Fighting Words: Ryo Chonan Defends a Gi and Offends a Nation


Arm bars and leg locks may break our bones, but words can really piss us off....

Japanese Mixed Martial Artist, Ryo Chonan, may be on his way to becoming Korea's enemy #1 - and this is something that North and South Korea can probably agree on.  The story....

George St. Pierre Rising Sun Gi - Photoby Esther Lin of MMAFighting.comDuring a recent MMA event, UFC Welterweight champion (and sport icon) George St. Pierre, wore a gi with a Japanese 'Rising Sun'  design. The rising sun flag was used as the war flag of the Imperial Japanese Army until the end of World War II. A modified version is still in use by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Because the flag was used by the Japanese in the conquest and occupation of East Asia, it is considered offensive in a number of Asian countries, especially Korea.  St. Pierre has a background in Karate and often sports Japanese themed headbands and gi's, but had not used that particular design before. 

In this case  Korean mixed martial artist Jung Chan Sung (aka The Korean Zombie) toook offense and  diplomatically took St. Pierre to task by posting this letter on his Facebook page.

Dear Mr. Georges St. Pierre

Hi, My name is Chan Sung Jung from South Korea. As one of many Koreans who like you as an incredible athlete, I feel like I should tell you that many Korean fans, including myself, were shocked to see you in your gi designed after the Japanese 'Rising Sun Flag'. For Asians, this flag is a symbol of war crimes, much like the German Hakenkreuzflagge. Did you know that? I hope not.

Just like Nazis, the Japanese also committed atrocities under the name of 'Militarism'. You can easily learn what they've done by googling (please do), although it's only the tiny tip of an enormous iceberg.

Furthermore, the Japanese Government never gave a sincere apology, and still to this day, so many victims are dying in pain, heartbroken, without being compensated. But many westerners like to wear clothes designed after the symbol under which so many war crimes and so much tragedy happened, which is ridiculous.

I know most of them are not militarists. I know most of them do not approve unjustified invasion, torture, massacre, etc. They're just ignorant. It's such a shame that many westerners are not aware of this tragic fact. Wearing Rising Sun outfits is as bad as wearing clothes with the Nazi mark on it, if not worse.

Since you're influenced by Japanese Martial Arts, your wearing a headband designed after Japanese flag is understandable. But again, that huge 'Rising Sun' on your Gi means something else.

Many people say GSP is the best Welterweight fighter throughout history, to which I totally agree. This means you have a great influence on every single fan of yours all around the world. And I do believe your wearing 'the symbol of War Crime' is a very bad example for them, not to mention for yourself.

So, what do you reckon? 
Do you want to wear the same Gi next time as well?
 

Apologies were promptly issued by St. Pierre and the apparel company behind the gi (Hayabusa) and the gi was removed from shelves and  discontinued.

From GSP

"I'd like to also personally apologize to anyone who was offended by this. I am very sorry, that was never my intention"

From Craig Clement of Haybusa

"We at Hayabusa have the utmost respect for culture and history and appreciate all of our customers worldwide. As such, we accept full responsibility for this design and are taking all complaints and comments very seriously.
The gi worn by GSP will not be brought to market. In addition, we will be very conscious of this specific design element when developing future communication materials and products.
Please accept our sincerest apology for any offence this has caused."

Ryo Chonan by Esther Lin of MMAFighting.comTheir Facebook posts earned 30,000+ likes, but Japanese fighter, Ryo Chonan, wasn't not one of them.  In an interview with Samurai Life,  he made the following comments:

“All the people complaining about the Rising Sun flag is an idiot. Learn history! Even though that might be too much for you idiots.”

I don’t care about the comfort women (girls and women essentially held captive in a life of enforced prostitution in the Imperial Japanese Army), go make more statues  in Korea. Japan is too busy.”

There is a lot of exaggerations and anti-Japanese education in regards to Japanese involvement in World War II.”

Japan actually helped Korea and made it a developed country. Also when Japan was there Korea was not divided between North and South.”

While there might be some debate about the use of the rising sun image, Ryo's insults and  insensitive comments about comfort women and the beneficial nature of the Japanese occupation are likely to to offend many peole across the continent and incur the wrath of  those on the peninsula.

Stay tuned....  
 

Comments

Re: Fighting Words: Ryo Chonan Defends a Gi and Offends a Nation

Road FC is actually interested in setting up a re-match between Chonan and Jung Hwan-cha. 

Jung beat Chonan in 2010 at an Astra event.  The Korean was a heavy underdog, but shocked everyone by knocking out Chonan in the second round. 

Mind you, Chonan is a seasoned veteran who has fought in Pride (he beat the pound for pound best fighter in the world, Anderson Silva with a spectacular flying scissor heel hook) and the UFC. 

Here's the fight:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R91XRDAdSdE

Jung had this to say about Chonan's comments:

“I don’t know if it’s because he wasn’t punched enough or he’s been punched too much that’s causing his brain to malfunction. Whatever the case may be, he will think straight after I hit him again. I already won once, this time I will destroy him. After the lesson I teach him, he won’t be able to spew stupid comments for at least another 30 years.”

Personally, I don't think it will come to fruition since Chonan has offended so many people (I don't think it would be safe for him).  He'd probably get his ass kicked by the crowd before he even made it to the cage.