On Mon, 25 Nov 1996, Martin Bennett wrote:

An Analysis of the Unrestricted (Anything Goes) Style of Martial Arts
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By: Plunger

This is really interesting... I have a few comments, though...

 

The first thing I notice about the Unrestricted style is that it is
predominantly very northern asian art in style and execution. That is, it's 
techniques are primarily taken from the Chinese and Japanese styles of 
fighting. Since this is the case, I have decided that it is highly unlikely 
that the Unrestricted style has been influenced in any significant way, shape
or form by any of the South East Asian styles. That is, I have excluded
styles like Muay Thai, Bando, Pentjak-Silat, Escrima, Kali and any of 
the Korean styles, which are, in themselves, highly derivative of 
the chinese styles. 

Though you are probably justified in excluding Korean styles, it's a bit 
misleading to lump them together with SE Asian styles, since Korea is 
north of CHina. :)

 

Firstly, the Unrestricted style appears to be very kata or form driven. 
This is shown by the regular use of kata by Ranma in the anime and manga 
series. This in itself is odd, given that by it's name, it should have a very 
similar Tao to that of styles such as Jeet Kune Do and Jujitsu. That is, that 
freedom and flexibility are of far more importance than regimented structure 
and fiddly techniques.

... but Ranma almost never uses kata in battle; in fact, the most common 
place to see him using kata is in the opening credits of the anime -- not 
necessarily the best source.  I think you can discount this aspect.
 

Secondly, there is no evidence that throwing is a regularly used technique
in any of the manga series with the exception of Akane chucking Ranma away,
and Happousai's use of leverage techniques (which I will go into later). It
is my belief that some such techniques are taught but Ranma prefers to use
striking techniques based on speed and precision striking rather than the use 
of such power and leverage techniques favoured by others lass physically
blessed. An examples of this is Cologne and Happousai, who use a large number 
of leverage throws due to their waning strength from age. 

And it's worth noting that Ranma is none too good at landing...

The Tendou variant of the Unrestricted style is a little more difficult to
classify as there has not been a lot of it shown. In the manga and anime,
only Akane and Soun are seen performing any of it's techniques. Based on the
fact that Soun settled down to look after his family (unlike Genma), he has
not been exposed to anywhere near the number of styles and techniques that
Genma faced while stealing food and training Ranma. However, using what we
have seen of Akane's fighting, and allowing for the fact that she is FAR below
Ranma in terms of skill, training and dedication, it is possible to see that
the Tendou style is very much the classic hard style japanese kempo that is
not evidenced by Ranma's style. Having seen some of Akane's kata and strike 
patterns, it is likely that since Soun cut short his training, he missed out 
on many of the rarer and more secret techniques and hence much of the more 
spectacular ariel work that is such a part of the Saotome variant.

It is also worth noting that Akane has been shown on many an occasion 
using weapons with a fair amount of skill -- the ones I recall off the 
top of my head are bokken and a bow and arrow, and there is of course the 
Hammer from Hell.  Although she has not the natural skill that Ranma has 
shown (witness the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics) she has enough skill 
that she was able to achieve some skill in those specialized weapons 
within a week.  So some reference to weapons training is probably in 
order for the Tendou school...
 

The fact is that Unrestricted Martial Arts is a kung fu-esque Shorinji Kempo 
style combination of facets of Kempo techniques, Five Animal Forms, various
Kung fu schools such as Choi-lay-fut, Wing Chun, Wushu and to a lesser extent, 
the rare internal chinese styles of Tai-Ch'i-Chuan and it's associate forms.
The effect of all of this is a powerful, complex, creative and adaptable
style. If only it's Tao were more honourable.

Well, this point is debatable.  Certainly Happosai and Genma are 
generally less than honorable, but Ranma seems to have a grasp on the 
concept, at least.

Any comments?

This is very well done.  Having minimal knowledge in the field myself, I 
can't say whether you're *right* or not, but it *sounds* right.

mata ne,
bengman