"I've Got a Secret"
Are there any words more enticing to the human mind?  We all want to learn the "secrets" to wealth, fitness, love, personal defense, whatever.

In the video here you see some people who have bought into the idea that there are secret methods that will make them safe - invincible, maybe.  You also see what happens when they meet people who don't share those beliefs.

     Martial arts seem to provide a never ending showcase for self-delusion.  It was only natural that fraudulent schools of "Kung Fu" would spring up across America when Bruce Lee made Chinese boxing famous in movies.  Likewise, in the 80s it was hard to walk down the street in any town without running into would - be "ninja".
     Frauds and cons have been with us always.  That is no surprise.  What IS  amazing to me is the number of people who manage to con themselves. 

Look at the video here.  Consider that somehow, this "master"'s students have become convinced that he has a mystical power to paralyze them with his Ki - the mystical "life force".