The Neko-ken

[blackmamuth]

People are always complaining that Genma was an idiot for not seeing the possible consequences of the Neko-ken. I somehow disagree. I believe Genma could think at it (at the time) about that as a valid training method.
First, as already proved by different obsidian-fox toughness ratings (Wich he posted in the old forum). Martial Artist are much tougher than normal humans, therefore, throwing a child into a pit of cats, could not really be a risk to human life. Cats can't really harm a human with the toughness rating that Ranma had. CATS, could be considered harmless to a martial artist of Genma and Ranma's caliber.
second: We need to look at the Training methods shown in Ranma 1/2. Chestnut fist: Picking chestnuts from a roasting fire. Breaking point, being hit repeteadly by boulders... There are several examples where martial arts techniques are learned by great suffering from the student. Even seeing those examples, particularly, Ryouga's technique, One could agree that the breaking fist is even more extreme than the cat fist.
Therefore, the cat fist wouldn't be something that could strike Genma as very odd. The cats can't really harm Ranma (Toughness factor), and there are documented techniques even more extreme in the physical department.

[Dragonboy]

This argument has a lot of flaws to it. First and foremost, the manual that Genma got the technique from specifically said that only an idiot who needed his head examined would teach the technique, which already says it's a bad idea.
In regards to the toughness factor, Ranma was only ten when Genma taught it to him, meaning he hadn't learned a good majority of the techniques and trainings that made him as strong as he was at the age of sixteen. I highly doubt that back then he could have just brushed off being mauled by a horde of starving cats while wrapped in seafood.
And even if the cats didn't actually hurt him, the real damage was what was done to his psyche. He became so traumatized by it that he can barely even say the word 'cat' without freaking out. None of the other techniques seen in the series (Amaguriken, Bakusai Tenketsu, etc.) leave that kind of effect on the person learning it.

[antimatterenergy]

I'll agree with cats not actually being able to do serious damage to a 10 year old Ranma because he was probably by the age 10 tough enough that they'd be unable to hurt him. Heck by the age six he could jump at least higher than he was tall as seen by flashbacks with Ukyo. Ranma has also most likely trained in many techniques that cause more physical pain as well. The thing is the Neko-ken seems to be more about mental damage than physical damage.
That doesn't make Genma not an idiot though since he should have read the entire manual before subjecting Ranma to the training or at least read it when he noticed that the training wasn't working instead of trying again and again. A person should never train someone in any technique without not knowing the possible side effect to do so is just stupid.
While I'm not condoning Genma's action of teaching the technique you have to remember that Ranma's fear of cats effects his life for the most part no worse than a normal person who is allergic to cats. Was able to stand having cats hanging all over him and being in a room full of cats with no real problems. Regular cats cause him no real problems large cats (tigers, lions, etc..) cause him problems but they would bother most people anyways, unnatural cats like the ghost cat cause problems as well but again most people would be bothered by supernatural cats, and Shampoo causes him problems but Ranma's slightly afraid of her even when she's human her being a cat just makes things worse. Ranma under normal situations when not already stressed and confronted by a house cat has no real problem he just wants to get away from it the same way a person who is allergic to cats would it only causes a problem when he can't get away from it. One must also remember that the Neko-ken has helped him on at least one occasion and possibly more.

[crystlshake]

I think most of the damage from the training came from the restraint (wrapped in fish sausages) and sensory deprivation (locked in dark). These combined with indications that he wanted to stop the training but was forced to continue could indicate a sense of betrayal which would further increase the traumatic effect. The bindings took away his ability to defend himself and to starving animals it can be assumed they took litle care in in differentiating the obvoius food source from what it is attatched to. The other sensory input during the training aside from touch and sight would have only worsened the situation.
I do have to agree though that in regard to the physical impact of the training its comparitive to others. The emotional and psychological impact is what sets it appart from the other training types. The only move that may come even close in that regard is the self destructive capability of the shi shi hodoken. I dont think any of the other moves tamper with the users mind as much. Though the moko takibisha also can also fall into this category its self destructive potential is more subtle and will likely be less direct.

[mondu_the_fat]

The training of nekoken is not a physical. Even a real ten year old tied up with food thrown into a pit of hungry housecats won't die from the cat attacks (the fall, and maybe starvation would, though, but I Genma hauled Ranma up before he died from lack of food).
The training is designed to specifically break the mind of a person to the point that he seeks refuge in believing he's a cat.
Someone of Genma's fervor and intelligence would have not made this kind of logical step, and thus said the training held a secret when he finally got around reading the rest of the manual. Likely, he would have thought that the attacks the cats were performing would somehow be imprinted on the young Ranma (much in the same way kung-fu traces its own roots to animals).
So, no, I do not believe that he throuroughly comprehended his actions.

[Vasey]

The training of nekoken is not a physical. Even a real ten year old tied up with food thrown into a pit of hungry housecats won't die from the cat attacks (the fall, and maybe starvation would, though, but I Genma hauled Ranma up before he died from lack of food).

If one of the cats ended up clawing at his eyes it could have done some serious damage though.

[Zwzn]

The training of nekoken is not a physical. Even a real ten year old tied up with food thrown into a pit of hungry housecats won't die from the cat attacks (the fall, and maybe starvation would, though, but I Genma hauled Ranma up before he died from lack of food).

If one of the cats ended up clawing at his eyes it could have done some serious damage though.

That has happened in a lot of fics. Over all I think Ranma 1/2 is a very dark story because of things like the necko ken.
Genma seems to have only read the first few page of the book. most of the book seemed to be warnings not to teach the tech.. I never saw any evidence that the book had any other techs. in it.

[blackmamuth]

Ejem, The book was titled "advanced combat", not "Neko ken". (I just checked). It only makes sense that it had more than one technique.
Dunno, I always believed about Genma not reading all of it due to the "instruction manual" factor. How many of us first read the manual before playing with our new gadget/game? Genma is a superior martial artist. I guess he tought he had the move all figured out. With only reading the first page.
Also; Ranma 1/2 Dark?? Then Dragonball must be eternal night!! (Mass genocide, planet destroying, monsters eating humans...) I always tought it was a comedy...

[antimatterenergy]

I had just stated on another forum how Ranma is a tragic comedy. It has many dark undertones.
If you place yourself in most of the characters positions and remove (or lesson) the humor aspect the Ranma manga is a very dark place full of despair, problems with no possible happy ending for everyone, and false hopes (possible friendship only to be taken away with insults and pain, old friends found only to end up enemies, possible cures when found do nothing, a found mother who at first looks like she will be nice and bring happiness to Ranma's life only to learn that she's going to hold a death threat over him). It's full of tragedy, abuse, loneliness, mind control, attempted rape, attempted murder, a place where an object can totally control or change your mind, body, or emotions, just about everyone has lost their mother, life and death situations are common place, even look at the techniques the neko-ken was learned by torture, the breaking point was learned by massive physical pain, to master the shi shi hadoken one has to give into despair and depression totally.
Some parts of the Manga are dark no matter what way you look at them for instance: What's funny about a girl kneeling in a freshly dug grave praying for the person who is about to execute her? As Ranma did during the koi-rod story arc. It's just that their are few lasting effects (there are some though neko-ken for example, akane's view on boys because boys at her school, etc...) and none of the characters except for maybe Ryoga spend any significant time dwelling on the bad stuff.