If I taught you specific moves and routines,
then your potential for future growth would be limited.
Like I said, moves were just applications of the basics,
so you need to use the fundamentals you've learned over the past few days flexibly and figure out your own fighting styles."
The three nodded thoughtfully.
Ever since watching the anime, Son Goku had understood that his later growth to such incredible heights
had been inseparable from the early training he received under Master Roshi.
But if someone had asked him to explain exactly why,
even after seven months of training, he still couldn't have put it into words.
Or rather, every step of Master Roshi's training had a deeper purpose.
He just hadn't understood it.
Then again, the Goku in the manga probably hadn't understood it back then either. He hadn't overthought things.
Sometimes, all it took was the right opportunity to understand.
"There's a month left before the Tournament of Power. I'm not going to teach you fighting styles. Keep training as you have been.
"But from now on, you'll train with shells twice as heavy—forty kilograms."
"Thump!"
The three fainted again.
Although the training had gotten even harder,
the three had already adapted to seven months of rigorous training,
so even with the added weight, things were still easier than they had been at the beginning.
They could finish a day's training and still have more time to rest.
So every evening, before dinner, the three of them would get together to discuss fighting moves.
But the moves they studied weren't traditional martial arts techniques.
There was none of that flashy stuff like Rising Dragon Fist, Iron Mountain Lean, or White Crane Spreads Wings.
After all, this wasn't a video game. A move like Rising Dragon Fist didn't make you invincible, and left you far too exposed.
They discarded all those impractical, showy moves.
They focused only on the simplest techniques:
punches, kicks, defense, blocks, dodges, and takedowns.
Punches basically came down to jabs, hooks, elbows, and the like.
Kicks were mostly sweeps, low kicks, side kicks, and so on.
Blocking and defense usually involved crossing your arms or using certain specific guards...
Chapter 40: World Martial Arts Tournament
Training hard for such a long time should have been exhausting.
But the three of them didn't find life under Master Roshi difficult at all. They were having a great time.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
Not only had their martial arts improved, but the three had also formed a deep friendship.
The day of the World Martial Arts Tournament had arrived.
Once they took off their shells, their strength and speed surged to a whole new level.
Master Roshi led them to the World Martial Arts Tournament venue.
It was the first time Krillin, Goku, and Chi-Chi had been there.
As soon as they arrived near the tournament, they felt the intense martial arts atmosphere.
"Contestants, please go to the registration hall for the preliminary rounds!"
When the staff at the martial arts hall saw the three children—Krillin, Goku, and Chi-Chi—they immediately shouted at them.
"Hey, kids! This is a martial arts hall. If you want to watch the matches, go wait outside!"
Master Roshi immediately stepped in front of them.
"No, no! They're here to compete!"
"What?"
The staff member was taken aback, looking as if he couldn't believe it.
What kind of person would let children enter a tournament?
Master Roshi nodded solemnly. "That's right!"
After registering, the three happily walked out of the tournament registration hall.
Master Roshi said, "I won't be accompanying you from now on. Do your best!"
The three nodded to Master Goten in unison. "Okay, we understand!"
Chi-Chi asked, "Teacher, you'll watch our matches from the stands, right?"
"I will. All of you, do your best—and don't go too hard on your opponents!"
"Yes!"
Master Roshi soon disappeared from their sight.
After the three had left the entrance to the registration hall, Master Roshi returned wearing a disguise.
"Contestant Jackie Chun here to register for the tournament!"
The staff member looked at Jackie Chun and frowned. "What's going on this year?
"We've got children and old people now?"
Master Roshi asked, "Then tell me, can an old man like me still enter?"
"Yes, yes, of course..."
There were changing rooms in the martial arts hall.
Goku, Chi-Chi, and Krillin changed into their Turtle School uniforms, then headed to the preliminary arena.
Seeing all the enormous figures around them, the three couldn't help but stare in amazement.
Some people's arms were bigger than the three of them put together.
Goku had a thought. If some of those big guys trained with Master Roshi,
they might become as strong as he and Krillin were.
That only made Son Goku appreciate even more how incredible the Turtle School's martial arts were.
Soon, the staff began announcing the rules.
"The World Martial Arts Tournament begins now!
"All the martial arts experts gathered here today have come from far and wide!
"According to our records, 138 contestants from all over the country are competing in this tournament.
"Eight will be chosen to advance to the main competition. This will be an unprecedentedly fierce contest!
"Now, I'll explain the rules!
"Matches will be one-on-one, fought on the ring.
"If you fall out of the ring, are knocked unconscious for more than ten seconds, or verbally surrender, you lose.
"However, killing your opponent and using weapons are prohibited.
"Each preliminary match will last one minute. If no winner emerges, the referee will decide the outcome.
"Since there are so many contestants in the preliminaries, the competition is divided into four sections.
"The top two contestants in each section will advance as the winners of the preliminaries.
"Now, all contestants, draw your lots.
"Check your number against the schedule posted above and go to your assigned ring."
Chi-Chi looked at her number and asked, "Goku, Krillin, what numbers did you get? I'm number 23."
Goku said, "I'm number 70!"
Krillin said, "I'm number 93."
Chi-Chi looked at the tournament schedule and grew excited.
"Great! We're all in different sections."
Krillin laughed. "Goku and I are in the same section, but our numbers aren't consecutive, so we won't have to fight each other. What a relief!"
Just then, a staff member called out from inside the hall.
"Contestants number 22 and 23 in the first section, please come to the ring!"
Chi-Chi froze.
"Hey, I think they're calling me."
Goku and Krillin cheered her on. "Chi-Chi, good luck! You've got this!"
Chi-Chi nodded. "Okay!"
Soon, Chi-Chi climbed into the ring for her preliminary match.
But Chi-Chi was just a little girl.
Her opponent wasn't just an adult—he was enormous.
He was burly and powerfully built, at least three meters tall.
Just one of his arms was bigger than Chi-Chi.
The spectators below were astonished.
"Oh my God!"
"Is that little kid competing too?"
"She must be here for a joke, right?"
"Exactly! Number 22 has every advantage!
"His opponent's not only a child, but a little girl too. That's just unfair!"
"The envy is making me drool!"
Contestant number 22 looked down at little Chi-Chi, his expression conflicted.
"This little kid's my opponent?"
"Damn it! Beating a tiny child like her would hardly be a point of pride for a strongman like me."
Just then, the referee announced, "You have one minute. Begin!"
Chi-Chi looked up at the towering figure across from her and felt a little scared.
Goku called from below, "Chi-Chi, do your best!"
Chi-Chi's body tensed.