[familyop]

"FWIW, when the Sikhs gave up on pacifism and decided to fight back against Islamic agression, their leaders instructed them to eat meat so they would grow strong. Important in an era when combat was hand to hand."

Agreed on the need for meat. I can tell you from experience, though, that effective fire and maneuver with small arms requires extreme endurance and strength. It can be more exhausting than a rugby match or prize fight (also from experience).

[Sherman Logan]

No personal experience in deadly combat, but from what I’ve read adrenalin and other hormonal responses to the greatest stress anyone can be under are largely responsible for the exhaustion factor. I’m not sure the specific variety of combat makes a great deal of difference.

To attempt to salvage my original point. I suspect combat with edged weapons is more dependent on sheer physical strength than modern combat, for which stamina is more important.