The 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai may never take been the finale fans always misinterpret for being (Akira Toriyama himself used Master Roshi to reassure readers Dragon Ball very much wasn't ending afterward the tournament,) only information technology's hard to deny the air of certitude that clouds over the entire tournament. In many respects, the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai feels like a love alphabetic character to the series upwards to this betoken. In retrospect, it'due south a very sobering arc– our last glimpse at Dragon Brawl earlier Battle Ability, Saiyans, & transformations.

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Perhaps it goes without saying, but that'southward exactly why the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai is both an excellent story arc and first-class tournament. Characters wrap up their arcs, the series' core themes are touched upon, and the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai has every major character going out on a high, even when they lose. With the action getting increasingly closer to hitting the intensity found in the Saiyan arc, the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai is a standout saga for Dragon Brawl.

vii Son Goku Versus Chic (Quarter-Finals ii)

chichi kissing goku on the cheek

What makes Goku's fight against Chic work then well is just how asunder she is from quite literally everything that has happened since the first story arc. While Chic really makes appearances during the anime'due south adaptation of the Ruddy Ribbon Ground forces arc, she's completely absent-minded from the manga inbetween the end of the first arc and this tournament.

This is mainly a gag fight focusing on the fact Chichi remembered an offhand comment Goku made at the start of the series– a comment he (and likely the audience) completely forgot virtually. Yet, for a gag fight, there's some excellent choreography here as Goku masterfully dodges Chichi'south genuinely swift strikes. It really goes to bear witness how put together Toriyama's action was past this betoken in the series.

6 Shen Versus Majunior (Semi-Finals ii)

Narratively, this is i of the about serious semi-final matches in any tournament– if not the most serious. Kami-sama, disguised as Shen, finally finds an opportunity to confront Majunior, Demon King Piccolo'south reincarnation. Despite existence God himself, Shen can't seem to overpower Piccolo. Even his attempt at using the Mafuba against his other half is turned right around at him.

While this fight lacks in combat, it'due south full of gripping plot development. We finally see the Namekian language (though no one knows they're speaking Namekian,) the mythology betwixt Kami & Piccolo is expanded a bit, and Piccolo reversing the Mafuba is a prissy twist– fifty-fifty if Kami obviously was never going to win.

5 Tenshinhan Versus Tao Pai Pai (Quarter-Finals 1)

Entry 9 - Tien Beats Mercenary Tao

Although Tenshinhan redeemed himself as a martial artist by the finish of the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai, he didn't cutting all his ties to the Crane School. While he was no longer a philosophical educatee of Tsuru Sennin'southward, he still respected his master enough not to study under Master Roshi. Come the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, however, and Tenshinhan has his relationship with the Crane School direct challenged.

Not only is his first match against Tao Pai Pai– the human being who outright inspired Tenshinhan to want to be an assassin– Tao actually turns a knife on Ten. Then and there, Tenshinhan realizes the Crane School never truly cared nearly martial arts. Everything he studied was a lie, and Tenshinhan in plough punishes Tao Pai Pai for disrespecting the sanctity of martial arts and his pride as a martial creative person. From hither on out, Tenshinhan is a much colder character, completely asunder from the Crane School.

four Yamcha Versus Shen (Quarter-Finals 4)

Yamcha doesn't win a lot of fights, simply some fans mistake this with Yamcha not getting a lot of great fights. This couldn't be further from the truth. Time and fourth dimension once again, Yamcha takes part in some of Dragon Ball'southward best battles. He may rarely, if always, win, but that doesn't invalidate just how skilful of a fight Yamcha can put upwards sometimes.

Take his match against Shen. Fighting confronting God, there's simply no way Yamcha can win. Shen even manages to dodge Yamcha's every blow initially, calling back to the desert bandit's defeat at the hands of Jackie Chun all those years agone. Simply Yamcha isn't the same martial artist he once was. While he doesn't manage to defeat Kami, Yamcha's Sokidan catches God off baby-sit and allows Yamcha to lose humbled & validated past a literal god of martial arts.

3 Son Goku Versus Tenshinhan (Semi-Finals 1)

Goku and Tien fighting

In the first two Tenkaichi Budokai, Goku's fights were always reserved for the finish of each round. Information technology makes sense to a degree, but it's not something that was going to fly three times in a row. With the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, Goku's fights take place in the first half of each round, which interestingly results in him opening the Semi-Finals for a change.

With Piccolo on the horizon, the name of the game for Goku is keeping upward his stamina, only he'south fighting Tenkaichi Budokai champion Tenshinhan, who he previously lost to. At commencement, the ii are evenly matched, with Tenshinhan actually faster than Goku. As the fight continues, however, Goku removes his weighted clothing and gains a massive speed heave– all the while keeping upwardly his stamina and outsmarting Tenshinhan. Preparation with God gave Goku more than than just raw strength.

2 Krillin Versus Majunior (Quarter-Finals 3)

Unlike Yamcha, Krillin is still respected within the fandom (in large part due to his extended relevance into even the Cell arc,) but his fights do tend to get slept on. At least the ones that took place before the Saiyans landed on Earth. Bluntly, all of Krillin'southward best fights are in the pre-Z era, with the martial artist time and time again taking part in some incredible Tenkaichi Budokai bouts.

His fight against Majunior is an of import one for a lot of reasons. For starters, information technology's the first time we run across this Piccolo in action, simply more importantly, this is almost a way of Krillin getting some redemption for existence killed by Tambourine. While he doesn't manage to beat Piccolo, Krillin puts upwardly an outstanding fight, tossing out sophisticated strategies and fifty-fifty flight. It's to the indicate where Piccolo is no longer sure that taking off Earth volition be easy. Krillin literally beat out the confidence out of him.

i Son Goku Versus Majunior (Last Lucifer)

Anime Dragon Ball World Martial Arts Tournament Piccolo Goku Fight

The thousand finale of the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai and 1 of the best fights in Dragon Brawl, period, Goku'southward fight confronting Majunior is for the history books. The single longest fight in the series up to that indicate, each chapter tosses the ball between Goku and Piccolo– the ii martial artists fighting to the death. With the stipulation that Goku is really trying to win legitimately, of grade.

It kind of undermines the tension, but it'southward such a Goku motility. It only makes sense that Goku, later years dedicating his life exclusively to martial arts and losing in the Tenkaichi Budokai twice over, is going to do everything in his power to win at to the lowest degree once. Some of Goku'south most artistic techniques & tactics appear here (the feet Kamehameha,) and Goku pulling flight out at the final minute for a sneak attack is a genius way of securing his victory.

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