Hit Me With Ya Best Shot: The Wacky World of Martial Arts Frauds

·50 min·5 clips

Katie and Whitney explore bullshito, a catch-all term for fake martial arts like no-touch knockouts and mystical masters.

The episode begins with hosts Katie and Whitney introducing the concept of 'bullshito,' a term for fake or delusional martial arts practices. They set the stage by referencing 1980s ninja movies and their cultural impact. The first major subject is Ashita Kim, born Radford William Davis, who changed his name multiple times and claims to be a ninja master. The hosts detail his website, which features red text on a black background and self-reported stories of learning secret martial arts in Chicago. They critique his VHS tapes, including poor demonstrations of invisibility behind a curtain and levitation with a hula hoop. Kim also sells bizarre items like Doctor Who certifications and Klingon Kung Fu manuals. The hosts note his 2020 bankruptcy and recent books like 'The Year of the Plague.' Next, they shift to George Dillman, known for no-touch knockouts using chi and pressure points. They discuss his background, including claims of boxing records and military service during the 1968 Washington D.C. riots. Dillman's seminars and videos show students falling dramatically, but a National Geographic investigation debunked his techniques. The hosts analyze how his success contrasts with Kim's, with Dillman owning over 150 karate schools and selling expensive DVDs. Finally, they cover Steven Seagal, examining his martial arts claims, such as training CIA agents and fighting Yakuza, which his ex-wife Miyako Fujitani disputes. They recount his career decline, business ventures like essential oils and energy drinks, and infamous incidents like allegedly soiling himself during a choke-out challenge. Throughout, the hosts use humor and research to expose the fraudulence and absurdity of these figures, weaving in cultural references and personal anecdotes.

As heard by us

A brisk look at martial arts grift, with Ashita Kim as the episode's strangest anchor.

True Crime Campfire turns its focus to martial arts frauds, from no-touch knockouts and touches of death to mystical masters who cannot manage their own lives.

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Why you'd press play

You came for martial arts frauds and stayed for Ashita Kim's Facebook ban.

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