  22. owned Avatar
    owned

    6-3-99…date of the accident?

  23. owned Avatar
    owned

    6-3-99…date of the accident?

  24. owned Avatar
    owned

    6-3-99…date of the accident?

  25. crash Avatar
    crash

    I wonder is he full quad or paraplegic?

  26. crash Avatar
    crash

    I wonder is he full quad or paraplegic?

  27. crash Avatar
    crash

    I wonder is he full quad or paraplegic?

  28. crash Avatar
    crash

    I wonder is he full quad or paraplegic?

  29. anabot Avatar
    anabot

    sometimes i feel like the only person in the world who’s been paralyzed by a spinal injury, so while it sucks for him, at least i have cool tattooed company in my misery 🙂

  30. anabot Avatar
    anabot

    sometimes i feel like the only person in the world who’s been paralyzed by a spinal injury, so while it sucks for him, at least i have cool tattooed company in my misery 🙂

  31. anabot Avatar
    anabot

    sometimes i feel like the only person in the world who’s been paralyzed by a spinal injury, so while it sucks for him, at least i have cool tattooed company in my misery 🙂

  32. anabot Avatar
    anabot

    sometimes i feel like the only person in the world who’s been paralyzed by a spinal injury, so while it sucks for him, at least i have cool tattooed company in my misery 🙂

  33. Maladjusted Avatar
    Maladjusted

    Nice to see this. My boyfriend is in a wheelchair thanks to a motorcycle accident. He plays quad rugby and is planning his first tattoo to reflect that aspect of his “new life”. I guess accepting it in a way by inking it.

  34. Maladjusted Avatar
    Maladjusted

    Nice to see this. My boyfriend is in a wheelchair thanks to a motorcycle accident. He plays quad rugby and is planning his first tattoo to reflect that aspect of his “new life”. I guess accepting it in a way by inking it.

  35. Maladjusted Avatar
    Maladjusted

    Nice to see this. My boyfriend is in a wheelchair thanks to a motorcycle accident. He plays quad rugby and is planning his first tattoo to reflect that aspect of his “new life”. I guess accepting it in a way by inking it.

  36. Maladjusted Avatar
    Maladjusted

    Nice to see this. My boyfriend is in a wheelchair thanks to a motorcycle accident. He plays quad rugby and is planning his first tattoo to reflect that aspect of his “new life”. I guess accepting it in a way by inking it.

  37. Escapist Avatar
    Escapist

    I am showing this to my adjustment to disability class tomorrow.

  38. Escapist Avatar
    Escapist

    I am showing this to my adjustment to disability class tomorrow.

  39. Escapist Avatar
    Escapist

    I am showing this to my adjustment to disability class tomorrow.

  40. Escapist Avatar
    Escapist

    I am showing this to my adjustment to disability class tomorrow.

  41. paleblue Avatar
    paleblue

    First of all, it’s tragic that he has been deprived of such an important part of his life and that he has found solace through tattooing himself as a reminder of what he used to do.

    Now that I’ve got the serious part over with, are you sure that’s not Corey Worthington?

  42. paleblue Avatar
    paleblue

    First of all, it’s tragic that he has been deprived of such an important part of his life and that he has found solace through tattooing himself as a reminder of what he used to do.

    Now that I’ve got the serious part over with, are you sure that’s not Corey Worthington?

  43. paleblue Avatar
    paleblue

    First of all, it’s tragic that he has been deprived of such an important part of his life and that he has found solace through tattooing himself as a reminder of what he used to do.

    Now that I’ve got the serious part over with, are you sure that’s not Corey Worthington?

  44. paleblue Avatar
    paleblue

    First of all, it’s tragic that he has been deprived of such an important part of his life and that he has found solace through tattooing himself as a reminder of what he used to do.

    Now that I’ve got the serious part over with, are you sure that’s not Corey Worthington?

  45. paleblue Avatar
    paleblue

    Sorry, I meant to say it’s great that he has found solace through tattoing himself, etc.

  46. paleblue Avatar
    paleblue

    Sorry, I meant to say it’s great that he has found solace through tattoing himself, etc.

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