IN THE ERA OF BLACK PANTHER, CRAZY RICH ASIANS, AND K-POP MEGASTARS, HOW ARE ATHLETES OF COLOR BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS IN THE WEST?

SEO JI YEON: An MMA Fighter that stands for Youth, Self-Confidence, and The Power of Women

Who is Seo Ji Yeon?

Seo Ji Yeon is not new to the world of sports. Ever since elementary school, she loved to play sports with her schoolmates and was very competitive.

Childhood is an important time in an individual’s life as it allows youth to build their character. For this reason, Ji Yeon wanted to find a sport that she would be good at. She started off with netball but soon found a love for MMA fighting. These mixed martial arts allowed her to express herself and learn more about herself as a person.

Childhood

Ji Yeon was so passionate about sports that she would occasionally prioritize her MMA fighting over schoolwork, which is why she wants to tell young girls in sports to focus on their school work.

Perceptions

Much like many other athletes, she faced challenges and needed to take a break. She wants other young athletes, especially young women of color, to know that it is alright to take breaks and really think about what they want for their future, and how much they want to dedicate themselves.

Women are often judged for participating in this sport and it is a challenge because women’s bodies are built differently, but Ji Yeon is here to show us not to give up and to listen to our hearts, minds, and to understand our true goals.

Ji Yeon believes that MMA fighting is a great sport for women because it helps women to learn to protect themselves, which is a critical skill for the society that we live in.

Asian Women in the West

This is especially true for East Asians in the West, who are often portrayed as frail and weak. Ji Yeon is here to show that stereotypes are cruel and that all women can fight, take on challenges, experience challenges, and win.

Family Legacy

Ji Yeon is a special gem herself and comes from a talented family as she is the cousin of BTS’ leader, Kim Namjoon, better known as RM or Rap Monster. She stated that her father used to mentor Namjoon during his difficult times. This proves that family is so important in perfecting the craft of the individual. For this reason, this family has found so much success in music and sports.

She believes in being kind and humble, and she completely adores her followers!

Now, a fighter is not a fighter without a team, which is why her fighting partner Lee Jong Hwan is so influential!

LEE JONG HWAN: An MMA Fighter that shows that Struggle leads to Success

Lee Jong Hwan Inspires Youth across Race Lines to Fight Both in Sport and with Purpose

This talented gentleman has overcome many life obstacles to be able to continue growing and striving towards his goals for ONE FC. Our childhood experiences shape who we are as adults, and when we have the ability to live up to our dreams and make our younger selves proud, there is no greater gift.

Jonghwan, like many global East Asian youth, has big dreams and has faced the notorious obstacles that accompany every human, such as self-esteem and the ability to fit in with peers.

As a young Asian man, he also faces the stereotypes that Western media perpetuates, making the challenge even greater, but this has not stopped him from training both day and night, only to seize every competition opportunity he has, whether national or international.

Jonghwan believes that your opponents are your life and your opponents are your physical opponents. You are fighting for yourself. He can show my abilities to other ethnicities by training in other countries. History is more important. The history of East Asia creates a strong cultural mindset because the mind can find strength without food. A person can have strength without having a lot of food, and Asians are bigger in size than in past years.

Ultimately, his goal is to fight in the US and Europe. He has currently fought in Korea and trained in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiangmai, and Shanghai.

If there is one message that this young man stands for, it is to push boundaries, embrace new global opportunities, learn from the past, and to make our younger selves proud.

We want to leave you with a fun fact about Mr. Jonghwan Lee. He loves to cook and has his own restaurant! Many athletes involved in fighting spots have a passion or hobby for cooking. We asked him why. He said that cooking is like a present and he feels like it's a present after a hard day of work. His childhood was poor so it was difficult to make good food. Now he is able to prove something to himself.

He hopes that other young Asian men can achieve the goals that he has and continue to diversify the world of sports!

Let's continue to cheer for Seo Ji Yeon and Lee Jong Hwan!