Have you ever seen an old man move a brick from 4 feet away, without touching it?  Or slide a butcher knife across his belly without getting cut? [Read more →]

Popularity: 5% [?]

The old Kung Fu master touched his assailant, with no apparent effect.  Days later, the assailant died a sudden and mysterious death.  He was a victim of the legendary dim mak, the touch of death.

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Dim mak is a popular discussion topic among martial arts enthusiasts.  Some instructors claim to have the skill, or believe that it was used to kill Bruce Lee.  Others insist that dim mak instructors are frauds and the skill itself is a complete fantasy.  Is there any evidence to support the existence of dim mak?  Could it possibly work? [Read more →]

Popularity: 95% [?]

This video clip from Ripley’s Believe It or Not showcases the qigong skills of master Zhou Ting-Jue.

In the first portion of the video, Zhou raises the temperature of a damp paper towel (containing a sheet of foil) above 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam rises from the towel. [Read more →]

Popularity: 24% [?]

In the new martial arts documentary Fight Science, computerized sensors are used to objectively measure the speed, power and balance of various martial artists. 

Among the findings:

• The boxer punches with 1000 pounds of force;
• The wushu practitioner moves faster than a snake;
• Damage from a Muay Thai knee is comparable to a 35MPH car crash.

These data points illustrate that martial arts practice results in a stronger, faster body.  However in my opinion, they capture neither the most significant benefits of practice, nor the most interesting esoteric skills. [Read more →]

Popularity: 9% [?]