Originally Posted by
brendan V Lanza
...Also, the tai chi video is from a center for buddhistic studies, why would they risk dirtying their name for parlor tricks?
In many cases, the people involved believe in what they are doing. They're just ill informed on science (or delusional). Morihei Ueshiba O-sensei, for example, believed that invisible rays eminating from his body allowed him to sense intruders. Today we would say that he had a hightened sense of awareness even when sleeping, coupled with very good hearing, etc., but that there are no "invisble rays." That doesn't mean that O-sensei wasn't a great man deserving great respect.
Fervent belief in a thing doesn't make the thing real. That doesn't make the believer a liar, though.
Other times, it's misunderstanding of what's being seen. Asian concepts don't always have clear translations into the English language, and so concepts become distorted.
HTH.
Yours in Budo,
---Brian---