The Kamehameha is one ofDragon Ball’s most iconic techniques, used by Goku in a variety of situations and in many different ways over the years. It’s an old standby that can often be trusted to do the job, but there’s one person whom the Kamehameha is completely worthless against, and that person is actually Tien.
Tien, of course, wasn’t always an ally of Goku’s. In his first appearances in the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament,Tien was a cruel figure, trained by Master Roshi’s rival school, the Crane school, by Master Shen. While Tien today has a reputation for having been left in the dust by Goku and Vegeta in terms of power, Tien in his initial appearances is quite a bit stronger than any of the heroes. Having come from a rival school of martial arts training, many of Tien’s abilities were designed specifically to counter those taught by Master Roshi, making him especially dangerous for Goku, Yamcha, and Krillin to fight.
Tien is the Only Character Who Can Redirect A Kamehameha
Tien’s Special Skill Completely Defeats the Kamehameha
In chapter 118 ofDragon Ball, during the 22nd Martial Arts Tournament, Tien is up against Yamcha in the first round. Yamcha prepares a powerful Kamehameha of his own, firing it at Tien.Tien doesn’t so much as flinch, however, and performs a special technique which not only deflects the attack away from him, but redirects it back at Yamcha, which Yamcha manages to dodge and avoid at the last second. Tien is able to use Yamcha’s distraction by the deflected attack to his advantage, knocking out Yamcha and then breaking his leg for good measure.
Whilemany enemies have survived a Kamehamehaover the course ofDragon Balland its subsequent series, Tien remains the only one to have simply deflected the attack and turned it back on his attacker. Due to an odd translation in some versions of theDragon Ballmanga, some fans have interpreted a line spoken by Master Roshi about the Kamehameha being “useless” on Tien as meaning that Tien was immune to the attack altogether. It was actually this technique which Roshi was referring to, as he does in chapter 133.
Tien Should Teach His Friends This Secret Technique
Tien’s Kamehameha Deflection Technique Would’ve Come In Handy
As the story goes on, several enemies, such as Cell and Buu, gain the ability to use the Kamehameha, but Tien’s special technique for reversing the attack is never seen again. It definitely would’ve been useful if Tien had shared this particular technique with his friends once he turned to the side of good, but that doesn’t seem to have been the case. The most likely explanation for why it never shows up again is simply that Toriyama forgot that Tien possessed this technique by the time that enemies began using the Kamehameha regularly.
As a result, though, Tien still has a rather unique ability to deflect one ofDragon Ball’s most iconic attacks of all time, and that’s something no one else in the series can claim.
Dragon Ball
Cast
Goku, a young, powerful boy with a tail, spends his days hunting and living off the land. His life changes when he meets Bulma, a teen genius on a quest to collect seven magical Dragon Balls that summon a dragon capable of granting any wish. Together, they set off on an adventure filled with powerful martial arts battles, formidable foes, and unlikely alliances.
