M.A. Sceptic Glossary

This is where you will find a glossary of sceptical subjects in relation to the martial arts world.

Fakir Tricks - Since at least the turn of the 20th century there has been widespread demonstrations given by martial artists to promote the "supernatural powers" they claim to possess. Firewalking, walking on broken glass, fire eating, sword swallowing, laying on beds of nails, bending bars on throats and - most popular of all - breaking hard objects like stones, bricks and wood are sometimes used to "prove" the existance of qi/chi/ki energy in the same way that Indian fakirs used these tricks to claim great spiritual powers or to claim holiness. http://skepdic.com/fakir.html

Goofy - a derogatory term largely used by martial arts sceptics, the Straight Blast Gym, comparable to "woo woo", to describe the "mystical", pseudoscientific and unrealistic side of martial arts training.

McDojo - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mcdojo A martial arts school that focuses far more on making a profit than training people to be competent at martial arts. The term is a "McWord" first made popular in Douglas Coupland's 1990s novel "Generation X".

Yellow Bamboo - http://skepdic.com/yellowbamboo.html