Master Roshi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Master Roshi
Alias(es)	Turtle Immortal; Master Mutaito; “Little Turtle” 20 22
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Turtle School
Occupation/Role	Martial arts grandmaster, cultivator, teacher, and guardian of Turtle Hermit Island
Status	Active 49
First Appearance	Chapter 8

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Spiritual energy generation	21	Began producing spiritual energy within three to five days of Wuchen’s instruction in meditation, breathing, and meridian circulation.
Origin Soul; Spirit Attachment	24	Condensed his Origin Soul and achieved Spirit Attachment after sustained cultivation.
Cultivation breakthrough; enhanced Water Momentum	27	Advanced from the peak of the first stage of Soul Condensation; his breakthrough manifested as rain condensing around him, while his understanding of water momentum also deepened.
Seventh level of Soul Condensation	48	Had reached the seventh level by the World Martial Arts Tournament reunion.

Background / History

Master Roshi was Sun Wufan’s master; Ox-King also trained under him, making Wufan and Ox-King martial brothers. Wufan later wrote Roshi about finding two tailed infants—Goku and Wuchen—in a round machine. Roshi had not heard from Wufan for years when he met the brothers himself. 15 18

Three centuries before the main story, Roshi spent a year climbing Korin Tower and trained under Korin for three more years. The climb and Korin’s guidance greatly improved his strength and understanding of ki, helping establish his reputation as a martial arts grandmaster. 39 41

Roshi first meets Goku, Wuchen, and Bulma after the group returns the Sea Turtle to the ocean. As a reward for saving his companion, he gives Goku the Flying Nimbus. He also gives Bulma the Dragon Ball he had worn around his neck after she agrees to his indecent request. 8

After learning that Sun Wufan died while protecting Goku and Wuchen during their Great Ape transformations, Roshi consoles the grieving brothers. He recognizes that Wufan raised them well and invites them to train with him. 18

Wuchen later introduces Roshi to spiritual fruits, plants, and the foundations of cultivation. Roshi eagerly accepts the instruction, becomes capable of generating spiritual energy within days, and joins Goku and Wuchen in a structured regimen combining cultivation, staff work, labor, swimming, and weighted training. 20 21

Roshi accepts Krillin as a disciple and allows Launch to remain with the group. He later works with Wuchen to disseminate carefully limited cultivation methods among people of good character, prioritizing control over rapid expansion. 22 28 44

Appearance

Master Roshi is an elderly martial artist who commonly wears sunglasses and carries a turtle shell on his back. Wuchen initially mistakes him for a transformed turtle beast because of the shell and the pressure of his aura. 8

• Turtle shell worn on his back. 8
• Dark sunglasses. 8
• Elderly appearance, though he retains formidable physical strength and vitality. 20 27

Personality

Roshi balances the bearing of a seasoned martial arts master with a shamelessly lecherous streak. His behavior toward Bulma and Launch repeatedly prevents him from riding the Flying Nimbus and embarrasses the Sea Turtle. 8 22 23

Despite this, he is compassionate and responsible toward his students and allies. He comforts Goku after Sun Wufan’s death, helps Nam save his drought-stricken village, and remains concerned about the dangers posed by uncontrolled cultivation and King Piccolo’s return. 18 29 44 49

He is notably open-minded for a martial arts grandmaster. Rather than rejecting Wuchen’s unfamiliar cultivation methods, he studies them earnestly, asks questions without pride, and helps organize their limited spread. 20 21 28

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts and Ki

Roshi is a renowned martial artist whose mastery of ki predates his cultivation practice. His experience and teachings helped form the Turtle School’s methods.

• Trained under Korin for three years after climbing Korin Tower. 39 41
• Possesses deep knowledge of ki, including the Kamehameha and other martial techniques. 26
• Developed a powerful martial foundation before learning spiritual-energy cultivation. 21 27
• Uses strenuous labor, swimming, deliveries, and turtle-shell weights as full-body training methods. 21

Water Momentum

Roshi specializes in the momentum of water and practices the Black Tortoise Raging Waves Transformation. 21

• His cultivation breakthrough causes fine rain to condense around him and seep into the ground. 27
• His understanding of water momentum rises alongside his breakthrough. 27

Cultivation

Under Wuchen’s guidance, Roshi rapidly adapts meditation, breathing, spiritual-energy circulation, and body-refinement practices into his own training. 21 24

• Produces spiritual energy within three to five days of beginning formal instruction. 21
• Learns the circulation paths of the Twelve Meridians and begins sensing acupoints. 21
• Condenses an Origin Soul and achieves Spirit Attachment. 24
• Reaches the seventh level of Soul Condensation by the tournament period. 48

Teaching and Dissemination

Roshi is an experienced instructor who combines traditional Turtle School conditioning with Wuchen’s cultivation system.

• Oversees physical training for Goku, Wuchen, and Krillin. 21 23
• Accepts Krillin as a Turtle School disciple. 22
• Helps Wuchen limit cultivation instruction to selected recipients of good character. 28 44
• Passes methods for generating and refining spiritual energy, opening the Consciousness Realm, and condensing the Origin Soul to carefully chosen practitioners. 44

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Turtle shell — Worn on his back; also serves as the basis for weighted physical training. 8 21
• Sunglasses — His usual eyewear. 8
• Flying Nimbus — Formerly in his possession; gifted to Goku after the Sea Turtle’s rescue. 8
• Dragon Ball — Kept as a necklace after finding it on the ocean floor a century earlier; later given to Bulma. 8
• XL Hoi-Poi Capsule — Given to Nam so he could transport water to his drought-stricken village. 29

Relationships

• Sun Wufan — Former disciple; Roshi mourns his death and recognizes the quality of his upbringing of Goku and Wuchen. 18
• Goku — Granddisciple through Sun Wufan; Roshi gives him the Flying Nimbus, trains alongside him, and remains concerned for his safety. 8 18 21
• Wuchen — Granddisciple, cultivation student, and close collaborator. Their relationship develops into mutual respect as they exchange cultivation theory and ki knowledge. 20 21 26 44
• Krillin — Disciple accepted after presenting Roshi with books; later becomes one of Roshi’s leading students. 22 48
• Ox-King — Former disciple and Sun Wufan’s martial brother; Roshi asks Wuchen to tell him to atone for his past wrongdoing. 15 19
• Sea Turtle — Longtime companion and transport across the sea; frequently embarrassed by Roshi’s conduct. 8 22
• Launch — Invited to stay with the group; Roshi is strongly attracted to her, regardless of which personality is present. 22 23
• Korin — Former teacher who trained Roshi atop Korin Tower three centuries earlier. 39 41
• Master Shen — Former fellow student under Mutaito and longstanding rival. 48

Story Role / Major Arcs

Sea Turtle Rescue and Dragon Ball Journey

Roshi arrives to reward Goku and Wuchen for saving the Sea Turtle. He gives Goku the Flying Nimbus and provides Bulma with a Dragon Ball, advancing the group’s search. 8

Sun Wufan’s Death and the Brothers’ Return

When Goku and Wuchen visit Turtle Hermit Island after learning the truth about Sun Wufan’s death, Roshi offers forgiveness, comfort, and an invitation to train. 18

Formal Cultivation Training

Roshi becomes Wuchen’s cultivation student while continuing to act as a martial mentor. He helps establish a demanding daily routine and rapidly progresses through the early stages of cultivation. 20 21 24

Krillin’s Apprenticeship

Roshi accepts Krillin as a disciple and assigns him conventional physical training before Wuchen begins teaching him cultivation. 22 23

Controlled Spread of Cultivation

Roshi and Wuchen agree that cultivation cannot be spread indiscriminately. Roshi takes responsibility for teaching introductory techniques to a screened circle of practitioners while warning that power disparities could destabilize society. 28 44

World Martial Arts Tournament

Roshi reunites with Goku, Wuchen, Krillin, and the others at the tournament. He senses the concealed power within Goku and Wuchen and later learns of King Piccolo’s impending return. 48 49

Notable Quotes

“What Grandmaster? Call me Little Turtle.” 20

“The world has lost another good man. But it has also gained two good men.” 18

Trivia

• Roshi cannot ride the Flying Nimbus because its purity requirement rejects his lecherous nature. 8
• He named his former bird the “Immortal Bird,” though it died of food poisoning. 8
• He found the Dragon Ball he wore around his neck on the ocean floor roughly one hundred years before meeting Goku’s group. 8
• The legend of Ultra Divine Water became widespread largely because of Roshi’s rise after training at Korin Tower. 41