# Gurkha VS Navy Seal - hand to hand **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 29, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528 "2011-08-29T18:56:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sizzlefry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Sizzlefry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sizzlefry)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/1 "2011-08-29T18:56:50Z")
Who would win a hand to hand fight between a Gurkha and a Navy Seal? Is this even fair? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/2 "2011-08-29T18:59:02Z")
Both Gurkhas and Seals are in the business of never getting into fair fights. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/3 "2011-08-29T19:11:31Z")
Batman, if he’s prepared. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/4 "2011-08-29T19:16:44Z")
You know those guys carry guns, right? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/5 "2011-08-29T19:17:30Z")
Well, send an e-mail to _World’s Deadliest Warrior_ - maybe they’ll do an episode about it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/6 "2011-08-29T19:23:59Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You know those guys carry guns, right? And that just pisses off a Ghurka no end. And that’s a _bad_ thing. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/7 "2011-08-29T19:37:06Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > And that just pisses off a Ghurka no end. > > And that’s a _bad_ thing. Indeed [it is](http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htinf/articles/20110203.aspx). ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/8 "2011-08-29T20:26:11Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Indeed [it is](http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htinf/articles/20110203.aspx). Three dead, eight wounded, and another 30 armed bandits driven off by a retiree with a big freaking knife. Okay, SEAL Team 6, what’s your counteroffer? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/9 "2011-08-29T20:50:45Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Three dead, eight wounded, and another 30 armed bandits driven off by a retiree with a big freaking knife. Okay, SEAL Team 6, what’s your counteroffer? The seals can’t answer you. The aircraft carrier they were on is sinking from Kukri slashes. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/10 "2011-08-29T21:02:42Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > The seals can’t answer you. The aircraft carrier they were on is sinking from Kukri slashes. _\_ “There’s a Gurkha on the engine!” ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/11 "2011-08-29T21:22:00Z")
When you’re talking about trained fighters, it’s going to depend on the individuals and circumstances involved in a particular fight. You can’t say any Gurkha beats any Seal all the time, nor can you say any Seal beats any Ghurka all the time. Either type of fighter is perfectly capable of taking out the other (or for that matter, anyone else), in the right situation. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/12 "2011-08-29T21:27:00Z")
How could a [trendy bag](http://www.ghurka.com/ghurka-bags.asp) possibly fendi off a Navy Seal? 🙂 A friend of mine works for Ghurka, and this is a source of amusement for both of us. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/13 "2011-08-29T21:32:29Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > When you’re talking about trained fighters, it’s going to depend on the individuals and circumstances involved in a particular fight. You can’t say any Gurkha beats any Seal all the time, nor can you say any Seal beats any Ghurka all the time. Either type of fighter is perfectly capable of taking out the other (or for that matter, anyone else), in the right situation. OK, but what if we put one of each in the same Thunderdome? ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/14 "2011-08-29T21:33:16Z")
I have read multiple versions about that Gurkha story. The one that is most popular is more embellished and seems to have become ‘gospel’, and by far the most common now. > **[Telegraph India | Latest News, Top Stories, Opinion, News Analysis and Comments](https://www.telegraphindia.com/)** > > Read Latest News on Politics, Business, Sports, Bollywood, Technology, and Science on The Telegraph India. Stay with us! This one seems more credible to me, due the increased detail of the circumstances. My vote would be the SEAL statistically, because he is likely to be physically larger. With similar training, usually the larger guy wins. Otara ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/15 "2011-08-29T21:35:21Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Indeed [it is](http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htinf/articles/20110203.aspx). If you take on a Gurkha, you’ll find yourself in a **pickle!** Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/16 "2011-08-29T22:54:21Z")
> [@Otara](#): > > With similar training, usually the larger guy wins. > > Otara Unless they’re using guns, in which case the smaller guy has the advantage of being a smaller target. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/17 "2011-08-29T23:14:07Z")
> [@Otara](#): > > I have read multiple versions about that Gurkha story. The one that is most popular is more embellished and seems to have become ‘gospel’, and by far the most common now. > > [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100904/jsp/bengal/story\_12895050.jsp](http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100904/jsp/bengal/story_12895050.jsp) > > This one seems more credible to me, due the increased detail of the circumstances. Do you HAVE to be such a wet blanket? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/18 "2011-08-29T23:23:52Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Do you HAVE to be such a wet blanket? 😉 SEALs are in **Otara** ’s room, _making_ them say that! They’re sneaky that way. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/19 "2011-08-29T23:51:46Z")
My Dad is a WestPoint grad and an Airborne Ranger (from the days when that’s what Rambo wanted to be when he grew up). He’s worked with Gurkhas, and he says: “Gurkha always wins.” The SEAL is likely bigger, stronger and better fed. But the Gurkha has been in more knife fights his first year on the job than the average SEAL will see in his career. He has hunted and killed whatever he ate for dinner for most of life - long before he joined a military outfit. He won’t hesitate while testing his opponent, or be curious to see how he opens. Gurkha has no interest at all in maiming or disarming and he’s never wasted any time training for that. He is about the immediate definitive kill. If he couldn’t beat the SEAL, he would have been a corpse long ago. That’s the difference. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528/20 "2011-08-30T04:09:27Z")
In a gun fight, the SEAL wins. In a hand to hand situation, toss a coin. In a knife fight, the seal gets clubbed. If the Gurkha is named Leroy Brown, he wins by default. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurkha-vs-navy-seal-hand-to-hand/594528.md?page=2)