HOME GROWN TALENT
In both Korea and Jamaica, the roots of excellence are cultural, not genetic.
In the United States, track and field is a marginal, niche sport that pops its head out of the sand every four years and on occasion, produces a superstar. In Jamaica, it’s a major sport. The annual high school Boys and Girl’s Athletic Championships are as important to Jamaicans as the Super Bowl is to Americans.
With that level of intensity baked right into the culture, it’s no surprise that Jamaicans have produced a wealth of sprinters. In Jamaica, sprinting is part of the national identity.
In Korea, golfers have thrived on old-fashioned virtues — lots of hours on the job and sheer dedication that fueled the country’s development. But the fact that certain cultural factors are at play can’t be denied.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=lzlthfEd3Bk%3Fversion%3D3%26amp%3Bhl%3Den_US%26start%3D027
Parents’ zealous pursuit of their children’s success is the primary driver of Korea’s competitiveness. Parents think nothing of spending thousands of dollars monthly on “hagwon” — or tutoring — centers that teach everything from algebra and English to guitar and golf. Korean parents typically spend $3,000 to $5,000 a month in rearing a golfer, which includes lessons, travel to tournaments and academic tutors. The average Korean household income is about $35,000 a year, and many families have gone into deep debt to finance their children’s training.
Westerners in general would view the pressures placed on Korean children to be inappropriate; we like our children to be “well-rounded.” Korean parents, meanwhile, don’t fret over lost childhoods. Children are expected to do their share to help their family—and their country succeed.
Korean male players have had success, but not to the degree seen in the female ranks. Korean parents generally discourage their sons from athletic careers and steer them to traditional, academic pursuits. The mandatory two-year military service for young men also is a detriment in player development.
But parental push wouldn’t work without the reciprocal “hyo-nyo complex,” or the desire to be a “good, dutiful daughter.” Confucian philosophy emphasizes “hyo” — or filial piety — as a virtue above all else. And with it comes young golfers’ burdens of ensuring a return on their parents’ investment and willingness to endure “almost militaristic” training.
It may seem extreme but scientists believe, and evidence shows, that physiological changes in the brain that take place during repetitive practice at a young age may make the difference between a world class athlete and the rest of us.
But, independent of these academic discoveries, talent factories in Korea, Jamaica and around the world have long been taking advantage of this critical stage in development…
