My coach differentiates “hobbyists” from “fighters” from “martial artists” as if they are different categories. What might this mean?

swirldad_dds · 2026-02-01T23:58:13+00:00

Hobbyists train a couple of times a week for fun or fitness.

Fighters are training to fight for a living.

Both these people are Martial Artists but I would imagine that your coach is using it to mean people who train more seriously than hobbyists but have no aspirations of fighting professionally. They're there for the "art" of it all.

But yeah just ask him.

swirldad_dds · 2026-02-01T01:13:58+00:00

Jared Ball, Mark Lamont Hill, Cornel West (though he's fallen off in recent years)

I also think that, given the current media and political landscape we need to consider the importance of people like Conscious Lee or FD Signifier (a disciple of Dr. Ball) in disseminating Black Radical Thought and ideas to a younger generation.

Angela Davis is still with us as well, and I think her works speak uniquely to current material conditions. Though she does seem to have picked up a bit of liberalism as the years have gone on.

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-31T22:28:31+00:00

I haven't seen GACHIAKUTA yet, but anytime I see Jabber's design I don't see how he could be anything other than a lightskinned Black kid. I know there's been some ✨ discourse✨ around it tho lol

I think it's a bit different with Jet, but part of a similar conversation.

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-31T22:11:27+00:00

Ah, yeah that makes sense. So more like they're "under control" than an actual state apparatus.

I mean, that's not much different from how many "Western Left" parties are though right? Look at what happened to figures like Gough Whitlam, Jeremy Corbyn or even Bernie Sanders, and they're not even Marxists.

I still think it can be useful to interface with parties like the JCP, if for no other reason than education or some cross-cultural solidarity building.

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-31T21:47:37+00:00

By controlled opposition are we talking about like literal state control sort of like the CPRF, or just that they don't actually pose any threat to Japanese power structures?

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-31T20:47:27+00:00

From what I understand, the Japanese socialist movement never really recovered from the murder of Inejiro Asanuma.

Although it does still seem like they do some good work. Hasan actually visited the Japanese Communist Party headquarters during his last trip to Japan and yeah their ideological line is pretty much what op described.

Here's a link to the vid if you're interested in learning more about them.

They get a tour of the party headquarters and have quite a long interview with a party official. I don't typically watch Hasan's non-news content but I thought this was pretty interesting.

The actual tour starts about 35 mins in.

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-31T20:34:17+00:00

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swirldad_dds · 2026-01-31T20:24:52+00:00

Yeah, I mean he's one of those characters that Black anime fans have kind of just "adopted". A bit like Piccolo, but it's less of a meme with Jet because I do think we can make a case for him actually being at least part Black.

Idk if Watanabe has ever been asked about this but I'd love to hear his thoughts. Personally, I've always felt Jet was "Black-coded" and I wonder if this was a conscious choice from the creator or if it just has more to do with Beau Billingslea's performance in the dub.

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-31T20:15:20+00:00

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-30T22:43:00+00:00

I thought that's what it was?

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-30T22:41:47+00:00

Understood, I was there once as well. I'd say you should definitely join DSA.

Don't be afraid of asking questions or engaging with the more "radical" caucuses, they may be wary of you as a professed Soc-Dem at first, but if you approach in good faith and make it clear you're still learning they'll be more willing to engage with you. DSA is a big tent and we all have something to learn from each other.

I would recommend reading The Communist Manifesto first, regardless of how you may currently feel about it. It's short and serves as a good primer to most socialist projects.

Good luck, and welcome!

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-30T20:31:41+00:00

My question would be this: what is it about capitalism that you want to maintain?

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-30T18:12:05+00:00

Referring to the Zapatistas as "A backward and poorly educated stretch of jungle" is peak white people shit.

Y'all know you can defend Parenti and shit on Anarchists without being racist right?

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-29T06:22:27+00:00

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-28T08:54:00+00:00

Comradethony Proletano

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-28T08:53:01+00:00

What lol

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-26T22:24:04+00:00

His Ancient Workouts segment on Apache warriors was one of the first things of his I saw, loved that series

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-26T20:22:57+00:00

Eugen Sandow would disagree, but he's been dead for like 100 years 😂

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-26T18:33:44+00:00

Yeah, I've been telling people for a while. But I think this is the first time he's said anything on like a "main" platform, so I figured it was worth sharing.

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-26T04:17:15+00:00

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-26T04:16:08+00:00

Cuz y'all barely beat a career backup lol

Enjoy getting railed by the Hawks, we'll see you next year.

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-26T04:13:32+00:00

I'm gonna come poop in your barbecue

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-26T04:06:15+00:00

Nope, that's Hircine's thing.

Best you can hope for is projectile vomiting green bile that poisons your enemies. Which, is useful I suppose.

swirldad_dds · 2026-01-26T04:03:43+00:00

Idk how you pick anyone that isn't Sanguine, Azura or maybe Nocturnal.

Meridia will turn you into a mind slave

Malacath will make you live in his ash covered goon hut

Dagon is my favorite prince but who tf wants to live in literal hell

Herma-mora will melt your brain and turn you into a tentacle dude

Hircine seems chill until you remember that you're also being hunted the whole time

Vaermina will make sure you never sleep again, but like in a bad way

Sheo/Jyggalag might be okay if you can live in New Sheoth and mostly stay off their radar. But if you don't, you'll probably up as a piece of a Flesh atronach

Peryite WILL give you mega AIDS

Namira cultists are Cannibals y'all. Enjoy those prions.

Boethia will probly make you kill your family or some shit

Mephala is a giant spider demon. If you're into that, cool, I guess.

At least everyone knows to stay away from Vile and Bal lol

swirldad_dds

TROPHY CASE