Did the early DBZ series have more Martial Arts appeal?

[WhoIsTheStrongest]

I was watching some of the earlier DBZ movies and episodes and there's a difference in feeling of the action. It's always been sci-fi and fantasy. But it feels like there's more martial arts choreography in the beginning of the series. More Jackie Chan possibly. It's natural of course, because there weren't as many energy attacks. But there's some charm to the early part of the series where they animated creative fight choreography. I like the look of the characters more later in the series, but in terms of fight animation, there's something about the early part of the series.

[Polyphase Avatron]

It's true, I think. As for fantasy/superpowered martial arts stories I always preferred Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star to Dragonball, just because I think it hits the whole martial arts focus better, but Dragonball is more whimsical and funnier.

[Mr. Piccolo]

I think this is very true. The early part of Dragon Ball was more “grounded” because the characters were much weaker and this gave the series a feel similar to an outlandish, funny kung fu movie. The DBZ portion of the series feels more like a Western comic book with super-powerful characters, hence the ubiquitous Goku vs. Superman debates.

[Cursed Lemon]

I don't think anyone could possibly argue to the contrary, really.

I wish all of DBZ was like the fight between Goku and the Bio-Warriors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuViG2-w_To

[Mystic Buu]

In that time,characters were weak compared to DBZ characters and it didn't have million types of Ki blasts so that's why it was all about the real Martial Arts.

[samuraix123]

I'm actually going through the original series(Just got through with muscle tower) but I loved that tournament! I'm a sucker for all tournaments haha but it does seem like the older tournaments where/are more fun! Especially the stinky guy that Krillin fights haha

[SingleFringe&Sparks]

It did in a sense where DBZ was much more technical in fights, and beating opponents actually took strategy or creativity to think about the competition much like Eartly Naruto. The earlier fights themselves had more detail and were much more specific in what used what to hit where. Like Goku's fight with Piccolo, his meteor combination rush was probably the most detailed attack sequence Goku has ever had before Z dumbed down the fighting concept entirely. The early movies then progressed into the theme where technique had hold an advantage but it was still about stance and form. When they all went to Namek thats when the martial arts feel of the show just left it. Suddenly it was all about speed vs Speed and rapid movement but from time to time it still had its significant moments that required technique and small experimentation (Goku vs Freeza pre-super Saiyan) after SSJ came, Goku lost all his form and just got barbaric and mindless in his fighting style. Though justified because thats what a SSJ was described to be like and Goku was in rage mode then; where as martial arts required a calm mind....

After that arc, thats when the Martial arts theme was completely dropped, it all became solely around trying to surpass the SSJ form. It was a hit or miss concept as at least Goku explained the meaning of the body and mind, and the cost and requirement of ascending. Goku at least shown that he needed to control his anger in order to make SSJ form feel natural. Then when Perfect Cell came, Goku got back into form, him and Perfect Cell returned to the martial arts roots somewhat where it got technical again and Goku was actually thinking and not just in berserker mode like he was with Freeza.

Though thats not to say the decline of the martial arts aspect of the show wasnt lost during that saga entirely, for the most part it did. None of the other characters at all seemed to ever reference it let alone follow it. Especially Vegeta who doesnt seem to have any martial arts experience at all. To him it was just about pure power and ki spam. That could have worked if it was made clearer that, that aspect was what Vegetas initial weakness was as to why Goku was superior but no. The real message throughout the saga was simply about power and who has more when. The Cyborgs arent martial artists at all, just enhanced humans who happen to be stronger. Cell at least knew he had the skill in his first and perfect forms but no other character did. Then there was Gohan who started the whole power > skill minset the show went into.

Then the Buu saga just threw it all away completely and just centered on form stacking. The Buu saga made SSJ just a standard of no requirements and fusion required no skill at all to master. Not to mention Gotenks seemed to just be as strong as necessary despite having no experience or battle sense. What really ruined the series for me was that the majority of the cast seemed to be overlapped with all the strongest characters being the ones with he least combat knowledge and strategy. Vegeta is one of the weakest Z fighters despite having the most fighting experience and alledged analytical skill next to piccolo. Piccolo has the most sense and strategic comprehension and is the weakest under vegeta.. Gohan and Gotenks are the strongest of the cast despite having the least battle experience and no battle sense whatsoever. Thats trivia for you. Goku is in the middle guilty of both faults. He stacks but also has battle sense. Goku is the threshold.

Battle of Gods is mixture, Goku and Bills both represented very technical sides of the show long left behind prior and thir fight was much more detailed animation wise that the others before it. Its the only real sign of potential for the show to go back to its roots, the theme of "gods" and "alternate dimensions" almost implies that there are other characters all across the universe that have utilized special powers and crafted them in ways we are yet to see.

However the message of the fights in Battle of Gods seemed to be easily described in two words. "Friendship Power!" now seeming to take a lot from the mentality newer shounen are starting to cliche. I hope that they don't continue the series based on this. DBZ already has it's flaws, but at least it kept from the friendship/love = power bullshit for the most part. I want to see that Future character abilities expand enough to bring depth back into the series, I'd like DBZ to get a bit more analytical like how Naruto was during the Chunin exams and fight with Zabuza. I want to see strategy again and exploiting weakness in others. I don't want DBZ to turn into the corny/cliche "Friendship can overcome anything!" that Fairy Tail and Naruto devolved into.