|
An interesting article here on diving:
Somewhere in the primordial part of his mind the pressure and cold water trigger orders to conserve the oxygen supply in his bloodstream. His spleen shrinks substantially, raising the level of oxygen-enriched hemoglobin. Because blood shift takes blood from the limbs, the burning of oxygen is much reduced -- only the brain and vital organs are drawing it. Receptor cells around Ravelo's lips cue the slowing of his heart by as much as 50 percent -- a phenomenon, known as diving bradycardia, that sometimes allows near-drowning victims to be revitalized forty minutes after sinking into icy water.
Regarding fighting armoured opponents, Shao_Long is partially correct. The form of unarmed combat developed on the island of Okinawa did indeed allow its practitioners to penetrate the Samuri armour - however that armour was made from bamboo, not metal.
It's also worth mentioning the Hwa Rang (Flowering Knights), who learned to kill an opponent with a single linear thrust punch which was capable of breaking through wooden armour.
|