Martial artists are "Earthlings blessed with fighting potential"[1]. Some utilize various martial arts fighting styles, such as kenpō or kung-fu, while others simply rely on their raw talents. A select few of Earth's martial artists have the ability to tap into their ki, allowing them to create and utilize unique fighting techniques, such as the Kamehameha and Dodonpa.
The daughter of Gyūmaō, Chi-Chi joins Goku in search of Kame-Sen'nin, who possesses the Bashō Fan. Before Goku leaves her village, she asks him to marry her and Goku agrees, thinking that marriage is some sort of delicious food. The two eventually meet again as participants in the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budōkai, get married, and have two sons.
Together with Tenshinhan, Chiaotzu trained in assassin techniques under Tsuru-Sen'nin. He is proficient in telepathic techniques, and after participating in the 22nd Tenka'ichi Budōkai he follows Tenshinhan's decision to leave Tsuru-Sen'nin. After giving his life to defend the Earth from Piccolo Daimaō and the Saiyans, he is revived by the power of the Dragon Balls, and spends his time training with Tenshinhan simply to become stronger.
The father of Chi-Chi, Gyūmaō is known as the "emperor of devils". He spends his time protecting his castle full of treasure atop of Mount Frypan from treasure hunters. When he meets Son Goku, he informs him that he trained with Goku's Grandpa under Muten Rōshi.
A perverted old man, Kame-Sen'nin is a legendary martial artist known throughout the world as "Muten Rōshi". He is Goku's teacher and master of the Kamehameha technique. To ensure his pupils Goku and Kuririn would continue to work hard, he enters the Tenka'ichi Budōkai twice under the pseudonym "Jackie Chun". Although he is a master of the martial arts, he normally spends much of his time trying to sneak a peek at women, and he owns a large collection of pornographic magazines.
He is a kenpō fighter in West City, and stakes a 100,000 zenny prize to anyone who can defeat him in a kenpō match. Unfortunately for him, Goku takes up the challenge, but the fighter quickly forfeits his money after Goku hits him a few times and punches a hole in a brick wall.
Traveling from a village in the far East, Kuririn arrives on Kame-Sen'nin's island to receive training from the legendary martial artists. He quickly becomes Goku's rival as the two train to surpass Muten Rōshi and each other. However, as mutual respect grows between the two, an unbreakable friendship is formed which propels later arcs of the series.
The world champion, and Videl's father, he is skilled at bluffing and being quite boastful. He entered the Cell Games with the goal of defeating Cell, but was sent flying into a mountain with a single blow. Still, he became world famous by taking credit for defeating Cell. After the good Majin Buu befriends him, he convinces him to stop killing people. Although he is no match, he fights the pure-evil Majin Buu in the Kaiōshin Realm and persuades the people of Earth to donate their energy to Goku's Super Genki-Dama. In the words of Goku, he might actually be a true savior.
The legendary martial artist master who taught Kame-Sen'nin and Tsuru-Sen'nin. He invented the Mafūba to seal away the evil Piccolo Daimaō, in exchange for his own life. He teaches Goku, who slips back in time while training with God, the general concept of ki and how to control it.
Son Goku's adoptive grandfather, he is a famous martial artist who was formerly Kame-Sen'nin's #1 pupil. He is a kind and gentle old man, but is crushed to death when a young Goku became an Ōzaru. Following his death, he is summoned from the afterlife by Uranai Baba to battle Goku. After a fierce battle, he resigns and returns to the afterlife proud to have seen that Goku has surpassed him.
The younger brother of Tsuru-Sen'nin, he is known globaly as the world's greatest assassin. After General Blue fails in retrieving Goku's Dragon Balls, Tao Pai-pai is hired by the Red Ribbon Army to do so himself, but first he executes Blue with his tongue. He then steals Goku's Dragon Balls, but is eventually defeated after Goku finishes his training with Karin. Years later at the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budōkai, Tao Pai-pai reappears as a cyborg, but is promptly defeated by an enraged Tenshinhan.
Aspiring to be an assassin like Tao Pai-pai, he studies the martial arts under Tsuru-Sen'nin. However, after being influenced by Kame-Sen'nin at the 22nd Tenka'ichi Budōkai, he left Tsuru-Sen'nin to follow his own path. He participates in numerous battles with Goku to defend the Earth, even giving his life to help his comrades. After training under Kaiō, he was revived through Porunga, and continues to train with Chiaotzu to become even stronger.
Hearing Goku's wish for Majin Buu to return as a good person, Enma-daiō arranges for him to be reincarnated as a human. The young boy enters the Tenka'ichi Budōkai in order to win the prize money for his family on South Island, but is intentionally matched up against Goku. Although he is normally meek, the stupendously powerful Majin Buu is hidden inside him and he holds his own in his match with Goku. Seeing his tremendous potential, Goku offers to train him, and the two depart together on a new adventure.
The daughter of Mister Satan, she listens to police communications and helps fight crime in Satan City. In high school she meets Son Gohan, who himself has taken on the secret life of fighting crime, but she quickly sees through his Great Saiyaman identity and convinces him to train her. The two eventually wed and have a daughter, Pan.
A former vagabond, he first meets Goku when he comes in search of the Dragon Ball around his neck. Although he often runs from battle, he is a master swordsman who does what he can to help his friends. After Piccolo Daimaō's defeat, he climbs Karin Tower with the badly beaten Goku on his back. During the battle with Vegeta, he used his sword to cut off Ōzaru Vegeta's tail, returning him to his normal form and saving everyone. These days he lives at Karin Tower, and seems to be half-retired.
Yamcha is a common thief who packs quite a punch. With the help of his friend Pu'er, he steels Hoi Poi Capsules from any wanderers who travel through his desert. After hearing of the Dragon Balls, he tries to steal them from Goku and Bulma, as he wants to do away with his horrible fear of women. He participates in numerous battles with Goku to defend the Earth, even giving his life to help his friends.
Anime Original Characters
The following characters are original to Toei Animation's animated adaptation based on Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga series.
The son of Chin Taiken, he respects his father more than anyone else and has a strong "never give up" spirit. He wished to take his sick father's place and fight in a match against Tenlong of the Leopard-Fang School, but his father opposed this and selected Goku instead.
A famous martial artist in his city, he is the father of Chin Shōken and runs the Chin-Star School. He was to fight against Tenlong of the Leopard-Fang School in a match held before the king to restore the Chin-Star School's reputation, but a sudden illness caused him to forfeit. He asks Goku to participate in his place.
The younger brother of Tenlong, the master of the Leopard-Fang School. Although he is quite large and looks rather strong, he has no substantial skill in the martial arts and is no match for the likes of Goku. He often rampages the city like a thug in the name of the Leopard-Fang School. Viewing Chin Taiken as an eyesore, he frames his son Shōken as a pickpocket and Taiken is forced to enter a royal match to regain his school's honor.
The master of the Leopard-Fang School and Shaolong's older brother, he is a martial artist with both strength and skill. There is bad blood between him and Chin Taiken, who does not approve of his misuse of martial arts. Representing the Leopard-Fang School, he participates in a royally-overseen match with Goku, who fills in for the sick Chin Taiken.
