On Wed, 7 Oct 1998, Razorclaw X wrote:

We 
also know that she's practically the only one of the fighting 
characters who has a life aside from martial arts - Shampoo 
was trained from birth exclusively as a warrior, Ranma and 
Genma did nothing but train for 12 years, Ukyou's life revolves 
around okonomiyaki and the accompanying style,

  Here's where we need to draw a distinction; Ukyo obviously isn't as 
well-off as Akane is (at least financially), since Akane doesn't have to 
spend her youth working just to live. In the to-be-released 'Spirit of 
Furinkan' Viz tape, the new teacher tried in vain to get Ukyo to go out 
and have fun instead of work all the time (but we know she can't because 
she's the only one who can take care of herself, yadda yadda yadda). 
It's not that she doesn't have a life (outside martial arts), but her 
life is her business. 

Indeed. This isn't aimed as a slam at Ukyou; far from it. But her
situation in Nerima is rather different from her 'formative period';
presumably she didn't work for a living while with her father, aside from
helping with the family business. In any event, Ukyou's work and her
martial art are pretty closely connected. Her expences in Nerima are much
higher; she's on her own, she has to rent the building the restaurant is
in, buy the ingreients, etc.

It is, however, canon that Ukyou pretty much dedicates herself since age 8
to teaching Ranma a lesson, and trains rather fervently in order to
achieve this (cooking okonomiyaki by the raging sea, and all that :)
Akane, OTOH, hasn't dedicated herself to anything except being able to
pound the snot of of the morning horde, and being a suitable heir to the
dojo - both of which she can manage with ease. Ukyou spends a great deal
more time and energy on her art, with results.
 

"That's my story and I'm sticking to it."--JMS, creator of Babylon 5. 
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Understanding is a three-edged sword."--Kosh, Babylon 5. 
"Never show your hand until the end."--me, being profound. 

--Razorclaw X

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