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".
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".
At some point these people had to surrender their reason to the extent that they literally could not approach the man. One wonders how they explain to themselves that despite their own training, they did not develop the skill too.
What is really amazing is the master seems to buy his own act. Has he surrounded himself with brainwashed sycophants for so long that he truly believes he is untouchable? I thought that was a condition reserved for movie stars.
We see what happens when delusion meets reality. The MMA fighter, despite clearly being concerned for the man's safety, draws blood right away. The master never even offers a defense, so completely does he believe in his power.
Surely after being hit, the master will change tactics, right? Blood should bring the reality of the situation into pretty clear focus. Alas, there is no way to change the inevitable.
What worries me is not that the master was embarrassed and his students disillusioned. What worries me is that I am certain that most of them, including the master himself, still cling to their illusions. Their mythology must now account for this loss, but I am confident they will explain it creatively and continue to live within their delusions.
What is really amazing is the master seems to buy his own act. Has he surrounded himself with brainwashed sycophants for so long that he truly believes he is untouchable? I thought that was a condition reserved for movie stars.
We see what happens when delusion meets reality. The MMA fighter, despite clearly being concerned for the man's safety, draws blood right away. The master never even offers a defense, so completely does he believe in his power.
Surely after being hit, the master will change tactics, right? Blood should bring the reality of the situation into pretty clear focus. Alas, there is no way to change the inevitable.
What worries me is not that the master was embarrassed and his students disillusioned. What worries me is that I am certain that most of them, including the master himself, still cling to their illusions. Their mythology must now account for this loss, but I am confident they will explain it creatively and continue to live within their delusions.
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