Abingdonboy
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2010
- Messages
- 29,597
- Reaction score
- 46
- Country
- Location
This is scientific fact no doubt, they will perform better in high altitudes (hence why all Sherpas that go up Everest carrying all the climbers' gear aren't accredited with climbing it) and at low altitudes in terms of stamina and endurance (hence why many endurance athletes train in high altitude areas) but the claim that all Gurkhas are inherently fierce warriors is just nonsense- there is zero logic to back this up, fighting skill and fitting ability all comes down to the training the Army imparts on them.Even I don't believe in the bs about martial race. But with Gurkhas (as with Ethiopian and highland Kenyans), I think there is also a scientific reasoning as well -- they are the natives of the rarefied environment of the highest mountain range in the world and combined with harsh and impoverished living conditions over the millennium toughened these people. Isolated into their mountain kingdom, their bodies seem to adapted to oxygen-scarce mountainous environment. So when you put them on lower altitudes, they are like on steroids!
Same is the case with Ethiopians and highland Kenyans who almost always win marathons anywhere in the world!
But you are absolutely right -- training and equipment can make any ordinary man a tough soldier!