Gary Kleppe wrote:

David Johnston <rgorman@telusplanet.net> wrote:

Fundamentally, the unnamed technique by which Ryouga imparts the
strength and sharpness of steel blades must be a chi technique as well.

That wasn't necessarily because of anything he did. My theory is that
his bandanna was a limited-use magical item that he picked up in China

What about his belt sword?

soon after he became cursed. That would explain why he was able to keep
producing copy after copy during his first all-out battle with Ranma,
and why he apparently never used it after that.

I'd assume that the reason why he didn't use it again is because he 
nearly killed Akane with it.  His cloth attacks weren't particular 
effective versus Ranma, but endangered all the bystanders.  

Gary Kleppe
http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics