A weekly column dedicated to covering the science and history behind mixed martial arts.
UFC veteran Houston Alexander demonstrates how adrenaline can almost double the amount of force from a punch. Adrenaline is produced by your body in times of "fight or flight" and effects include increased heart rate and vasodilation - all of which sends more blood to the muscles in an effort to momentarily increase physical performance.
This is a very interesting field study since it also shows the emotional effect of an adrenaline dump on the fighter, which is intense to say the least.
Here is a short and sweet history lesson, courtesy of TheFightNerd.com, on the first sanctioned MMA fight in American history - grappling legend "Judo" Gene Lebell vs. Milo Savage, a top ranked boxer, in Salt Lake City, Utah, in December of 1963. It was Judo vs. Boxing in this match, that was tag lined as "something new" for sports fans.
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