[heretic888]

Michelangelo probably has the greatest physical skill in taijutsu due to his natural talents and attitude to training. His personality traits and 'intuitive' capacities also seems to imply that he is futher along in the more internal training than his brothers.

The question of course is: how much of this comes from ninjutsu training, and how much of this comes from from 'natural talent'??? I don't suppose we will ever know the answer to that.......

In the Mirage-based Palladium rpg, it is ambiguously descibed as Leo being the 'most skilled fighter', Raphael being the 'most deadly fighter', and Michelangelo being the 'most talented fighter'.

Raph is described as the most deadly due to his 'berserker rages' and raw enthusiasm, which in reality is a hindrance against skilled fighters or large groups of enemies. Uncontrolled anger is a liability, not an advantage.

So, this is really between Mike and Leo (Raph's short temper and lack of control make him too easy to defeat). Mike is the 'most talented' and Leo the 'most skilled'. Ok, those labels are so meaningless I don't even know how to begin. They literally say the same thing!!!!

Let's look at it in actual game mechanics. Michelangelo has the highest Physical Prowess of the four. This means, literally, agility and dexterity. 'Agility' is how quickly and easily one can move the body about, and 'dexterity' refers to overall skill and prowess. As far as ninjutsu training goes, agility and dexterity are among the physical traits desired for effective self-defense skill. Thus, I am inclined to say that Mike is the best 'ninja'.

'Taijutsu' (the ninja's empty-handed combat system, which forms the basis for all weapons combat) actually means 'skill with the body'. In other words, physical prowess, of which Mike has decidedly more than his brothers.

The REAL reason I think Mike is probably the 'best ninja' out of the group is his personality and internal qualities. His open-mindedness, calm relaxed nature, his intuitive ability, his creative capacities, his focus on the present...... these are all traits that lend themselves far more to 'flow' than his other brothers. 'Flow' is mushin, no mind, spontaneosly reacting appropriately to a situation as it occurs without conscious thought and planning.

Don doesnt possess as much physical talent as his brothers, but I tend to think after Mike he is the one most opent to this flowing capacity as well. Leonardo has physical skill, but he is just too emotionally rigid. Mike is doubly gifted, however, in possessing the greatest internal capacity to achieve 'flow' and the greatest level of agility and dexterity. His attitude to training, of enjoying the training for what it is and not rigidly 'worshipping' it as Leo does, makes me tend to think he progresses through the ninja skills easier as well.

Besides, all master ninja have a good sense of humor and trickery.... and only Splinter and Mike evidence this trait.

Draw your own conclusions, but I'm voting for Mike. I would vote for Splinter, though, if he were on the list.