1. "Fight Science" brings together ballistics, biomechanics, and crash-test technology for the first time ever.

2. Engineers measure and map the speed, force, and range of nerves, muscles, bones, and weapons.

3. Data is collected at 20,000 samples per second.

4. The motion-capture technique requires reflective markers over the fighters' bodies, allowing for sophisticated animation of bones, muscles, and nerves.

5. Filming took place in a custom-built dojo—equipped with 32 infrared motion-capture cameras, three high-definition cameras, and three high-speed cameras.

6. The technology allows scientists to peer inside a fighter's body as he moves in real time.

7. Special sensors—used in NASA spacesuits, sports science, and the crash-test industry—take data from inside the fighters' shoes to see how some are able to maintain catlike balance no matter what the obstacle.

8. Measurements indicate that a kung fu punch travels 40 feet (12.19 meters) per second, four times faster than a cobra strike.

9. Data indicates tae kwon do fighters react in only 0.18 seconds-nearly twice as fast as the blink of a human eye.

10. The human body has 206 bones, more than 600 muscles, and miles of nerves.

11. The foot and ankle contain 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 1,000 muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

12. Motion-capture shows that the punch starts not in the fists, but in the feet.