Asian martial arts are often coated in a thick layer of of legend. Many fighting styles have elaborate origin stories and mystical founding fathers. These stories often help enhance the prestige of a particular school and inspire new students. However, the "histories" of many of these martial arts disciplines are completely made up. The granddaddy of all of ... Show More
Jan 2021
Episode #125- What Are the Origins of Martial Arts? (Part II)
Martial arts myths are have been described as "savvy marketing". But, the most enduring bits of of fake martial arts history also combine Zen tradition, a Confucian veneration of the past, and a healthy dose of nationalism. Schools of martial arts will sometimes bend over backwar ... Show More
1h 13m
Nov 2022
A Circus, or a Cult? The Strange Story of Shen Yun
If you live near any large city outside of mainland China, you may have seen advertisements for the world-famous Shen Yun Performing Arts Company, a US-based non-profit known for its elaborate shows in over 130 locations across the planet. But you might not know the full story of ... Show More
36m 16s
Nov 2019
164A-Chinese Legends: Here I Go Again
The legend of the White Snake is one of the four great folktales of China. Today, we start that with an act of kindness, demons lurking in the places we can’t look, and a (misguided?) monk hoping to bring justice. When the creature this week has time off, it prefers crashing fune ... Show More
34m 37s
Jun 2023
Badass of the Week, Part 2: Rise of the Kung Fu Werewolf
Everyone can agree the story of T'ai Djin is amazing -- he was born afflicted with a rare genetic condition that made him look like a werewolf, was adopted by Shaolin monks and became the most badass guy in China -- but how much of the story is fact, and how much is fiction? In p ... Show More
41 m