84. JASON KUNDELL - The elusive mastery

84. JASON KUNDELL - The elusive mastery

From TATTOO TALES by Stef Bastiàn

May 15, 2026 · 1h 6m

About this episode

Jason Kundell discusses his 30-year tattoo career and the philosophical parallels between martial arts and tattooing.

Today we sit down with Jason Kundell, a veteran tattoo artist with an inspiring 30-year career. We trace his journey from his roots in Southern California’s skateboarding and graffiti scenes to his foundational years in the Bay Area, with the influence of artists of the caliber of Eddie Deutsche, Marcus Pacheco, Grime and many more. Jason breaks down the philosophy behind his work, drawing fascinating parallels between his decades of training in judo and jiu-jitsu and his approach to tattooing—focusing on movement, composition, and the discipline required to achieve true mastery. Follow Jason on Instagram artworkrebels.com

People in this episode

Host: Stef Bastiàn

Guest: Jason Kundell

Topics covered

  • tattoo artistry
  • career journey
  • martial arts
  • philosophy of tattooing
  • influence of graffiti
  • composition in art

Keywords

  • tattoo artist
  • martial arts
  • judo
  • jiu-jitsu
  • composition
  • Southern California
  • Bay Area
  • graffiti
  • influence

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Southern California, Bay Area

More episodes of TATTOO TALES

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the TATTOO TALES podcast page.