Deadliest Warrior premiered on April 7, 2009 at 10 pm ET. Nine one-hour episodes of the show were produced for Season 1. Season 1 was released on DVD and Blu-ray on May 11, 2010.
Episode 1: Apache vs. Gladiator
Apache team: Alan Tafoya (world champion knife fighter), Snake Blocker (U.S. Army combat instructor) Apache weapons: Tomahawk, knife, bow and arrow, war club Apache armor: Rawhide shield Apache statistics: Height: 5 feet 7 inches, Weight: 140 pounds, Armor: None, Gear: 10 pounds
Gladiator team: Chris Torres (ancient weapons specialist), Steven Dietrich (gladiator combat instructor), Chuck Liddell (the Iceman) Gladiator weapons: Cestus, scissor, trident & net, sling, sica Gladiator armor: Murmillo helmet, leather shield Gladiator statistics: Height: 5 feet 8 inches, Weight: 185 pounds, Armor: Bronze, Gear: 10–38 pounds
+ Results Apache Kills Gladiator Kills Short-range weapons Tomahawk 153 Cestus Scissor 25 25 Mid-range weapons Knife 266 Trident & net 166 Long-range weapons Bow & arrow 188 Sling 1 Special weapons War club 60 Sica 116 Totals 667 333
Though gladiators were class based and each had designated weapons, for this episode a generalized gladiator was used that combined weapons and armor of different classes. This was done so that the gladiator would be able to compete at different ranges, normally unnecessary in that they had one weapon combination (sword and shield, trident and net, etc.) and only fought other gladiators of opposite classes to optimize the entertainment. For short-range weapons, the tomahawk was tested against the cestus and the scissor. Snake Blocker tested two types of tomahawk on a gel head: one made of stone and one made of the jaw bone of a horse, both of which tore off the back of the head. However, the tomahawk made from a horse's jawbone visually appeared to cause considerably greater damage. The velocity of the stone tomahawk was measured, but the results were not relayed on the airing of the show. Alan Tafoya then threw iron tomahawks at wood targets and penetrated deep into them, two striking at 29 mph, and one at 32 mph. The cestus and scissor, wielded by Chuck Liddell, were tested on a 400-lb piece of beef. The cestus broke its ribs while the scissor almost cut it in half. Before the cestus test, Chuck Liddell's natural punching speed and power were measured: Liddell's punching speed was clocked at 14 meters per second—almost 50 percent faster than the average Olympic boxer—while his punching power was judged to deliver 1000 pounds of force—enough to break most facial bones on contact. The cestus effectively tripled this. A divided panel gave the edge to the versatility of the tomahawk. For mid-range weapons, the knife was tested against the trident and net. The knife's versatility was demonstrated when Snake Blocker threw three knives at three targets in under three seconds. Snake Blocker also demonstrated Apache knife fighting techniques, such as the "piercing buffalo", on a dummy garbed as a gladiator and wearing a gladiator's helmet. The trident, wielded by Chris Torres, was then tested on a gel torso and managed to puncture its heart with the main prong, a side prong puncturing the spleen. The trident and net was given the edge due to its flexibility as an offensive-defensive combo. For long-range weapons, the sling was tested against the bow and arrow. Steven Dietrich launched a lead sling shot at 91 mph. The shot was then simulated by an air cannon which drove a lead sling shot into a gel head and shattered the upper jaw, penetrating just past the nose. Alan Tafoya, wielding the bow and arrow, first fired an arrow at a wooden target as the velocity of the arrow was clocked; the arrow's velocity was measured at roughly 65 miles per hour. Tafoya then fired multiple arrows at a gel torso in quick succession, landing multiple death strikes, including a shot between two ribs, a shot to the neck that would have severed the spinal cord, and a shot along the jawline that would have jutted into the base of the brain. The edge was given to the bow and arrow due to its superior range, accuracy, and lethality. For special weapons, the sica was tested against the war club. Steven Dietrich was able to almost cut off a gel arm with the sica, cutting cleanly through skin and muscle tissue to the bone. The war club, wielded by Snake Blocker, was then tested on two targets: a bare skull and a Gladiator's helmet. It completely shattered the skull but was broken against the helmet. The sica was given the edge for its cutting ability and the club's failure. The Apache is the first of thirteen warriors to win after scoring more kills at mid range and long range. The trident and net is the first weapon to be given the edge and score fewer kills than the opposing weapon. According to the given statistics, the Gladiator had a size advantage of 1 inch and 45 lbs, with heavier gear of up to 28 lbs difference. The Gladiator is the heaviest warrior featured in Season 1. The Gladiator is the first warrior to have more weapons than his opponent (Gladiator 5, Apache 4).
Reenactment 1
The warriors encounter each other in a grassy field. The Gladiator advances on the Apache, trident raised. The Apache fires an arrow at the Gladiator, hitting his shield, and easily dodges a sling shot riposte from the Gladiator. The Apache's second arrow hits the closing Gladiator in the stomach. He pulls the arrow out, slings another stone at the retreating Apache, but misses. The Apache fires another arrow before further retreating into the trees.
The Gladiator catches up, and attacks with trident and net. The Apache tries to block with his shield, but it is thrown aside by the trident. The Apache swings his tomahawk at the Gladiator. The two fight hand-to-hand, but the Gladiator kicks the Apache to the ground. He advances with his trident while the Apache tries to avoid the weapon. The trident gets stuck in a tree branch, but the Gladiator quickly frees it and continues to attack. With few options left, the Apache tries a run. The Gladiator, however, quickly throws his net, tripping and ensnaring the Apache. The Gladiator throws the trident at the Apache, but he just manages to roll away and escape from the net. He throws a tomahawk, which sails past the Gladiator's helmet.
They now fight with sica and war club. The Gladiator tries to cut the Apache with the sica, but the Apache knocks it out of his hand with the war club. His second swing knocks off the Gladiator's helmet. The Apache charges and tries to strike his opponent's exposed head with his club. However, the Gladiator knocks him to the ground with his shield then punches his face repeatedly with the cestus. The Apache got up with his knife. The Gladiator swings at him, but misses. The Apache then started to knife the Gladiator's limbs. He then cut the Gladiator's neck. The Apache then repeatedly knifes him, licks the blood off the knife, lets out a war cry, and flees.
Winner: Apache
Episode 2: Viking vs. Samurai
Viking team: Casey Hendershot (Viking weapons instructor), Matt Nelson (Viking combat expert) Viking weapons: Great axe, long sword, spear, shield Viking armor: Steel helmet, chain mail, wooden shield Viking statistics: Height: 5 feet 11 inches, Weight: 180 pounds, Gear: 65 pounds, Armor: Chain mail
Samurai team: Tetsuro Shigematsu (Samurai descendant), Brett Chan (Samurai weapons expert) Samurai weapons: katana, naginata, yumi, kanabō Samurai armor: Kabuto, Dō-Maru Samurai statistics: Height: 5 feet 3 inches, Weight: 135 pounds, Gear: 65 pounds, Armor: Steel & Leather
+ Results Viking Kills Samurai Kills Short-range weapons Great axe 134 katana 137 Mid-range weapons Long sword 175 naginata 171 Long-range weapons Spear 92 yumi 114 Special Weapons Shield 77 Kanabo 100 Totals 478 522
For short-range weapons, the katana was tested against the great axe. The katana was tested first against three tatami bamboo mats, rated as having the same density as human bone. All were cut in one clean swipe in under a third of a second. It was tested next on pig carcasses and cut through two pigs cleanly, severing vertebrae each time. Lastly, the katana was tested against the Viking's chainmail but failed to do any real damage. The great axe was first tested on a thick, short block of wood. The block was easily chopped in two, with the force being measured at 11,000 newtons (roughly 2000 pounds of force). Dr. Armand Dorian felt that a blow from such a weapon would be sufficient to sever a limb. The great axe was next used on a ballistics-gel torso, nearly cleaving the gel dummy in half in a downward chop, the blade reaching deeply beyond the heart and lungs. Dr. Dorian compared the injury to that of a trauma victim run over by a train. However, the great axe bounced off a Samurai helmet in a similar overhead chop. High-speed footage of the test indicated that a person wearing the helmet at the time of the strike would possibly suffer minor head trauma, but little more. A narrow advantage was given to the axe due to its greater killing power. For mid-range weapons, the long sword was tested against the naginata. The naginata proved itself as a quick ranged weapon by slicing a dummy with several quick cuts, taking off part of the skull and exposing brain matter in one, slashing through the face and jaw and slicing off part of the jawbone in the second, and breaking through a rib and stabbing the heart in the last test. The long sword was also very effective, making a very deep slash across the side of the head and into the brain cavity on its first strike, impaling the neck on the second and making a slash across the neck on the third. Geoff Desmoulin stated that the only thing which kept the gel skull from being completely decapitated by the long sword's strike was the metal supporting rod (which was itself chipped). The edge was given to the long sword due to its killing power. For long-range weapons, the Viking's spear was tested against the Samurai's yumi bow. The spear was thrown at targets 25 feet away and penetrated wood targets several inches thick. Two spears were also thrown at once and were found capable of the same degree of penetration. The yumi hit two dummies from 45 feet. Its accuracy was further demonstrated when dummy eyes were hit at a distance of 25 feet. The yumi was given the advantage due to its accuracy and range. For special weapons, the Viking's shield was tested against the Samurai's kanabo. The Viking's round shield proved itself effective both as a defensive shield and a bludgeoning weapon. A large, 35-pound version of the kanabo was tested and shattered a cow's femur as well as breaking off a part of the shield, although many of the studs in the club were knocked out in the process. The kanabo's force was measured at 470 psi, and it was theorized that an arm behind the shield would suffer at least one broken bone. In a comparison of killing ability, the kanabo was given the edge. The Samurai is one of six warrior-types with no battle cry at the end of the battle. The Samurai is one of three warrior-types to get at least 100 kills with each weapon. The Viking is the first warrior to lose despite having the most effective weapon in the fight, which was the long sword. The great axe is the second weapon to be given the edge and score fewer kills than the opposing weapon. According to the listed statistics, the Viking had a size advantage of and the largest discrepancy in physical size of Season 1. The Samurai had lighter gear by . The Samurai is tied with the Ninja as the lightest warrior featured on Season 1.
Reenactment 2