On Sun, 7 Jun 1998 Ukyousama@aol.com wrote:

This morning, in choir (yes, I can sing... it's my *seiyuu*
who doesn't think so), my director was mentioning what 
a great exercise singing is; both an aerobic activity, and 
a balance of power and control...

...and I began to wonder:  what if this were made into a 
martial art?  And what if someone challenged Ranma (or 
whoever... I'm not particular, but it does seem to be most 
common in R1/2) to such a battle?

Odds are, if one looks far enough into the Ranmaverse, there is.
 

It'd sure give a new meaning to the term "Dueling Banjos" 
(at least, that what 'Natsu-chan thinks)

*groan*

I'm not very good at writing fight scenes (although I'm 
working on my first one even now... it may take a while, 
though...), so I'd like to pass this one on to someone who's 
more interested in the concept, but before I do, I'd like to 
share some possible attacks Konatsu and I hashed out 
later this morning after our performance.

First of all, it'd be easier to fight using instruments (sorry, 
my style of fighting uses weapons all the time, and some 
habits are particularly hard to break)  Some attacks could 
prove quite cartoonish in nature, for example:

J.P.SOUSA OPENING GAMBIT:  Approach opponant with 
a sousaphone.  As is traditional before a match, bow to 
your adversary so that the bell covers their head (A rapid 
bow that clonks them is recommended) Then blow into the 
tuba as long and loud as possible.  Their ears'll be ringing 
for weeks.

Not the most honorable of attacks, but, if they're so slow as to be unable
to avoid a sousaphone bell...

ZILDJAIN SCHOOL OF MARTIAL ARTS ULTIMATE ATTACK: 
This one's simple: crash a pair of large cymbals around your 
opponant's head.  It makes for an impressive battle cry, though...

Sounds more like a simple attack to me...it's been done in American
cartoons, for that matter.  An ultimate attack should probably be
something that would make the accordian below seem nice.  For instance,
shove their head into the bass drum on a drum set for a twenty-eight
measure solo.

Other attacks could actually use the instruments for their 
intended purpose, for those who'd actually like to have the 
combatants make music during the fight.  Trombone slides 
and violin/viola bows, for example, can make for excellent 
swords even as the wielder continues to play.  

And don't forget the Saxophone Swing Uppercut!  *shows off dented alto
used heavily in high school*

Other instruments when played simply make for a decent 
defensive strategy (and therefore, Ran-chan would never 
use, but somebody else might)  Chief among these is the 
accordion... anyone who's ever heard Judy Tenuta will fully 
understand what I mean by this... your foe just runs off 
screaming in terror...

Eww...oboe comes to mind...

And of course, there's the direct approach... the PETE 
TOWNSHEND SPECIAL ATTACK (Who?  Exactly.):  Whack 
your adversary over the head with an electric guitar until
it breaks -- the guitar, I mean, though if your opponant's 
head breaks too, that's cool.

Oh, yes, heavy metal stance.  Make-up intimidation optional.  :-)

Anyway, it shouldn't be all that far-fetched to those of you
out there who know and love Ranma... if Rumiko-megami 
can make a martial art out such things as gymnastics and 
speed-eating, why not music?

Itsu mo,
Ucchan   ^_^

(who has her spatula brandished, ready to smack the first 
person who complains that 'there's too much sax and violins 
in Ranma 1/2 already...')

I'm more concerned that you actually used that pun.  *groans in agony*
 
Keep in mind that training would be interesting, too...

"Practice the fifteenth kata of Bach in e minor!"

Nicholas Eckert
vidstudent