Common Sense.

There are cults in the Martial Arts; personality cults around which small followings grow in which worship is in the form of someone presenting themselves as having something others do not... The one true way.
This tends to appeal to that part of the psyche that needs to feel special, privy to information no one else has, part of something greater than the self, and this is normal human behavior, but it is a huge flaw, a weakness upon which these sorts of people prey.


Certainly they may not make any money at these things, but it does make them feel greater than they actually are, charimsatic attention seekers that they are, they really cannot help themselves and, more often than not, will never recognize that there is a problem (believing their own stories so whole heartedly that, even when they are shown the truth, they have justifications ready to reinforce the story when it is shattered).


There is NO one true way. A correct and original way are not the same thing and what is correct for one person is not necessarily correct for another.
There is NO pure way, each walks the path in their own way, this is why variations pop up, sometimes from the Teacher, sometimes from insight, but no one EVER does things EXACTLY as their Teachers have done, it is simply not possible.


One can usually tell when someone else is a part of something like this, they make claims, they argue against someone else's claims with their own claims, but they seldom actually back up those claims, simply saying things like, 'If only you knew who I knew.'
Basically a cop-out, but they reinforce their own story in their heads this way and do not elaborate further.


My advice? Stay away from groups like this and, if your curiosity gets the better of you, keep a reasonable mind about your shoulders, remain a true skeptic, take what is useful and remain honest about the rest, do NOT give your mind and heart over to these people.
Often they speak very well, they have stories they share, most of which are embellished, but in the end, none of them really have any idea what they are talking about and, when one looks more closely at the information they provide they will find gaping holes... Heed these red flags.


Stay safe in your practice. The best self defense is simply having common sense.