Multicultural MMA
John Lee Oct 24, 2007
SEOUL, South Korea -- While there are a plethora of reasons to love
mixed martial arts, a major trait that makes this sport appealing
on a global level is the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of its
athletes.
MMA catches a lot of flak for being atavistic and barbaric, but it is perhaps one of the very few sports today that truly espouses the value of multiculturalism in this era of globalization.
The Oct. 28 K-1 HERO'S event in Korea is another example in a long
list that lends credence to the argument that MMA is experiencing a
global efflorescence.
The event promoters have done a great job of putting together a card that appeals, first and foremost, to local Korean fans by packing the roster with popular elite-level Korean fighters, including the marquee attraction between "Korean" heroes, Denis Kang (Pictures) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures).
In a country where tens of thousands of people pour into the streets to support the national soccer team during World Cup season and where people take enormous pride in Samsung cell phones and Hyundai cars, "Korean-ness" and consumerism are intricately tied together.
Nowhere was this more apparent than at an autograph signing held Oct. 20 in Seoul's largest clothing district. More than 300 fans cheered in the cold October air for the man who is affectionately referred to here by his Korean name -- Choo Sung Hoon. He signed autographs and handed out souvenirs while thousands of onlookers passed by on the bustling street.
No one seemed to care that 11 months earlier he had been embroiled in the infamous "greasing" scandal against MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures). Neither did it seem to matter that in 2001, Choo Sung Hoon, a fourth generation Japanese-Korean, surrendered his Korean citizenship to naturalize as a Japanese national named Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures). Additionally, Akiyama won a gold medal in judo for Japan versus a Korean judoka at the 2002 Asian games, which were on Korean soil.
To Koreans he will always be the prodigal son returned and welcomed with open arms regardless of his past transgressions. Thus it seems the upcoming HERO'S Korea event is tailor made to mark his return.
Straddling two cultures, however, seems to come at a price. In Japan where there is a history of latent prejudice against ethnic Koreans, the media and fans have been ostensibly harsh on Akiyama, particularly after his imbroglio with Sakuraba, an iconic figure in Japan.
In a poignant moment during a news conference, one Japanese reporter is said to have asked Akiyama if he will continue to use his Korean name. Since then Akiyama has been careful with his words, gingerly maneuvering around questions of his ethnicity.
"In terms of nationality, I am Japanese and no longer Korean," Akiyama said. "But the Korean fans have regarded me as a Korean…. I am full of gratitude."
Akiyama's Oct. 28 opponent, Denis Kang (Pictures), dubbed the "Super-Korean" by the local media, is more vocal about his Korean heritage but faces fewer repercussions back home in his native Canada. For example, you don't see many journalists writing smack about him.
Although he is only half Korean (on his father's side), Kang has become a widely popular media figure in Korea, outrivaling Akiyama. In recent weeks he has appeared on a popular comedy show in Korea and in a movie.
Akiyama seems acutely aware of his opponent's popularity in Korea, saying that his upcoming bout against Kang "feels like an away match."
He also holds high regard for his foe, describing Kang as a "perfect fighter."
"In terms of technique, experience and skill," Akiyama said, "Kang is at a higher level."
Apparently, however, Akiyama specifically asked for Kang, even though he feels he only has a 35 percent chance of beating him.
"Although my chances of winning are very low, I thought it would be beneficial for me if I faced a strong fighter, such as Kang," Akiyama said.
It will be interesting to see whom the hometown crowd cheers for fight night, but I can't shake the feeling that all this fervor seems a bit fabricated. I don't expect nationalism to disappear anytime soon. Yet the idealist in me dreams of a time when a card won't have to be sold on the back of nationalism or ethnicity -- but rather on skill.
HERO'S Korea:
Denis Kang (Pictures) vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures)
Dong Sik Yoon (Pictures) vs. Fabio Silva (Pictures)
Taiei Kin (Pictures) vs. Zelg Galesic (Pictures)
Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures) vs. Min Soo Kim (Pictures)
Tae Hyun Lee vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto (Pictures)
Dae Won Kim (Pictures) vs. Marcelo Garcia (Pictures)
Carlos Newton (Pictures) vs. Shungo Oyama (Pictures)
Min Suk Heo vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures)
A Sol Kwon vs. Daisuke Nakamura (Pictures)
Bernard Ackah (Pictures) vs. Poai Suganuma (Pictures)
Magomed Sultanakhmadov vs. Eun Soo Lee
Masanori Tonooka vs. RYO
MMA catches a lot of flak for being atavistic and barbaric, but it is perhaps one of the very few sports today that truly espouses the value of multiculturalism in this era of globalization.
Advertisement
The event promoters have done a great job of putting together a card that appeals, first and foremost, to local Korean fans by packing the roster with popular elite-level Korean fighters, including the marquee attraction between "Korean" heroes, Denis Kang (Pictures) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures).
Neither are Korean nationals, but both fighters have been marketed
in a way that highlights their Korean affinities. Both have also
been successful in endearing themselves to the Korean public.
In a country where tens of thousands of people pour into the streets to support the national soccer team during World Cup season and where people take enormous pride in Samsung cell phones and Hyundai cars, "Korean-ness" and consumerism are intricately tied together.
Nowhere was this more apparent than at an autograph signing held Oct. 20 in Seoul's largest clothing district. More than 300 fans cheered in the cold October air for the man who is affectionately referred to here by his Korean name -- Choo Sung Hoon. He signed autographs and handed out souvenirs while thousands of onlookers passed by on the bustling street.
No one seemed to care that 11 months earlier he had been embroiled in the infamous "greasing" scandal against MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures). Neither did it seem to matter that in 2001, Choo Sung Hoon, a fourth generation Japanese-Korean, surrendered his Korean citizenship to naturalize as a Japanese national named Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures). Additionally, Akiyama won a gold medal in judo for Japan versus a Korean judoka at the 2002 Asian games, which were on Korean soil.
To Koreans he will always be the prodigal son returned and welcomed with open arms regardless of his past transgressions. Thus it seems the upcoming HERO'S Korea event is tailor made to mark his return.
Straddling two cultures, however, seems to come at a price. In Japan where there is a history of latent prejudice against ethnic Koreans, the media and fans have been ostensibly harsh on Akiyama, particularly after his imbroglio with Sakuraba, an iconic figure in Japan.
In a poignant moment during a news conference, one Japanese reporter is said to have asked Akiyama if he will continue to use his Korean name. Since then Akiyama has been careful with his words, gingerly maneuvering around questions of his ethnicity.
"In terms of nationality, I am Japanese and no longer Korean," Akiyama said. "But the Korean fans have regarded me as a Korean…. I am full of gratitude."
Akiyama's Oct. 28 opponent, Denis Kang (Pictures), dubbed the "Super-Korean" by the local media, is more vocal about his Korean heritage but faces fewer repercussions back home in his native Canada. For example, you don't see many journalists writing smack about him.
Although he is only half Korean (on his father's side), Kang has become a widely popular media figure in Korea, outrivaling Akiyama. In recent weeks he has appeared on a popular comedy show in Korea and in a movie.
Akiyama seems acutely aware of his opponent's popularity in Korea, saying that his upcoming bout against Kang "feels like an away match."
He also holds high regard for his foe, describing Kang as a "perfect fighter."
"In terms of technique, experience and skill," Akiyama said, "Kang is at a higher level."
Apparently, however, Akiyama specifically asked for Kang, even though he feels he only has a 35 percent chance of beating him.
"Although my chances of winning are very low, I thought it would be beneficial for me if I faced a strong fighter, such as Kang," Akiyama said.
It will be interesting to see whom the hometown crowd cheers for fight night, but I can't shake the feeling that all this fervor seems a bit fabricated. I don't expect nationalism to disappear anytime soon. Yet the idealist in me dreams of a time when a card won't have to be sold on the back of nationalism or ethnicity -- but rather on skill.
HERO'S Korea:
Denis Kang (Pictures) vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures)
Dong Sik Yoon (Pictures) vs. Fabio Silva (Pictures)
Taiei Kin (Pictures) vs. Zelg Galesic (Pictures)
Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures) vs. Min Soo Kim (Pictures)
Tae Hyun Lee vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto (Pictures)
Dae Won Kim (Pictures) vs. Marcelo Garcia (Pictures)
Carlos Newton (Pictures) vs. Shungo Oyama (Pictures)
Min Suk Heo vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures)
A Sol Kwon vs. Daisuke Nakamura (Pictures)
Bernard Ackah (Pictures) vs. Poai Suganuma (Pictures)
Magomed Sultanakhmadov vs. Eun Soo Lee
Masanori Tonooka vs. RYO
Related Articles
