Recaps

He-El, Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, and Rabbit Can-Can traveled to Papaya Island for the twenty-first World Martial Arts Tournament, where Yamcha prepared to compete and Bulma spent time sightseeing with He-El. On registration day, they met Master Roshi and Goku.

• Bulma arranged a private plane and took He-El, Yamcha, Puar, and Rabbit Can-Can to Papaya Island two days before the tournament.
• Yamcha declined to go sightseeing so he could meditate and prepare for the tournament, while Puar stayed with him.
• Rabbit Can-Can tactfully chose to stay at the hotel after Bulma gave him a murderous look.
• Bulma took He-El sightseeing, and he rejected her attempt to kiss him during the fireworks.
• On May 7, He-El and his companions registered for the tournament and met Master Roshi and Goku.

Goku reunited with He-El, Bulma, Yamcha, and Puar before introducing his fellow Master Roshi disciple, Krillin. Master Roshi learned that He-El planned to enter the World Martial Arts Tournament and worried that his presence would interfere with his plan to teach Goku and Krillin humility.

• Goku happily reunited with He-El and greeted Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, and Rabbit Can-Can.
• Goku introduced Krillin to his friends, and He-El offered to train him and gave him energy bars.
• Master Roshi pulled He-El aside and asked whether he planned to enter the World Martial Arts Tournament.
• He-El confirmed he would enter because Goku had invited him, though he expected the competition to be easy.
• Master Roshi explained that he had intended to disguise himself and enter the tournament to curb Goku and Krillin's pride.

Master Roshi and He-El discussed how to teach Goku and Krillin humility at the World Martial Arts Tournament, and Master Roshi decided to enter disguised as a stranger. He then borrowed money from He-El because training with the Super Stomach Martial Art had left him nearly bankrupt, and the two went to register for the tournament.

• Master Roshi told He-El he wanted to disguise himself and defeat Goku and Krillin so they would learn that stronger fighters existed and remain humble.
• He-El supported Master Roshi's plan and said a disguised stranger defeating them would make a deeper impression than He-El doing it.
• Master Roshi asked He-El to lend him money, explaining that the increased appetites from the Super Stomach Martial Art had depleted his savings.
• He-El agreed to send Can Can with money and energy bars, while Master Roshi asked him to keep the loan secret from Goku and Krillin.
• Master Roshi told He-El he hoped they would have an all-out battle, and they returned to the group and registered at the Martial Arts Temple.

He-El, Yamcha, Goku, and Krillin registered for the World Martial Arts Tournament and prepared for the preliminaries. Master Roshi entered the tournament disguised as Jackie Chun, while Goku and Krillin went into the arena wearing Turtle School uniforms.

• He-El, Yamcha, Goku, and Krillin registered for the tournament and were assigned the same dormitory.
• Master Roshi parted from Bulma and disguised himself as Jackie Chun to register for the tournament.
• The group rested overnight, then headed to the preliminary venue the next morning.
• The monks confirmed Goku and Krillin's ages but let them enter after they insisted on competing.
• Master Roshi gave Goku and Krillin Turtle School uniforms, and He-El led the three contestants into the arena.
• Master Roshi secured his disguise with glue and entered the arena as Jackie Chun.

Emperor Pilaf found an old journal describing a Demon King he believed could kill He-El, and he rushed to free the villain while He-El was away at the tournament. Their escape from He-El’s institute was interrupted when the Red Ribbon Army attacked.

• At He-El's Food Energy Research Institute, Emperor Pilaf laughed over an old journal, and Mai mistook his excitement for madness and kicked him.
• Emperor Pilaf told Mai and Ashu that he had found a way to kill He-El by releasing a Demon King who had once terrorized the world.
• Emperor Pilaf dismissed Ashu’s doubts and led Mai and Ashu toward a vehicle so they could flee while He-El attended the World Martial Arts Tournament.
• The Red Ribbon Army blasted a huge hole in the institute, startling the researchers and interrupting their escape.

Dr. Gero led the Red Ribbon Army in a raid on He-El’s Food Energy Research Institute, hoping to seize its research and capture He-El. After learning He-El was away, Dr. Gero ordered the research materials taken and withdrew when West City’s forces approached, while Emperor Pilaf, Ashu, and Mai escaped into the Northern Forest.

• Emperor Pilaf, Ashu, and Mai saw the Red Ribbon Army invade the He-El Food Energy Research Institute and hid in fear.
• Red Ribbon Army soldiers found the trio and mistook them for institute managers, but Emperor Pilaf admitted He-El was their boss to stop Dr. Gero from killing them.
• Emperor Pilaf told Dr. Gero that He-El was at the World Martial Arts Tournament and suggested the institute held valuable research.
• Dr. Gero ordered his soldiers to seize the research materials, then withdrew after learning West City's police and military were approaching.
• Emperor Pilaf, Ashu, and Mai took a pickup truck and fled into the Northern Forest as the Red Ribbon Army fought West City's forces.

After the Red Ribbon Army destroyed He-El's Gravity Chamber and Food Energy Research Institute and stole his strong AI data, Dr. Briefs told Bulma the attack was connected to Capsule Corporation and likely aimed to kidnap He-El. Bulma decided to find a way to tell He-El after his preliminary matches, confident he could deal with the army.

• Bulma learned from Dr. Briefs that the Red Ribbon Army had attacked He-El's Strong Artificial Intelligence Company and research facilities, stealing data and destroying equipment.
• Dr. Briefs explained that Capsule Corporation's past conflict with the Red Ribbon Army had likely led its spies to discover He-El's strong AI.
• Dr. Briefs suspected the Red Ribbon Army had intended to kidnap He-El and force him to help with its research.
• Dr. Briefs warned Bulma to stay careful on Papaya Island and said he had sent people to protect her and He-El.
• Bulma hesitated to tell He-El during the tournament, but Rabbit Can-Can urged her to tell him directly, so she resolved to find a way to notify him.

He-El, Goku, Yamcha, and Krillin attended the World Martial Arts Tournament preliminary round, where the contestants drew lots and learned the rules. He-El discovered that the Red Ribbon Army had attacked his company and research institute, but he planned to deal with it after the tournament; the first matches began with Goku easily defeating his opponent.

• A monk explained that 138 contestants would compete in four areas, with two winners from each area advancing to the finals.
• He-El reassured Krillin, then recognized Puar disguised as a mosquito and learned from him that the Red Ribbon Army had stolen company information and destroyed He-El's research facilities.
• He-El told Puar to keep Bulma and Can Can safe and said he would handle the Red Ribbon Army after the tournament.
• He-El drew Ring One, Yamcha drew Ring Two, and Goku and Krillin drew Ring Three in separate brackets, so they would not have to fight each other in the preliminary round.
• Goku began his match against contestant number sixty-nine and knocked him out of the ring with one finger.

He-El defeated Nam in the preliminaries, learned that Nam needed the tournament prize money to buy water for his village, and gave him a Hoi-Poi Capsule filled with food and water. The eight finalists were chosen, and He-El returned to the arena as Nam thanked him for saving his village.

• Goku and Krillin advanced through the preliminaries, and Goku realized how far his strength exceeded that of ordinary martial artists.
• He-El defeated Nam with a finger flick, then promised to help him after learning that Nam hoped to win prize money to buy water for his village.
• The preliminaries ended with He-El, Yamcha, Son Goku, Krillin, Jackie Chun, Giran the Monster, Man-Wolf, and Miss Ranfan advancing.
• He-El treated his friends and Nam to a large meal, while Jackie Chun removed his disguise so he could join them.
• After they returned to the arena, He-El gave Nam a Hoi-Poi Capsule containing food and water, and Nam thanked him for saving his village.

The contestants returned to the arena, where Man-Wolf’s overwhelming body odor disrupted the gathering before the quarterfinal draw. He-El drew Man-Wolf as his opponent, and the remaining matches were set, including Yamcha versus Krillin and Goku versus Monster Giran.

• Man-Wolf’s stench overwhelmed the contestants, and He-El advised Yamcha and Goku to reduce their sense of smell with the Super Sensory Adjustment Martial Art.
• Jackie Chun tried to choose Miss Ranfan as his opponent, but the host refused and began the drawing.
• He-El drew number six, then Man-Wolf drew number five and became his opponent for the third match.
• Yamcha drew number one and Krillin drew number two, setting them against each other in the first match.
• Goku drew number seven and Monster Giran had number eight, pairing them for the fourth match.
• Jackie Chun drew number four and Miss Ranfan drew number three, completing the bracket and pairing them for the second match.

The twenty-first World Martial Arts Tournament began, and Yamcha and Krillin faced off in the opening match. After an even exchange, both fighters settled into the battle and charged at each other again.

• The host announced the tournament rules, the four matchups, and the five hundred thousand yuan prize before opening the tournament.
• The host introduced Yamcha and Krillin as the first contestants, while spectators doubted Krillin because of his age and size.
• Goku’s encouragement eased Krillin’s nerves, and Yamcha took Krillin seriously because of his training and past mistakes.
• Yamcha and Krillin began fighting, trading rapid attacks and evasions that impressed the crowd.
• Yamcha told Krillin that the warm-up was over, and both fighters charged at each other again.

Yamcha defeated Krillin in an exhausting World Martial Arts Tournament match, earning Krillin the audience’s respect. Jackie Chun then faced Miss Ranfan, who surrendered after her flirtatious tactics failed.

• Yamcha outlasted Krillin, who collapsed after his final attack failed to break through Yamcha’s defense.
• He-El criticized Yamcha for letting Krillin turn the fight into an endurance contest, while Jackie Chun praised both fighters.
• The announcer declared Yamcha the winner, and Yamcha and Goku helped the exhausted Krillin backstage.
• He-El warned Jackie Chun not to get carried away when fighting Miss Ranfan, but Jackie Chun soon became infatuated with her.
• Jackie Chun played along with Miss Ranfan’s honey trap and chased her around the arena until she surrendered.

He-El defeated Man-Wolf with an Airwave Strike, and Goku beat Giran in the fourth match of the tournament. Rain suspended the remaining bouts, leaving Yamcha set to face Jackie Chun and He-El set to face Goku.

• Jackie Chun returned backstage after winning his match, and Miss Ranfan fled backstage before him.
• He-El used an Airwave Strike to knock Man-Wolf unconscious, scattering his stench through the audience and prompting spectators to bury him in trash.
• The host declared He-El the winner, and Goku went out to face Giran as Yamcha, Krillin, and He-El cheered him on.
• Goku struck Giran's belly, dodged and shattered his Magic Gum, then knocked him out of the ring with a punch.
• Rain halted the tournament, with Yamcha's match against Jackie Chun and He-El's match against Goku still to come.

During the rain delay, Jackie Chun persuaded the organizers to change the semifinal matchups so he could face Goku and He-El could face Yamcha. After the rain stopped, He-El and Yamcha began their match, with He-El challenging Yamcha to knock him outside a circle he had drawn.

• Jackie Chun asked He-El to switch matchups so he could fight Goku, then convinced the organizers to approve the change.
• Yamcha and He-El agreed to the new pairings, while Goku accepted He-El's promise that they might meet in the final.
• After the rain stopped, the announcer introduced He-El and Yamcha as the first semifinalists and revealed Yamcha had trained under He-El.
• He-El drew a circle around himself and told Yamcha he would win if he could force He-El out of it.
• Jackie Chun warned Goku and Krillin that He-El's technique, control, and timing were more frightening than his power.

Yamcha unleashed his full strength against He-El at the martial arts tournament, but He-El’s superior technique stopped every attack. Yamcha then revealed his Wolf Fang Fist, only for He-El to disperse its Ki wolves and knock him down.

• Yamcha attacked He-El with a rapid barrage, but He-El blocked him with one hand.
• Krillin, Goku, and Jackie Chun watched in amazement as He-El effortlessly defended himself.
• He-El caught Yamcha’s wrist and explained that Yamcha had learned only a fraction of the techniques he had taught him.
• Yamcha gathered Ki and launched his ultimate move, the Wolf Fang Fist, in the form of a pack of golden wolves.
• He-El dispersed the Ki wolves with his fingers and struck Yamcha on the head, knocking him flat onto the arena.

He-El defeated Yamcha and praised his training before Goku faced Jackie Chun in the next match. Jackie Chun hypnotized Goku to make him fall asleep, but Bulma woke him by promising food, and the fight continued.

• He-El defeated Yamcha, healed him, and advised him to stop shaping the Wolf Fang Fist into wolves for attacks.
• Yamcha accepted He-El's advice and thanked him for his praise.
• He-El encouraged Goku before Goku entered the ring to fight Jackie Chun.
• Jackie Chun hypnotized Goku, causing him to fall asleep and leaving the audience outraged.
• Bulma shouted that it was time to eat, waking Goku just before the count ended.
• Goku realized he was in a match, took a fighting stance, and focused on Jackie Chun.

Jackie Chun and Goku continued their World Martial Arts Tournament match, trading increasingly powerful techniques. Jackie Chun struck Goku with the Ten Thousand Nations Shocking Palm and kicked him out of sight again, leaving everyone waiting to see if he would return.

• Jackie Chun kicked Goku out of sight, but Goku returned on the Flying Nimbus, so the officials barred him from using the cloud again.
• Goku fought back with Rock-Paper-Scissors, Eight-Handed Fist, and Monkey Fist, forcing Jackie Chun to struggle against his close-combat skills.
• Jackie Chun restrained Goku with the Golden Binding Technique, then struck him with the Ten Thousand Nations Shocking Palm when Goku broke free.
• Jackie Chun kicked the electrocuted Goku out of sight and said he could not move, but a spectator suddenly shouted that Goku had returned.

Jackie Chun defeated Goku in the World Martial Arts Tournament final, but Goku transformed into a Great Ape after losing consciousness beneath the moon. He-El realized Goku had seen the moon as the transformation began.

• Goku and Jackie Chun fired competing Kamehameha blasts, and Jackie redirected Goku's attack into the sky before striking him down.
• The host counted Goku out, and Jackie Chun was declared the winner as Bulma, Yamcha, and Krillin watched.
• After Goku lost consciousness, his body transformed into a Great Ape, terrifying the audience and the host.
• He-El looked up, saw the moon, and realized Goku had seen it.

Goku transformed into a rampaging Great Ape after looking at the full moon, forcing He-El and the others to protect the spectators. He-El severed Goku’s tail, returning him to normal, and wondered whether his adaptive physique could absorb Saiyan genes.

• Goku transformed into a Great Ape, and He-El evacuated the announcer while Yamcha and Krillin helped the spectators flee.
• Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, and Master Roshi realized Goku had likely trampled his grandfather Gohan to death in this form.
• He-El fought the Great Ape while Jackie Chun, Krillin, and Yamcha connected Goku’s transformation to the full moon.
• Master Roshi prepared to use the Kamehameha, but He-El severed Goku’s tail, causing him to revert to normal.
• He-El forced the Saiyan blood from his arm and decided to investigate his adaptive physique later, while Krillin checked that Goku was safe.

After He-El stopped Goku’s rampage, the World Martial Arts Tournament final began between He-El and Jackie Chun. Jackie Chun revealed his strength and techniques, but He-El easily countered him, leaving Jackie Chun to declare that He-El was not a martial artist.

• He-El explained that Goku had transformed and lost consciousness, while Krillin carried the exhausted child backstage for a medical examination.
• Bulma worried that Goku might have been the monster who killed his grandfather and decided to discuss it with He-El after the match.
• The host introduced He-El and Jackie Chun as finalists, and He-El advertised his food company before the match began.
• Jackie Chun powered up and attacked He-El with the Ten Thousand Nations Shocking Palm, but He-El matched the technique and dispersed Jackie Chun’s electricity.
• Jackie Chun tried his other martial arts techniques, found none could challenge He-El, and accused him of not being a martial artist.

Jackie Chun declared that He-El was no martial artist because he used techniques as tools rather than expressing a martial artist’s will. He-El defeated Jackie Chun with a Palm Wave and won the Twenty-First World Martial Arts Tournament.

• Jackie Chun explained that He-El’s techniques lacked a martial artist’s will and said he would attack He-El’s spirit with a Kamehameha.
• He-El acknowledged Jackie Chun’s judgment but said his strengths lay in studying himself and the universe.
• Jackie Chun fired a Kamehameha infused with his fighting spirit at He-El.
• He-El answered with a Palm Wave that overwhelmed the Kamehameha and exploded across the arena.
• The announcer confirmed Jackie Chun had fallen from the platform and declared He-El the tournament champion.

After winning the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament, He-El treated his friends to dinner, where Master Roshi encouraged Goku and Krillin to train harder after their losses. Capsule Corporation security officers reported that they had located two Red Ribbon Army branches, and He-El planned to destroy them while they continued searching for the army’s headquarters.

• Bulma told Master Roshi that she knew he was Jackie Chun, and He-El asked her to keep the secret.
• He-El led Bulma, Master Roshi, Yamcha, Krillin, and the awakened Goku to dinner, where Krillin explained that He-El had won the tournament.
• Master Roshi taught Goku and Krillin to learn from their defeats, and both resolved to train harder.
• The group’s enormous meal cost more than He-El’s tournament prize, leaving him with a bill of one million one hundred and thirty thousand.
• Two Capsule Corporation security captains reported that the Red Ribbon Army had not appeared on Papaya Island but that they had located two of its branches.
• He-El asked for the branch locations and said he would attack them, prompting Master Roshi to ask what was happening with the Red Ribbon Army.

After the Red Ribbon Army attacked He-El’s company and destroyed the He-El Food Energy Research Institute’s Gravity Chamber, He-El and his allies prepared to strike back. He-El decided to wipe out two branches first, find the army’s headquarters, and destroy the organization.

• Master Roshi recognized the Red Ribbon Army and learned that it had attacked He-El’s company, stealing research data and destroying the Gravity Chamber.
• Bulma explained the Red Ribbon Army’s crimes, while Rabbit Can-Can began coordinating with Capsule Corporation’s security captains to gather information about its headquarters.
• Goku volunteered to fight, Krillin urged the group to prepare first, and Bulma proposed assembling Capsule Corporation combat teams to attack the army’s branches.
• Master Roshi told everyone to await He-El’s command, and the group turned to He-El for his decision.
• He-El ordered them to wipe out the Red Ribbon Army’s two branches, locate its headquarters, and destroy the army; he also planned to search for pirate treasure near Master Roshi’s home to offset the company’s losses.

After the Red Ribbon Army destroyed He-El’s Food Energy Research Institute, He-El returned to the ruins and learned that its equipment, data, and blood research records were gone. He planned to rebuild the institute around biological and food-energy research, while Bulma condemned Pilaf, Ashu, and Mai for fleeing during the attack.

• He-El said he would handle company matters before contacting Master Roshi, Goku, and Krillin to join him against the Red Ribbon Army.
• The next morning, Goku, Krillin, and Master Roshi departed for home, while He-El, Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, and Rabbit Can-Can returned to West City.
• Dr. Briefs apologized for the institute’s destruction and said Capsule Corporation had ordered replacement research equipment; He-El planned to combine biological and food-energy research.
• He-El and the others found the institute in ruins, including both Gravity Chambers, and Yamcha, Puar, and Bulma reacted angrily to the destruction.
• Rabbit Can-Can reported that the institute’s equipment, data, and He-El’s blood samples and records had been destroyed, while surveillance showed Pilaf, Ashu, and Mai had communicated with the Red Ribbon Army and fled.

After the Red Ribbon Army destroyed He-El’s research institute and equipment, he made plans to rebuild it and pursue new genetic research while preparing to confront the army. He sent Yamcha to train with Master Roshi on Turtle Island and arranged to meet him there after handling matters of his own.

• He-El told Dr. Briefs he would redesign the ruined research institute and requested genetic testing equipment and a rented bio-gene research facility.
• He-El planned to fund the rebuilding by taking Master Roshi’s treasure and defeating the Red Ribbon Army, then visit Korin Tower and Kami’s Lookout with Goku.
• He-El sent Yamcha to Turtle Island with the remaining energy bars to train under Master Roshi and told him to find his own martial arts path.
• Yamcha accepted He-El’s advice, packed the energy bars, and flew to Turtle Island with Puar.
• He-El asked Dr. Briefs to arrange the latest bio-genetic research equipment so he could investigate changes related to Goku’s blood and his adaptive physique.