Jackie Chun

Overview

Jackie Chun is a senior martial artist appearing in the manga and anime series Dragon Ball. He is actually the disguised alter ego of Master Roshi (Kame-sennin), the mentor of Son Goku and Krillin. Fearing that his young disciples might grow arrogant and abandon their training if they won the tournament too easily, Master Roshi entered the 21st and 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai under this secret identity to serve as an insurmountable obstacle. Disguised in a kung fu outfit and wig, Jackie Chun demonstrated extraordinary combat skills while quietly guiding the next generation of fighters.

Appearance

Jackie Chun is the disguised form of Kame-sennin, created by removing his signature sunglasses. On his bald head, he attaches a white wig using a strong adhesive, shaped similarly to the hairstyle of his past master, Mutaito. His outfit consists of a black kung fu uniform. Distinctive visual features include facial hair, such as a mustache and beard, along with visible wrinkles on his skin.

Personality

Behind his disguise, Jackie Chun possesses deep affection and wisdom as a mentor, willingly acting as a barrier to keep his pupils humble. He exhibits great compassion, helping those in need when he uncovers their struggles during the tournament. At the same time, he retains comical and lecherous tendencies, occasionally reacting enthusiastically to female charm. Despite his superior skills, he remains humble, willingly stepping aside once he realizes that the rising generation of fighters no longer needs him to test their limits.

Abilities

As a master of Kame-senryu martial arts, Jackie Chun is capable of executing the powerful energy technique known as the Kamehameha. During the 21st tournament, he demonstrated immense destructive power by unleashing a Kamehameha strong enough to completely destroy the moon, reverting Son Goku from his Great Ape transformation. In addition to high-level martial arts combat against opponents like Krillin and Tenshinhan, derivative games grant him unique support abilities that boost low-HP allies and manipulate guard stats.

Background

Jackie Chun entered the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai, advancing to defeat Krillin in the semifinals and Son Goku in the finals. After destroying the moon to save Goku from his Great Ape state, he secured victory by getting back up first after a mutual double knockout, later spending most of his prize money feeding his disciples. He returned for the 22nd tournament, overcoming an encounter with Man-Wolf and reaching the semifinals against Tenshinhan. Recognizing the impressive growth of the new generation during their fight, he chose to forfeit the match and retired from tournament fighting.

Relationships

Jackie Chun maintains a disguised relation with Son Goku and Krillin, using his alter ego to teach them humility. During the 22nd tournament, he fought Tenshinhan and gave him guidance that persuaded him to abandon Tsuru-sennin's assassination style in favor of genuine martial arts. His identity was recognized by Tsuru-sennin. Additionally, he revealed his secret to Nam after assisting him with his village's water crisis, prompting Nam to impersonate Kame-sennin to dispel Yamcha's growing suspicions.

Trivia

The name Jackie Chun is a parody of the famous martial artist and actor Jackie Chan. Creator Akira Toriyama was a massive fan of Jackie Chan's movies, frequently playing them in the background while working on Dr. Slump. This passion prompted his editor, Kazuhiko Torishima, to suggest creating a martial arts series, ultimately serving as the catalyst for Dragon Ball. Additionally, the specific style of the wig worn by Jackie Chun was designed to match the hair of Kame-sennin's former master, Mutaito.