Ryü's Kumon martial arts dojo was destroyed when his father learned some powerful moves (the Umisenken) from a travelling martial artist, and practiced them on their ram-shackle house, causing it to collapse, and bury his father. Ryü is now searching for the twin art (Yamisenken) which is more powerful, and has taken the name Ranma Saotome in the hope of being able to infiltrate the Saotome School. Ryu happens to come across Nodoka Saotome, Genma's wife and tells her that he is in fact her long lost son, Ranma. Believeing this she takes Ryu/Ranma to the Tendo Dojo as he had hoped so that he could find Genma.
