HK:

>>While several fanfics seem to portray Ryoga as being much bigger/heavier
>>than Ranma, I don't really see that much difference  in their frame
>>size.  Also, Ranma didn't smash into him- it was a glancing blow done
>>while both were in the air, which would take much less force to
>>accomplish than a head-on collision on the ground
>It wasn't a smash or a head-on collision, actually - Ranma kicked him.

If you look at the manga (and the anime) you see Ranma's legs are in a
position that indicates that she has just leapt into the air after
Genma- leaping up with the left leg extended, and the right leg tucked
forward.  She is still in that position when she collides with Ryoga. 
It is nothing more than two airborne bodies hitting each other- she
doesn't even notice him, or remember hitting anything (unlike the
Kodachi incident where he DOES feel something hitting the kettle).

>>I don't think WHAU has a presence on the ML anymore.
>Isn't that an Akane hate organization?

We Hate Akane Unanimous
================

Don to HK:
>> Your below statements make me sure you're just an Akane fanboy who can't
>> face the fact that she sucks at fighting.
 
>        Fire away, Ukyou fanboy.  She does not suck at fighting.  A person like
>her, being taught by one of the best school's in the series, having a
>good mentor, countless targets to practice, and someone better to spar
>with, may not beat, but certainly is not worse than someone who relies
>only on tools and unguided through martial arts for 10 years practicing
>in a dubious school to begin with (I mean, okonomiyaki as a fighting
>technique?)

I doubt it's a school at all.  My take on the matter is that she sets up
the griddle to make okonomiyaki by the ocean.  Due to all the sea spray,
the okonomiyaki will get wet and mushy if she doesn't protect it
somehow.  So she must simultaneously use the spatula to prepare the
okonomiyaki, and to deflect the spray away from it- vastly improving her
speed, upper body strength, and skill with the spatula as a weapon.  So
while you say Ukyo would be a piece of cake if Akane were to take the
spatula away, I think she could beat the snot out of Akane if she could
land a blow inside Akane's formally-trained martial arts defenses.  :)
================

Don:
>        In that case it's okay, too.  If they don't care abotu her engagement,
>it's as good as invalid.  I don't think it makes a difference both way. 
>If they treat the engagement as valid and don't do anything about it, it
>means they don't really care about her claim on Ranma, for otherwise
>you'll have 'let's-kill-Ukyou' plans, too.

No, it's because you don't kill a potential ally if they have a chance
to do your work for you.  You kill them *after* they've helped you get
rid of the greater threat.  Standard 'bad guys' MO:  form an uneasy
alliance with other 'bad guys' until you take out the 'good guy', then
you squabble amongst yourselves about who has the greater right  to the
prize.  If this weren't a comedy series, Shampoo and Ukyou could
probably have teamed up and taken Akane out of the picture easily, in a
way that would implicate Kodachi- and then fought it out between each
other.
-- 
Bradster
He of many nicknames  "Arrrgh!  Whichever shall I choose?!  I would have
them all!!"
Leader of SAUCE- Society for the Appreciation of Ukyo, Cuteness Embodied
Founder of the Equal Opportunity Ecchi          Lurker in Akane's Dojo
Ranma Preview Gallery at http://members.aol.com/BClark8500/visions.htm