Kenneth DeSoto wrote:

Don, 
I tend to disagree with you.  I've read all 38 volumes of the manga, and to
this very day, Ranma is STILL, the best overall martial artist of his
generation.  Akane only briefly beat Ranma, when she is angry, but she also
loses control.  The next time
it happens again, Ranma will turn the tables on her.  After all, he may be
deficient
in school, but in the martial arts, he is at the top of his class.  The only
ones that can take on Ranma at his level are, Happosai, Cologne, The Seven
Lucky Gods,
and Herb.  Akane, at her best couldn't even beat Shampoo.

	Cologne can easily beat Ranma, as shown in the volume 31.  Well, among his 
friends Ranma is certainly the best martial artist, of course.
 

Besides that, Ranma hasn't even REACHED his full potential yet.  Within a
few years, he will be the best in the world.  So keep that in mind.  As for
his bravery/cowardice, I think that he is probably the the bravest character
in the cast.

	How do you know that?  Guess it is a question on how much is Ranma's full 
potenial, then.  I always figured that Ranma is almost at the top of his potenial 
already.  When he fights Herb and other real good martial artist, that seems to me that 
it is his limit.  Keep in mind that Akane at 100% potenial easily defeated Ranma.  True, 
Ranma got up very quickly, but he wasn't able to touch Akane at all.  All I say is this: 
Akane at 100% potenial is way better than Ranma in his current state.  If Ranma reached 
his potenial then it will be hard to say because no one knows how much better Ranma can 
improve.  It is pointless to spectulate how much potenial Ranma have because there is no 
answer.  Akane is definitely better than Ranma at his normal level when she is at her 
full potenial.  Of course Akane would easily lose if she wasn't at her full potenial.

After all, he has to eat Akane's cooking.....0_0! 

	Well, that would make Ryouga probably the bravest character.  Heck, Ryouga eats 
Akane's cooking and seems to be able to survive it better than Ranma.  At least Ryouga 
eats it and can act like it was nothing.  Ranma can't even do that!

********************************************************************************
"RANMA NO BAKA!" Akane Tendo, Ranma 1/2

"Power only breeds war ... I wish I'd never been born." Celes Chere, Final Fantasy 3

Don Wang <dwang@sprynet.com>
RPG, strategy game, and Ranma 1/2 fan.