I see lots of problems with the protocol.
Why do 10 “actual” attempts? Does the Demonstrator have to successfully move all 10 in order to pass? So as soon as 1 “actual” attempt fails, the applicant fails? What about the “fake” attempts? If the Demonstrator moves the person on one of the fake attempts, does the applicant fail? What if the Demonstrator claims that he is such a powerful Tai Chi master that sometimes in that pose his Fa Jin goes off even when he doesn’t want it to?
Exactly how far back does a person have to be moved to count as a pass of a “actual” test? How is this measured? How is it determined whether or not both feet came off the ground? Do they have to be off the ground at the same time? What if the person is pushed back, but instead of hopping they sort of leap with one foot and then the other, but at some point both feet are off the ground; does that count?
How are the random subjects selected? If the subjects don’t know what it is that is expected to be done to them, how do you make sure none of them have health or physical issues that could cause them problems, whether the Fa Jin works or not? How do you make sure that none of the “randomly” selected subjects are not in cahoots with the Demonstrator?
And as Horatius pointed out, if any of the subjects are secretly in league with the Demonstrator, limiting noises that could be used as communication is pointless. They could easily come up with all kinds of complex methods of communication that could not be detected: looking in a certain direction, touching a certain place on the body, bending a finger in a certain way, placing the feet in a certain direction, moving an arm or a leg a certain way, or any combination of such things that could be different for each trial.
I appreciate the work you have done here, but it is better to keep it simple. All you need is one reliable subject who you know won’t cheat. Then the test is simple. Really all you need is a narrow cardboard box, a board, and a tape measure.
The box is placed between the Demonstrator and the Subject. The Demonstrator has to stay on his side of the box (and of course the Subject will stay on his side). The purpose is to limit the Demonstrator ‘s forward movement so that he does use any “illegal moves” such as just barreling into the Subject like a defensive lineman or trying to grab the Subject and pick him up and throw him backward. Any simple barrier would do: small table, stool, chair, trash can, fence, or even just a bar at about waist height.
The other element is the board. About 3/4 inch thick, 3 long, and 6 inches high. This is set up at, say, 6 inches behind the Subject’s feet. This little hurdle is our measuring device. The objective of the test is for the Demonstrator to stand on his side of the barrier and turn the Subject into a hoppy toad and bounce him up and over the hurdle. To pass the test, he must move the Subject’s feet to the other side of the hurdle without knocking the hurdle over.
That’s it. The Demonstrator could have maybe 3 tries at 30 seconds each. Maybe a couple minutes break between each try. And, of course, before the test the Demonstrator could work with one of his students to make sure the set up and his Fa Jin and life force energy and so forth is working properly.
And I still like my idea of getting the Subject’s toes off the ground. Maybe get another one of those 3/4 inch boards and have the Subject stand with his toes up on the board. That would make it very difficult to even involuntarily jump back over the hurdle.
Great stuff matey, lots of things to consider:
Q: Why do 10 “actual” attempts? Does the Demonstrator have to successfully move all 10 in order to pass? So as soon as 1 “actual” attempt fails, the applicant fails?
A: The protocol says that 10 actual attempts are made and a successfull test is 6 "hits" out of 10
Q: If the Demonstrator moves the person on one of the fake attempts, does the applicant fail? What if the Demonstrator claims that he is such a powerful Tai Chi master that sometimes in that pose his Fa Jin goes off even when he doesn’t want it to?
A: Fair point. The idea with the coin toss is, as correctly pointed out above, to further randomize the test subjects to minimize the possible skewed results from "stooges" infiltrating the test sample. That the purpose so is there a better way??
Q: How are the random subjects selected?
A: Yup good question. If the test was say at a university it could come from the student body. Any suggestions??
Q: If the subjects don’t know what it is that is expected to be done to them, how do you make sure none of them have health or physical issues that could cause them problems, whether the Fa Jin works or not?
A: A pre-test screening questionnaire could work. Or else just recruit a local football team
Q: How do you make sure that none of the “randomly” selected subjects are not in cahoots with the Demonstrator?
A: Firstly by not letting the Demonstrator know where the test subjects are being being source from before the test. And again, even if one or two cohorts get through the door, the coin toss would further randomize results.
Q: Exactly how far back does a person have to be moved to count as a pass of a “actual” test? How is this measured?
A: Under "Definition of Fajin" in the draft it says quite clearly "and send him backwards 3-4 feet". This could be measured with pre-test markings on the floor.
Q: How is it determined whether or not both feet came off the ground? Do they have to be off the ground at the same time? What if the person is pushed back, but instead of hopping they sort of leap with one foot and then the other, but at some point both feet are off the ground; does that count?
A: Michael Phillips is quite clear that he "can instantly shear the opponent off their feet, both feet clear off the ground in a single moment". Thus both feet leave the ground at the same time and land at the same time. A side-on camera angle will be sufficient to determine this. Both feet have to be clearly off the floor at the same time.
I appreciate the simplicity of having only one test subject. But how do you know with 100% that they wont be compliant? Perhaps recruiting MMA fighters like they did when investigating Tom Cameron (search "The Human Stun Gun Investigation" on Youtube). MMA lads can be trusted to "keep it real".
The barrier idea is fine but I don't see that it is necessary, and the hurdle idea is to much of a hazard risk in terms of the subject stumbling backwards accidentally.
Cheers for your input matey, keep those objective thoughts rolling
