TV-Series
Description
Follet Tortuga, whose name is the Catalan translation for the Turtle Hermit, is more widely known by his title of Muten Roshi, meaning invincible old master, or simply as Master Roshi. He is an ancient and wise, though deeply eccentric, martial arts master who lives on a small isolated island in a shack called the Kame House.
His background is rooted in the pursuit of martial arts centuries before the main events of the story. As a young man, he was a dedicated student of the great Master Mutaito and trained alongside his rival, Tsuru Sen'nin. He witnessed his master sacrifice his life to seal away the evil Demon King Piccolo using a technique called the Evil Containment Wave, a moment that profoundly shaped his understanding of duty and sacrifice. Later, he climbed the perilous Korin Tower and was the first person to successfully train under the feline master Korin, obtaining the sacred water that enhanced his abilities and contributed to his exceptional longevity. Roshi dedicated fifty years of his long life to creating and perfecting his ultimate technique, the Kamehameha, an energy wave that gathers power from the user's ki.
Personality-wise, Follet Tortuga is a contradictory figure. He is revered as a god of martial arts, famous for his profound wisdom and kind heart. He genuinely cares for his students and is deeply concerned with ensuring they use their strength for good, never allowing them to become arrogant or complacent. However, he is also notorious for being a lecherous old man. His constant and unapologetic perversion manifests as a fixation on beautiful women, a hobby of watching aerobics shows on television, and collecting dirty magazines. He frequently makes unwanted advances, particularly towards Bulma, which almost always results in him receiving a violent reprimand, a cycle of behavior from which he never learns. Despite this, these antics serve as comic relief and do not diminish his core role as a mentor.
His primary motivation throughout the story is to nurture the next generation of martial artists. He does not seek personal glory, as demonstrated when he entered the World Martial Arts Tournament under the disguised identity of Jackie Chun specifically to prevent his own students, Goku and Krillin, from becoming overconfident after winning. His role in the overall narrative evolves from being the most powerful fighter on Earth to a crucial supporting character and strategic advisor. In Dragon Ball Z, while he no longer engages in major battles, he remains a figure of immense respect. The Z Fighters frequently seek his counsel, and Krillin even asks to be retrained by him when new threats like the Androids appear. He also assists Bulma in her quest to gather the Dragon Balls and provides commentary on the increasingly cosmic-scale battles unfolding around him. His life is not without risk; he is killed twice, first by Demon King Piccolo in the original Dragon Ball and later transformed into chocolate by the monstrous Majin Buu, though he is revived each time by the Dragon Balls.
Key relationships define his journey. His most significant connection is to his students, including Son Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, and even the Ox-King. He views them as extended family or grandchildren and takes immense pride in their growth. He has a long-standing rivalry with Tsuru Sen'nin, which extends to their respective students. He is also the older brother of the fortune-teller Uranai Baba. Follet Tortuga maintains a close friendship with several sea creatures, especially a sea turtle named Umigame and a flying turtle named Kogamera who serves as his transport.
Regarding his development, while his core personality remains static, his role shifts dramatically. After the rise of enemies like the Saiyans and Frieza, his power level, once measured at 139 in a relaxed state, is vastly surpassed, and he can no longer serve as a frontline fighter. He gracefully transitions into a mentor emeritus, accepting that his legacy will be carried on by his students. In terms of notable abilities, he is most famous for inventing the Kamehameha wave. He also possesses a wide array of other techniques, including the Evil Containment Wave used to seal demons, the Thunder Shock Surprise, the Drunken Fist, and the afterimage technique. His physical strength and speed, while eclipsed by later characters, remain incredibly high by human standards, and he can perform a muscular power-up that significantly increases his size and mass indicating his true potential. His lifespan has been unnaturally extended through martial arts mastery and the consumption of a mystical herb or water, granting him immortality from age, though not from being killed.
His background is rooted in the pursuit of martial arts centuries before the main events of the story. As a young man, he was a dedicated student of the great Master Mutaito and trained alongside his rival, Tsuru Sen'nin. He witnessed his master sacrifice his life to seal away the evil Demon King Piccolo using a technique called the Evil Containment Wave, a moment that profoundly shaped his understanding of duty and sacrifice. Later, he climbed the perilous Korin Tower and was the first person to successfully train under the feline master Korin, obtaining the sacred water that enhanced his abilities and contributed to his exceptional longevity. Roshi dedicated fifty years of his long life to creating and perfecting his ultimate technique, the Kamehameha, an energy wave that gathers power from the user's ki.
Personality-wise, Follet Tortuga is a contradictory figure. He is revered as a god of martial arts, famous for his profound wisdom and kind heart. He genuinely cares for his students and is deeply concerned with ensuring they use their strength for good, never allowing them to become arrogant or complacent. However, he is also notorious for being a lecherous old man. His constant and unapologetic perversion manifests as a fixation on beautiful women, a hobby of watching aerobics shows on television, and collecting dirty magazines. He frequently makes unwanted advances, particularly towards Bulma, which almost always results in him receiving a violent reprimand, a cycle of behavior from which he never learns. Despite this, these antics serve as comic relief and do not diminish his core role as a mentor.
His primary motivation throughout the story is to nurture the next generation of martial artists. He does not seek personal glory, as demonstrated when he entered the World Martial Arts Tournament under the disguised identity of Jackie Chun specifically to prevent his own students, Goku and Krillin, from becoming overconfident after winning. His role in the overall narrative evolves from being the most powerful fighter on Earth to a crucial supporting character and strategic advisor. In Dragon Ball Z, while he no longer engages in major battles, he remains a figure of immense respect. The Z Fighters frequently seek his counsel, and Krillin even asks to be retrained by him when new threats like the Androids appear. He also assists Bulma in her quest to gather the Dragon Balls and provides commentary on the increasingly cosmic-scale battles unfolding around him. His life is not without risk; he is killed twice, first by Demon King Piccolo in the original Dragon Ball and later transformed into chocolate by the monstrous Majin Buu, though he is revived each time by the Dragon Balls.
Key relationships define his journey. His most significant connection is to his students, including Son Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, and even the Ox-King. He views them as extended family or grandchildren and takes immense pride in their growth. He has a long-standing rivalry with Tsuru Sen'nin, which extends to their respective students. He is also the older brother of the fortune-teller Uranai Baba. Follet Tortuga maintains a close friendship with several sea creatures, especially a sea turtle named Umigame and a flying turtle named Kogamera who serves as his transport.
Regarding his development, while his core personality remains static, his role shifts dramatically. After the rise of enemies like the Saiyans and Frieza, his power level, once measured at 139 in a relaxed state, is vastly surpassed, and he can no longer serve as a frontline fighter. He gracefully transitions into a mentor emeritus, accepting that his legacy will be carried on by his students. In terms of notable abilities, he is most famous for inventing the Kamehameha wave. He also possesses a wide array of other techniques, including the Evil Containment Wave used to seal demons, the Thunder Shock Surprise, the Drunken Fist, and the afterimage technique. His physical strength and speed, while eclipsed by later characters, remain incredibly high by human standards, and he can perform a muscular power-up that significantly increases his size and mass indicating his true potential. His lifespan has been unnaturally extended through martial arts mastery and the consumption of a mystical herb or water, granting him immortality from age, though not from being killed.