TV-Series
Description
Master Roshi, also known as the Turtle Hermit, is an elderly martial arts master who is one of the most foundational figures in the Dragon Ball series. He is responsible for creating the Kamehameha technique and establishing the Turtle School, a philosophy of martial arts that emphasizes self-improvement, hard work, and protecting the weak rather than seeking domination. He lives a reclusive life on a small island called Kame House with his anthropomorphic turtle companion, and he is often seen wearing sunglasses, a floral shirt, and a heavy turtle shell on his back.
Born over three hundred years before the main events of the story, Roshi was a student of the legendary Master Mutaito. He witnessed his master sacrifice himself using the Evil Containment Wave to seal away the demon King Piccolo, an event that deeply shaped his protective nature. In his youth, he consumed a Paradise Herb that granted him a greatly extended lifespan, allowing him to remain active across centuries. He later became a teacher himself, training students such as Grandpa Gohan, the Ox-King, and later Son Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha.
Roshi's personality is a marked dichotomy. He is often portrayed as a lecherous, cantankerous, and foolish old man who frequently pursues attractive women, a comedic trait that has drawn significant criticism. Beneath this exterior, however, he is deeply wise, perceptive, and selfless. He understands that martial arts are not just about physical strength but also about discipline, humility, and the constant pursuit of growth. He shows great care for his students, pushing them to their limits while also recognizing when they surpass him. He is motivated by a desire to protect Earth and to ensure that the next generation of fighters remains humble enough to continue improving. When necessary, he is willing to risk his life for others, as seen when he attempted the dangerous Evil Containment Wave against King Piccolo.
In the story, Roshi serves primarily as a mentor and a source of comic relief, especially in Dragon Ball Z where he largely steps back from combat as his students far exceed his power. During the original Dragon Ball, however, he was considered the strongest mortal on Earth. He competed in the World Martial Arts Tournament under the disguise of Jackie Chun specifically to defeat his own students, teaching them that there is always someone stronger. In Dragon Ball Super, he experiences a significant return to active fighting. He secretly trains to regain his strength and is recruited for the Tournament of Power. During this event, his vast combat experience, strategic mind, and mastery of ki allow him to defeat opponents far stronger than himself, earning praise from the God of Destruction Beerus for proving that skill and wisdom remain valuable even against overwhelming power.
Key relationships include his long friendship with his rival, Tsuru-Sennin (the Crane Hermit), and his sister, Fortuneteller Baba. His most significant relationship is with his student Goku, whom he trained from childhood and to whom he passed on the Kamehameha and the Flying Nimbus. He also has a close bond with Krillin, another of his primary students, and to a lesser extent with Yamcha. While not a fighter himself, he has a long association with Bulma and the other Z Fighters, often offering tactical advice or logistical support from Kame House.
Roshi's notable abilities include the Kamehameha, a powerful energy wave that he spent fifty years developing. He can enter a Max Power state that dramatically increases his muscle mass and strength, allowing him to perform feats such as destroying the moon. He is also one of the few users of the Evil Containment Wave, a sealing technique he learned from his master Mutaito. Other techniques include the Thunder Shock Surprise, which generates electricity to trap opponents, and various forms of hypnosis. His true strength is not raw power but his centuries of accumulated battle wisdom, strategic thinking, and precise ki control, which he uses to compensate for his physical limitations in later series. Over the course of the narrative, he evolves from a legendary fighter and instructor into a respected elder, then back into an active participant, proving that his role is defined not by his power level but by his enduring dedication to the martial arts.
Born over three hundred years before the main events of the story, Roshi was a student of the legendary Master Mutaito. He witnessed his master sacrifice himself using the Evil Containment Wave to seal away the demon King Piccolo, an event that deeply shaped his protective nature. In his youth, he consumed a Paradise Herb that granted him a greatly extended lifespan, allowing him to remain active across centuries. He later became a teacher himself, training students such as Grandpa Gohan, the Ox-King, and later Son Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha.
Roshi's personality is a marked dichotomy. He is often portrayed as a lecherous, cantankerous, and foolish old man who frequently pursues attractive women, a comedic trait that has drawn significant criticism. Beneath this exterior, however, he is deeply wise, perceptive, and selfless. He understands that martial arts are not just about physical strength but also about discipline, humility, and the constant pursuit of growth. He shows great care for his students, pushing them to their limits while also recognizing when they surpass him. He is motivated by a desire to protect Earth and to ensure that the next generation of fighters remains humble enough to continue improving. When necessary, he is willing to risk his life for others, as seen when he attempted the dangerous Evil Containment Wave against King Piccolo.
In the story, Roshi serves primarily as a mentor and a source of comic relief, especially in Dragon Ball Z where he largely steps back from combat as his students far exceed his power. During the original Dragon Ball, however, he was considered the strongest mortal on Earth. He competed in the World Martial Arts Tournament under the disguise of Jackie Chun specifically to defeat his own students, teaching them that there is always someone stronger. In Dragon Ball Super, he experiences a significant return to active fighting. He secretly trains to regain his strength and is recruited for the Tournament of Power. During this event, his vast combat experience, strategic mind, and mastery of ki allow him to defeat opponents far stronger than himself, earning praise from the God of Destruction Beerus for proving that skill and wisdom remain valuable even against overwhelming power.
Key relationships include his long friendship with his rival, Tsuru-Sennin (the Crane Hermit), and his sister, Fortuneteller Baba. His most significant relationship is with his student Goku, whom he trained from childhood and to whom he passed on the Kamehameha and the Flying Nimbus. He also has a close bond with Krillin, another of his primary students, and to a lesser extent with Yamcha. While not a fighter himself, he has a long association with Bulma and the other Z Fighters, often offering tactical advice or logistical support from Kame House.
Roshi's notable abilities include the Kamehameha, a powerful energy wave that he spent fifty years developing. He can enter a Max Power state that dramatically increases his muscle mass and strength, allowing him to perform feats such as destroying the moon. He is also one of the few users of the Evil Containment Wave, a sealing technique he learned from his master Mutaito. Other techniques include the Thunder Shock Surprise, which generates electricity to trap opponents, and various forms of hypnosis. His true strength is not raw power but his centuries of accumulated battle wisdom, strategic thinking, and precise ki control, which he uses to compensate for his physical limitations in later series. Over the course of the narrative, he evolves from a legendary fighter and instructor into a respected elder, then back into an active participant, proving that his role is defined not by his power level but by his enduring dedication to the martial arts.