Is Goku the best martial artist?

[Captain Strawberry]

Physical strength aside, is Goku the martial artist in terms of pure skill?

Also, give your top 5 who are the most skilled martial artist.

[Lord Beerus]

I think as far as pure skill goes, Whis is the best martial artist the franchise has ever seen. He taught Beerus everything he knows, and Beerus know a lot of shit (Godly Ki, Energy Nullification, Sealing Spells etc). Plus, he was able to take Vegeta from SSJ2 tier to beyond SSJG tier in six months, without even having to use the SSJG ritual. That is just astonishing. Whis is the best martial artist ever. Just imagine what he could do for guys like Gohan, Piccolo and Oob.

And are far as top five most skilled martial artists go, this is how I would rank them:

1) Whis
2) Goku
3) Master Mutaito
4) Master Roshi
5) King Kai

[RedRibbonSoldier#42]

The mechanics of fighting seems to work similarly for everyone, so without considering strength, I'll just go by number of moves.
Piccolo: Makankousappou, Masenko, eye lasers, stretchy arms, giant form, shadow clones, clothes beam, regen
Cell: Kamehameha, Taiouken, death beam, regen, max power form, explosion.(some more in anime I think.)
Tenshinhan: clones, four arms, Dodon-pa, kikoho (and arm regen in dub )
Gokuu: Kamehameha, teleport, Kaiouken, Genki dama.
Kuririn: taiouken, Kamehameha, Kienzan

[Captain Strawberry]

I think as far as pure skill goes, Whis is the best martial artist the franchise has ever seen. He taught Beerus everything he knows, and Beerus know a lot of shit (Godly Ki, Energy Nullification, Sealing Spells etc). Plus, he was able to take Vegeta from SSJ2 tier to beyond SSJG tier in six months, without even having to use the SSJG ritual. That is just astonishing. Whis is the best martial artist ever. Just imagine what he could do for guys like Gohan, Piccolo and Oob.

And are far as top five most skilled martial artists go, this is how I would rank them:

1) Whis
2) Goku
3) Master Mutaito
4) Master Roshi
5) King Kai

I think Perfect Cell is a very good contender as well because he is also very knowledgeable in the Z fighters moves etc.

[Kamiccolo9]

The mechanics of fighting seems to work similarly for everyone, so without considering strength, I'll just go by number of moves.
Piccolo: Makankousappou, Masenko, eye lasers, stretchy arms, giant form, shadow clones, clothes beam, regen
Cell: Kamehameha, Taiouken, death beam, regen, max power form, explosion.(some more in anime I think.)
Tenshinhan: clones, four arms, Dodon-pa, kikoho (and arm regen in dub )
Gokuu: Kamehameha, teleport, Kaiouken, Genki dama.
Kuririn: taiouken, Kamehameha, Kienzan

If you want to go by sheer number of moves, then Roshi has them all beat with his 21st Budokai repertoire alone.

[Tectorman]

This is the In-Universe forum, so I can probably guess the answer to this, but I still want to ask to be sure. Is this Goku compared to other DB martial artists or Goku compared to any other martial artist characters that may come to mind?

[Videls_Panties]

The mechanics of fighting seems to work similarly for everyone, so without considering strength, I'll just go by number of moves.
Piccolo: Makankousappou, Masenko, eye lasers, stretchy arms, giant form, shadow clones, clothes beam, regen
Cell: Kamehameha, Taiouken, death beam, regen, max power form, explosion.(some more in anime I think.)
Tenshinhan: clones, four arms, Dodon-pa, kikoho (and arm regen in dub )
Gokuu: Kamehameha, teleport, Kaiouken, Genki dama.
Kuririn: taiouken, Kamehameha, Kienzan

If your gonna count stuff like that, then you have to count SSJ,SSJ2,SSJ3 ect....

EDIT: also forgot Goku's dragon fist but what ever...

[RedRibbonSoldier#42]

The mechanics of fighting seems to work similarly for everyone, so without considering strength, I'll just go by number of moves.
Piccolo: Makankousappou, Masenko, eye lasers, stretchy arms, giant form, shadow clones, clothes beam, regen
Cell: Kamehameha, Taiouken, death beam, regen, max power form, explosion.(some more in anime I think.)
Tenshinhan: clones, four arms, Dodon-pa, kikoho (and arm regen in dub )
Gokuu: Kamehameha, teleport, Kaiouken, Genki dama.
Kuririn: taiouken, Kamehameha, Kienzan

If your gonna count stuff like that, then you have to count SSJ,SSJ2,SSJ3 ect....

EDIT: also forgot Goku's dragon fist but what ever...

Kaiouken is a technique, not a transformation. He can do it in addition to Super Saiyan.

[sintzu]

Yes but that's not the only reason he's the best, the way he handles a situation and his willingness to admit his mistakes and learn from anyone he can to improve himself are what truly make him #1.

[Marco Polo]

If he were the best martial artist, he would be inventing new moves and techniques...

[Nejishiki]

If he were the best martial artist, he would be inventing new moves and techniques...

Expert professions across the globe involve those who practice to adapt and perfect previous works. Martial artists are not exempt in that regard. Why should he be discredited for never creating his own techniques, yet never credited for innovating every concept he's learned?

[Friezacooler]

Yes but that's not the only reason he's the best, the way he handles a situation and his willingness to admit his mistakes and learn from anyone he can to improve himself are what truly make him #1.

Except he never learns he keeps repeating the same mistakes, underestimating his opponents. Or going head in to the battle without knowing about them. he was good in training but bad in practical.

[TheGreatness25]

Not counting the new material and not going by physical power, I'd say it has to be Piccolo. He has patience, technique, discipline. He is a thinking fighter. Goku is just all strength and if that doesn't work, then he stops and thinks. Vegeta is a psychological fighter who wants to get in your head, but if that doesn't work, he loses all discipline and gets sloppy. Gohan should be a great fighter and he starts off well, but eventually his anger takes over, which is great when you have power, but it leads to sloppiness. Kuririn is a great fighter but he lets his fear guide him (can't blame him either). Yamucha was too cocky and seemed to be be more into the self-enriching results of fighting. Tenshinhan was also very disciplined and skilled; Tenshinhan has no fear.

I'd say it's a toss-up between Piccolo and Tenshinhan, but of course Piccolo has the advantage. While both characters have seemingly the most potent attacks in the series (Makankosappo and Kikoho), contrary to early FUNimation's claims, Piccolo can regenerate and Tenshinhan cannot.

[Captain Strawberry]

Not counting the new material and not going by physical power, I'd say it has to be Piccolo. He has patience, technique, discipline. He is a thinking fighter. Goku is just all strength and if that doesn't work, then he stops and thinks. Vegeta is a psychological fighter who wants to get in your head, but if that doesn't work, he loses all discipline and gets sloppy. Gohan should be a great fighter and he starts off well, but eventually his anger takes over, which is great when you have power, but it leads to sloppiness. Kuririn is a great fighter but he lets his fear guide him (can't blame him either). Yamucha was too cocky and seemed to be be more into the self-enriching results of fighting. Tenshinhan was also very disciplined and skilled; Tenshinhan has no fear.

I'd say it's a toss-up between Piccolo and Tenshinhan, but of course Piccolo has the advantage. While both characters have seemingly the most potent attacks in the series (Makankosappo and Kikoho), contrary to early FUNimation's claims, Piccolo can regenerate and Tenshinhan cannot.

Good points, also to add: after Piccolo fusing as his original self, he definitely became the most knowledgeable fighters.

[Polyphase Avatron]

Depends what you mean by "best"

[sintzu]

Except he never learns.

he keeps repeating the same mistakes.

underestimating his opponents.

Are you talking about Vegeta ? cause this seems like it would describe him a lot better than Goku.

[dbgtFO]

Are you talking about Vegeta ?.

Given it's you I was expecting a repeat of that line and then a rage outburst, like going all 'KURIRIN NOKOTOKA!!'
on us.

[sintzu]

Given it's you...

What's that supposed to mean ? for your information, us Vegeta fans are very civilized .

[Wizard Sesame]

I think at a certain point, they're all about the same level of greatness in fighting. Goku may be a more natural martial artist, but they're all great.

[Videls_Panties]

The mechanics of fighting seems to work similarly for everyone, so without considering strength, I'll just go by number of moves.
Piccolo: Makankousappou, Masenko, eye lasers, stretchy arms, giant form, shadow clones, clothes beam, regen
Cell: Kamehameha, Taiouken, death beam, regen, max power form, explosion.(some more in anime I think.)
Tenshinhan: clones, four arms, Dodon-pa, kikoho (and arm regen in dub )
Gokuu: Kamehameha, teleport, Kaiouken, Genki dama.
Kuririn: taiouken, Kamehameha, Kienzan

If your gonna count stuff like that, then you have to count SSJ,SSJ2,SSJ3 ect....

EDIT: also forgot Goku's dragon fist but what ever...

Kaiouken is a technique, not a transformation. He can do it in addition to Super Saiyan.

He can only do that in filler and super...which was contradicted in the manga...so yeah...