Master Roshi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Master Roshi
Alias(es)	Master Mutian; Turtle Hermit
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Turtle School
Occupation/Role	Martial-arts master; mentor
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background / History

Master Roshi resides at Kame House and is introduced as the legendary Master Mutian. He states that, despite living for more than three hundred years, he had accepted only two disciples before Zhou Zilong arrived seeking instruction. 6

Roshi tests Zhou’s determination by requiring him to find “a pretty girl” to keep him company. Zhou returns with Mei Hui, a lifelike robot built to match Roshi’s preferences; impressed by her realism and behavior, Roshi accepts Zhou as his third disciple and warns him not to seek trouble after learning martial arts. 6

Over the following months, Roshi trains Zhou through the Turtle School’s physical, mental, and ethical curriculum. After eight months, he concludes that he has taught Zhou everything he can and sends him out to gain experience. 7 8 9 15

Years later, Roshi reunites with Zhou during the Dragon Ball journey. He rewards Goku for returning the Sea Turtle, later meets his former disciple the Ox-King at Fire Mountain, and openly declares Zhou to be the most talented person he has seen—already stronger than Roshi himself. 25 32

Appearance

Master Roshi is an elderly bald man with a white beard, sunglasses, and an orange casual shirt. Though he normally appears frail and relies on a cane, he can dramatically expand his musculature when demonstrating his martial arts. 6 7 11

• Bald head and full white beard.
• Wears dark sunglasses and an orange shirt. 6
• Often carries a cane. 7 10
• Can shift into a heavily muscled combat physique. 11

Personality

Roshi combines eccentric and lecherous behavior with sincere dedication to martial arts and his students. His acceptance test for Zhou centers on acquiring female companionship, and he immediately makes advances toward Bulma when he meets her. 6 25

As a teacher, he is patient but demanding. He praises perseverance, corrects reckless thinking, and insists that rest is as important as strenuous training. He supports Zhou after he protects civilians from the Predator Mercenary Group, judging that Zhou acted correctly. 8 10 11

Roshi values learning beyond combat. He appreciates Zhou’s gift of books, maintains a thirst for knowledge despite his age, and requires academic study alongside physical drills. 5 6 8

Abilities & Skills

Turtle School Martial Arts

Roshi is an experienced martial artist and instructor whose curriculum develops physical conditioning, composure, knowledge, and moral judgment.

• Trains disciples through practical labor, including farm work, milk deliveries, construction work, swimming, and weighted exercise. 7 8 9
• Uses dangerous exercises—such as shark encounters and hornet swarms—to develop calmness, reactions, and coordination under pressure. 9
• Teaches students to control their aura and remain composed in battle rather than rely on raw combat power. 10
• Instructed Zhou for eight months, progressing from fundamentals to varied combat techniques. 15

Kamehameha

Roshi created the Kamehameha, a ki beam fired from cupped hands. He demonstrates it by gathering blue-white energy and launching a blast across the sea powerful enough to raise a massive wall of water. 11

• Personally teaches Zhou the technique after supporting his decision to oppose the Predator Mercenary Group. 11
• Uses a muscular combat form while demonstrating the attack. 11
• Emphasizes that understanding the basic principle is insufficient without continued practice and comprehension. 11

Teaching Philosophy

Roshi teaches that martial arts exist to cultivate a healthy body and mind for a meaningful life, not merely to win fights or gain attention. He also instructs Zhou that martial artists who bully innocent people must be stopped. 7

His training balances exertion with recovery:

• Requires early-morning discipline, including 4:00 AM milk-delivery training. 8
• Includes reading and study as part of becoming a complete martial artist. 8
• Orders Zhou to take several days off after five months of intensive training, stressing that a healthy body and mindset are foundational to further progress. 10

Relationships

• Zhou Zilong — Third disciple. Roshi accepts Zhou after testing his resolve, trains him for eight months, teaches him the Kamehameha, and later expresses pride that Zhou has surpassed him. 6 11 15 32
• Ox-King — Former disciple and Zhou’s senior brother. Roshi reprimands him for his poor reputation and accepts his promise to reform. 32
• Son Goku — Rewards Goku with the Flying Nimbus for returning the Sea Turtle and invites him to train under him after witnessing his talent for the Kamehameha. 25 32
• Sea Turtle — Longtime companion who lives with Roshi and brings him to the shore after Goku’s group returns it to the sea. 24 25
• Mei Hui — Lifelike robot created by Zhou to fulfill Roshi’s requirement for female companionship; Roshi finds her interesting and accepts Zhou as a disciple afterward. 6

Notable Quotes

“The true purpose of learning martial arts is to cultivate a healthy body and mind, and then use that health to live a meaningful life. That is what we call the Way of Martial Arts!”
— Master Roshi 7