Southpaw

122 – Taekwondo and Korean History Explains Everything (Part 1) w/ Jay

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On Southpaw, we speak to Jay from Red Star Over Asia (@RedStarOverAsia) about his article "When Taekwondo Ruled the World": https://www.midwesternmarx.com/articles/when-taekwondo-ruled-the-world-by-jay 

In part 1, we discuss:

  • Churches, cults, political sects, and taekwondo
  • Taekwondo's final form: juche
  • How romanization sucks
  • Using karate against the Japanese
  • Showmanship and mythmaking
  • The Bruce Lee template
  • The Great Man rightwing mythology
  • Belt wrestling
  • The myth of democracy in Korea
  • Martial arts as a rightwing tool
  • Taekwondo's historical baggage
  • Kanto massacre and Korean ethnic cleansing
  • Decolonial movements and sabotage
  • Brazilian jiu-jitsu using the same anticommunist ethnonationalist template, except Brazil admired Japanese Imperialism whereas Korea tried to distance itself from it
  • Syngman Rhee's role in taekwondo mythic origin story
  • The myth of Hwarang aristocrat warriors
  • A Japanese collaborator's coup and taekwondo's acceleration
  • Korean social movements and land redistribution from collaborators
  • Toxic masculinity admiring your oppressors
  • Cobra Kai
  • Ethnonationalism and pro-Americanism
  • Anti-Americanism as a red flag for international rightwingers
  • Korea as a US project in neoliberalism, anticommunism, and ethnonationalism run by former Japanese collaborators

    • We can't continue to produce important episodes like this one without your solidarity. There is no Southpaw network without your financial support. In return, not only do you help produce our shows but you also get access to more great content. It's mutual aid. Find our Patreon, swag, and other ways to support us at: https://www.southpawpod.com 

    • Part 2: https://ko-fi.com/post/123-Taekwondo-and-Korean-History-Explains-Everyt-X8X3BE8QR
    • Red Star Over Asia: https://anchor.fm/red-star-over-asia 
    • A Killing Art by Alex Gillis: https://amzn.to/3LI2D5I
    • Cobra Kai, the Twilight of American Empire, and the Allure of Paramilitary Violence: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/cobra-kai-the-twilight-of-american-empire-and-the-allure-of-paramilitary-violence/ 
    • 120 – Squid Game and the Long Shadow of American Empire: https://ko-fi.com/post/120-Squid-Game-and-the-Long-Shadow-of-American-E-W7W27LG4S 

      • You can find Southpaw on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @SouthpawPod

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