Genma trained under Happosai, the perverted and highly destructive grandmaster of Anything Goes Martial Arts. However, both he and Soun Tendo eventually betrayed Happosai, sealing him away and claiming his martial arts techniques as their own. Despite his skills, Genma is far from an honorable martial artist, as he is notorious for his greed, laziness, and cowardly nature.

His greatest act of irresponsibility was his reckless training journey with Ranma, where he dragged his son across Japan and China under extreme and often absurd training conditions. This culminated in their infamous trip to Jusenkyo, where he ignored the warnings about the cursed springs, resulting in both he and Ranma falling into separate pools. While Ranma was cursed to transform into a girl, Genma became a giant panda, a form he often uses to escape arguments, chores, or accountability.

Upon returning to Japan, Genma brings Ranma to the Tendo Dojo, fulfilling an arranged engagement with one of Soun Tendo’s daughters. However, his poor decision-making, selfish nature, and history of dishonorable schemes create constant problems for both Ranma and the Tendo family, making him a frequent source of both conflict and comedy.

In his human form, Genma is a large, burly man with a bald head and round glasses. He usually wears a traditional martial arts gi, reflecting his background as a disciplined fighter, but his relaxed posture and goofy expressions often betray his lazy and opportunistic nature. While physically imposing, Genma’s personality and actions make him more of a comedic figure than an intimidating one.

In his cursed panda form, Genma transforms into a massive, black-and-white panda with an expressive face. Despite being unable to speak in this form, he communicates through signs, gestures, and exaggerated expressions, often using his panda state to feign innocence or escape difficult situations. His panda form is deceptively strong, capable of holding his own in fights, though he rarely fights seriously, preferring to flee or trick his opponents instead.

Genma Saotome is lazy, opportunistic, and shamelessly manipulative, constantly prioritizing his own comfort over responsibility. He is highly skilled in martial arts, yet his cowardice and dishonorable behavior often undermine his abilities. Rather than facing problems head-on, he relies on deception, trickery, and excuses to avoid conflicts, especially when dealing with his son, Ranma, or his wife, Nodoka. He is also notoriously greedy and selfish, frequently stealing food, dodging hard work, and lying to protect himself. Despite this, he maintains a self-righteous attitude, often lecturing Ranma on honor and discipline, even though his own actions contradict these ideals.

Despite his flaws and cowardice, Genma is not entirely without redeeming qualities. While he rarely expresses affection directly, he does care for Ranma in his own misguided way, even if his parenting methods are highly questionable. Though he often pushes responsibility onto others, he is still a formidable martial artist, capable of holding his own in battle when absolutely necessary. However, his unwillingness to change or take accountability for his actions ensures that he remains one of the most infuriating yet comedically entertaining characters in Ranma ½.

• Ranma’s Questionable Mentor & Father Figure
  Genma serves as both a martial arts mentor and a major obstacle in Ranma’s life. While he is responsible for teaching Ranma many of his techniques, his reckless training methods and constant scheming often create more problems than they solve. He frequently lectures Ranma about duty and responsibility, yet his own actions contradict everything he preaches, making him both a hypocritical teacher and a comedic foil.

• Conflicts with Nodoka & The Tendo Family
  Genma’s biggest personal fear is his wife, Nodoka Saotome, due to a reckless promise he made years ago. He vowed to raise Ranma as a “man among men,” and should he fail, Nodoka has the right to force both Genma and Ranma to commit seppuku (ritual suicide). Because of this, he spends much of the series avoiding Nodoka, fearing for his life while also desperately maintaining the illusion that Ranma is still “manly enough” to fulfill the promise. Additionally, Genma frequently clashes with Soun Tendo, his old friend and fellow martial artist. While the two often act as comedic partners, Soun grows frustrated with Genma’s laziness, dishonesty, and inability to act responsibly. Their interactions provide some of the series’ funniest moments, as Soun frequently scolds Genma, yet still relies on him as a longtime friend and training partner.

• Jusenkyo Curse & Panda Shenanigans
  Genma’s panda curse is one of his favorite tools of escape, as he often transforms to avoid arguments, chores, or confrontation. In his panda form, he uses written signs to communicate, often providing sarcastic or misleading messages to trick those around him. While he occasionally fights in this form, he prefers using his size and comedic antics to outmaneuver opponents rather than engage in direct combat.