TV-Series
Description
Mestre Kame, also known as Muten Roshi or the Turtle Hermit, is a central figure in the Dragon Ball franchise. He is an ancient and highly skilled martial arts master who has lived for over three hundred years, having consumed the Paradise Herb to extend his life. As the founder of the Turtle School, he trained several generations of fighters, including Son Gohan, the Ox-King, Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha. He is also the creator of the Kamehameha, the iconic energy attack that later became Goku’s signature technique.
In terms of personality, Mestre Kame is a study in contrasts. He is notoriously lecherous, often pestering attractive women and indulging in adult magazines and television programs. This behavior provides much of the series’ comedic relief. Beneath this crude exterior, however, lies a deeply wise and compassionate mentor. He genuinely cares for his students and is willing to sacrifice his own life for the greater good, as demonstrated when he attempted the forbidden Mafuba technique to seal away King Piccolo, an act that cost him his life. He was later revived with the Dragon Balls.
His motivations center on passing on the philosophy of the Turtle School: that martial arts are not just for combat, but for self-improvement, discipline, and protecting others. He believes in training the body through simple, hard labor and in maintaining balance by eating well, resting, and enjoying life. His greatest lesson to his students is humility; he famously disguised himself as Jackie Chun in the World Martial Arts Tournament to defeat his own students, teaching them that there is always someone stronger and that they must never become complacent.
Throughout the original Dragon Ball series, Mestre Kame serves as a primary mentor and a benchmark of earthly martial might. In Dragon Ball Z, his power is surpassed by the Saiyans and other alien threats, but he remains a supportive figure and moral anchor. In Dragon Ball Super, he experiences a resurgence. During the Tournament of Power, he overcomes his lifelong weakness for women, demonstrating newfound discipline, and proves that experience, technique, and strategy can overcome raw strength. He defeats multiple opponents far younger and stronger than himself, earning the respect of even the God of Destruction, Beerus.
Key relationships in his life include his lifelong rival Tsuru Sennin (the Crane Hermit), his former teacher Mutaito, and his closest students, especially Goku and Krillin. He shares a particularly strong bond with Goku, having been the first to channel the boy’s potential and later taking pride in his growth. With Krillin, he maintains a fatherly connection, and the two continue to train together even in later years.
Notable abilities extend well beyond the Kamehameha. He can transform into a massively muscled “Max Power” state that amplifies his strength and ki output, allowing him to destroy the moon in the original series. He is also a master of the Mafuba, a dangerous sealing technique, and can generate high-voltage electricity with the Thunder Shock Surprise. He employs hypnosis, afterimage techniques, and powerful paralysis moves. Despite his age, his fighting intelligence and centuries of martial knowledge make him a formidable opponent, especially against foes who rely solely on brute force.
In terms of personality, Mestre Kame is a study in contrasts. He is notoriously lecherous, often pestering attractive women and indulging in adult magazines and television programs. This behavior provides much of the series’ comedic relief. Beneath this crude exterior, however, lies a deeply wise and compassionate mentor. He genuinely cares for his students and is willing to sacrifice his own life for the greater good, as demonstrated when he attempted the forbidden Mafuba technique to seal away King Piccolo, an act that cost him his life. He was later revived with the Dragon Balls.
His motivations center on passing on the philosophy of the Turtle School: that martial arts are not just for combat, but for self-improvement, discipline, and protecting others. He believes in training the body through simple, hard labor and in maintaining balance by eating well, resting, and enjoying life. His greatest lesson to his students is humility; he famously disguised himself as Jackie Chun in the World Martial Arts Tournament to defeat his own students, teaching them that there is always someone stronger and that they must never become complacent.
Throughout the original Dragon Ball series, Mestre Kame serves as a primary mentor and a benchmark of earthly martial might. In Dragon Ball Z, his power is surpassed by the Saiyans and other alien threats, but he remains a supportive figure and moral anchor. In Dragon Ball Super, he experiences a resurgence. During the Tournament of Power, he overcomes his lifelong weakness for women, demonstrating newfound discipline, and proves that experience, technique, and strategy can overcome raw strength. He defeats multiple opponents far younger and stronger than himself, earning the respect of even the God of Destruction, Beerus.
Key relationships in his life include his lifelong rival Tsuru Sennin (the Crane Hermit), his former teacher Mutaito, and his closest students, especially Goku and Krillin. He shares a particularly strong bond with Goku, having been the first to channel the boy’s potential and later taking pride in his growth. With Krillin, he maintains a fatherly connection, and the two continue to train together even in later years.
Notable abilities extend well beyond the Kamehameha. He can transform into a massively muscled “Max Power” state that amplifies his strength and ki output, allowing him to destroy the moon in the original series. He is also a master of the Mafuba, a dangerous sealing technique, and can generate high-voltage electricity with the Thunder Shock Surprise. He employs hypnosis, afterimage techniques, and powerful paralysis moves. Despite his age, his fighting intelligence and centuries of martial knowledge make him a formidable opponent, especially against foes who rely solely on brute force.