mystery

and curiosity in the minds of many Westerners.
American military personnel returning from battle-torn Korea
brought with them tales describing unarmed fighting arts in
sharp contrast to the pugilistic sporting styles familiar to those
back home.
As legend had it, masters of diminutive stature would send
brawny servicemen flying through the air with a simple twist of
the hips. Others, it was claimed, endowed with a secret knowledge
of mind over matter, could kill with a single, well-placed
blow.