Fight Science

Legend tests

The agility of a ninjutsu practitioner (Glen Levy) was confirmed by showing that one's center of gravity constantly shifts to balance within the foot's limit, though it requires much practice and possibly years of training. The one-punch knockout and shattering bricks with one's head were confirmed only as a perfect shot, making them unlikely in a real fight. A so-called "death punch" by Glen Levy, a precise hammer-fist blow to the chest, deflected the ribcage 2 inches into the chest cavity, causing damage measuring 0.8 in Viscous Criterion. The Iron Shirt technique was demonstrated by a Shaolin warrior monk who, while pushing down on a blunt spear at his throat with over 2100 pounds of force, was struck across the back with a wooden staff and remained unscathed and unbruised.

Weapon tests

When testing weapons, experts judged them by range, control, and impact. Eskrima sticks and the bō could reach far and handle well, but they snapped under heavy force.

The nunchaku and three-section staff also extended reach, yet they lost control for a split second after a hit, and their flexibility absorbed some of the blow. Shuriken and bows only worked from a distance, since the user lost all control once the weapon left their hand. Swords were once either for stabbing, like the rapier, or slashing, like the scimitar, but the katana proved strong at both.