What does it truly mean to be tough? Is it the brute strength to deliver a knockout punch, the resilience to absorb punishment and rise again, or the mental fortitude to persevere through unimaginable hardships? Maybe it’s the audacity to challenge someone to a duel over a perceived slight. Whatever your definition, prepare to be amazed by this list of ten individuals who embody toughness in its purest form.
10. Lenny McLean: The Guv’nor
Imagine the epitome of a hard-as-nails individual. Chances are, the image closely resembles Lenny McLean. This East End Londoner was a force to be reckoned with, participating in countless unlicensed, often bare-knuckle fights. Before becoming one of London’s most feared bouncers, he served as an enforcer for numerous notorious gangsters.
McLean’s life has been chronicled in films, documentaries, and a best-selling autobiography. For a glimpse into his persona, watch Guy Ritchie’s 1998 hit, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, where McLean plays a formidable East End bouncer.[1]
9. Jean-Jacques Burnel: A Proper Strangler
While bare-knuckle boxing and bouncer work necessitate toughness, the life of a pop star doesn’t immediately spring to mind. However, Jean-Jacques Burnel, the bassist for The Stranglers, proves that appearances can be deceiving.
Growing up as the son of French immigrants in London’s Notting Hill, JJ faced bullying and mockery due to his background. It was here he started honing his self-defense skills.
Burnel joined The Stranglers in 1974. As a prominent punk band, they were no strangers to the occasional brawl. In one notable incident, a misunderstanding between Burnel and Paul Simonon of The Clash led to a massive backstage altercation involving members of The Clash, the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, and their fans. Given Burnel’s expertise in karate (he’s the UK branch chief of Shidokan), it’s safe to assume he held his own.[2]
8. Jerry Collins: Rugby’s Terminator
In New Zealand, rugby isn’t just a sport; it’s a national religion. And the All Blacks are its superheroes. Among their ranks, no player instilled more fear in opponents than Jerry “The Terminator” Collins.[3]
Collins’s chilling, shark-like grin and bone-crushing tackles made him a fan favorite. His playing style was likened to a violent storm. Sadly, Collins and his partner, Alana Madill, tragically passed away in a car accident in 2015. He was only 34. His daughter, Ayla, miraculously survived the crash.
The video above provides an excellent glimpse into Collins’s imposing presence on the rugby field and demonstrate his ferocious tackling ability.
7. Joe Medicine Crow: Last War Chief
To earn the title of “war chief” in the Crow tribe, a warrior had to achieve four feats: touching an enemy without killing them, seizing an enemy’s weapon, leading a successful war party, and stealing an enemy’s horse.
Joe Medicine Crow accomplished all four of these during World War II. Earning a Master’s degree, he became a legend for his bravery in the European theater. He led a seven-man squad on a sabotage mission, disarmed a Nazi soldier in hand-to-hand combat, and stole 50 horses from a Nazi battalion.
Achieving these preindustrial feats during a modern, mechanized conflict proves Joe Medicine Crow’s unparalleled toughness. He later became an esteemed tribal spokesman and author.[4]
6. Polyana Viana: Mugger’s Ruin
Women’s mixed martial arts (MMA) has shattered the myth that “women aren’t tough.” Polyana Viana is a prime example, both in the octagon and on the streets of Rio.[5]
In 2019, Viana was accosted by a mugger who threatened her with a gun. Upon realizing the “gun” was a piece of cardboard, she swiftly neutralized the situation, leaving the would-be thief battered and defeated.
Brazil’s emergence as a breeding ground for extraordinary fighters raises the question: Why would anyone attempt to mug someone in a country where MMA is essentially the national sport?
5. Paul Vice: The Unkillable Corporal
Sometimes, toughness is defined by the ability to endure extreme punishment. Corporal Paul Vice, a Royal Marines commando, embodies this resilience. During a patrol in Afghanistan in 2011, he was caught in an IED blast.
Suffering catastrophic injuries, Vice “died” twice during the airlift to Camp Bastion, enduring over 100 separate injuries and 300 pieces of shrapnel in his body.
After a long and arduous recovery, Vice competed in the 2014 Invictus Games, winning a gold medal in cycling. In 2016, he earned seven Invictus Games medals.[6]
4. Courtney Dauwalter: Record Setter
This American athlete must have feet of steel to accomplish what she does.[7] Winning 9 out of 12 races in a year is impressive, but when those races are over 100 miles, it’s astounding.
During the 2017 Run Rabbit Run 100-mile race, she won despite battling temporary blindness for the last 12 miles!
Most people would struggle to run with blurry vision; Dauwalter ran and won an ultramarathon!
3. Lady Almeria Braddock: Petticoat-Clad Duelist
Before duels fell out of favor in England, many were fought over perceived insults. In 1792, Lady Almeria Braddock, a woman of fierce pride, was confronted by Mrs. Elphinstone’s disparaging remarks about her age.
Mrs. Elphinstone implied that Lady Braddock was over 60, which the young Lady Braddock could not tolerate. She demanded satisfaction, and a duel was arranged, with Lady Braddock boldly choosing both swords and pistols.
After Mrs. Elphinstone grazed her opponent’s hat with a bullet, Lady Braddock insisted on continuing with swords, ultimately wounding Mrs. Elphinstone’s arm.
While the veracity of this tale remains uncertain, it reflects the spirit of an era where even highborn ladies could be remarkably tough.[8]
2. Travis Kauffman: Lion Tamer
Travis Kauffman, a Colorado native, enjoys running and skiing. Oh, and in 2019, he killed a mountain lion with his bare hands.
During a trail run, Kauffman was ambushed by a juvenile mountain lion. In a 10-minute battle, Kauffman emerged victorious, sustaining injuries to his face and wrist.[9]
1. David Goggins: Motivational Speaker, Total A*s-Kicker
David Goggins transformed himself from an asthmatic, obese individual into an embodiment of toughness.
He is the only person to complete Air Force Tactical Air Controller training, US Army Ranger School as “Enlisted Honor Man,” and Navy SEAL training. After three “hell weeks,” he served on SEAL Team Five in Iraq.[10]
Goggins raised $2 million for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. He’s completed numerous ultramarathons and briefly held the Guinness World Record for “Most Pull-Ups in 24 Hours” (4,030 in 17 hours).
Goggins is the real deal—an inspiring figure who has pushed his body and mind to the absolute limit.
These individuals redefine the boundaries of human toughness. Who do you find most inspiring? Leave your comment below!
