Beat ChosonNinja, Culture Thief and Martial Arts Huxter
Can we condone the actions of this man?
Martial artists who proclaim themselves to be activist types should not overlook Greg Park, also known as ChosonNinja, who appeared on YouTube in the autumn of 2007.
It's laughable for any Japanese person of sound judgment to hear that ninjas are existing in Korea.
Nevertheless, Greg Park insists that the Choson Ninjas are the descendants of Japanese ninjas who emigrated to Korea for fear of persecution.
He even claims that he is half-Japanese. At least he admits that the root of ninja is in Japan. That is a little bit different from the many Koreans who repeatedly insist that Japanese culture originated in Korea.
However, when it comes to co-opting Japanese culture to promote his Korean martial arts, he is not that different from other Koreans.
In his videos, against the background of a paper-panel-door-style folding screen, seated on his knees, Greg Park appears in dougi-like clothes emblazoned with nonsensical Chinese characters.
In one video, he is joined by his sister named Toshiko Kunoichi who makes sushi rolls in an awkward manner. Moreover, she says, in unnatural sounding Japanese, "This is traditional Japanese sushi."
Perhaps these Japanese elements will appeal to his Western audience, but these are nothing but stereotypical and kitschy things, out-of-date for me.
This might be forgivable if it weren't for the fact that Greg Park is also a very poor martital artist.
He says "The color of the obi really doesn't matter. In the past it was Japanese custom not to wash the obi. As it got more dirty the obi would eventually lose its white colour, become yellow, then brown and eventually black. Black belt just shows the length of career of budo practitioners. I give my students any colored belt they want."
By this statement, he not only insults the Japanese but also misleads aspiring budo practitioners.
In the '60s to early '70s, Oriental philosophies like Zen and Yoga were very much in vogue in the United States. But it was superficial. In general, Americans prefer an easy way, simulating experiences of enlightenment via doses of LSD rather than performing years of ascetic training.
Usually, it takes years to receive a black belt. So, Americans who prefer an easy way will be grateful if someone can give it to them right at the beginning of their martial arts training.
Incidentally, in rare cases Zen sitting meditation can result in hallucinations. A situation Zen priests refer to as "ma" which means evil and warn zen trainees not to consider it as enlightenment.
Chosonninja is just such a "ma". In his videos there is no sign of enbu, kumite or randori and his shuriken throwing is fishy, to say the least. One especially hilarious video, entitled "Making Weapons for Ninjutsu", features Mr. Park at the hardware store buying washers, bolts and a rake to transform into “ninja weapons”!
Watching the scene, I thought it was not so different from an elementary school crafts-making class. Lastly, his lessons, performed by several of his American disciples, look like kindergarten gymnastics to me.
Mr. Greg Park makes me wonder if a Korean can ever understand the concept of "do".
A young man, and real martial artist from the U.S., who vlogs on Youtube under the name of Scottbaioisdead has been consistently exposing Park’s series of fabrications in Japanese history and culture.
For example, he pointed out the awkwardness of the way in which Toshiko dressed in a Japanese kimono, and stated, “Usually, Japanese women wear Tasuki in order to avoid the Kimono’s sleeves interfering with the cooking process.”
He actually corrected how the Tasuki should be worn over the Japanese dress. Also, he has been exposing Park's shuriken tricks with his knowledge of physics.
Scottbaioisdead really impressed this writer with the amazing depth of his knowledge of Japanese culture.
I was suprised to see a person from another country so expertly fight for the honor of Japanese martial arts and I appreciate that deeply.
This Korean American insults not only Japanese martial arts but also its spirit and culture.
Though my thinking maybe a little anachronistic, frankly speaking, I want someone to have a duel with Greg Park and show him what real Japanese martial arts is all about. I think the duel will end at a one stroke