23rd World Martial Arts Tournament

The tournament arena

Bulma Briefs and Blonde Launch before the Divergence.

The **23rd World Martial Arts Tournament** or the *Tenkaichi Budōkai* refers to a martial arts event held on May 7, Age 756, during which the incident known as The Divergence took place.

72 total entrants, including:

* King Chappa.
* Chiaotzu.
* Yajirobe (masked to hide his identity)

**Contestants**:

* Cyborg Mercenary Tao (quarter-finalist; disqualified for possession of a weapon in the ring)
* Krillin (quarter-finalist)
* Yamcha (quarter-finalist)
* Hero – Kami using Hero's body (semi-finalist)
* Tienshinhan (semi-finalist)
* Chi-Chi – Registered as "Anonymous" (quarter-finalist)
* Piccolo – Using the alias of Ma Jr. (finalist)
* Goku (finalist)

**Winner**: Draw between Goku and Piccolo (Match was interrupted)

It is interesting to note that this is the only World Martial Arts Tournament Goku ever would have won, despite his participation in several before and after. This is the first tournament where the outcome determines the fate of the Earth. Incidentally, after this tournament, if the Invasion hadn't happened, everything would have had to be built from scratch because the entire area was vaporized during the fight.

## Rules and characteristics

The World Martial Arts Tournament originated in a festival held since long ago at the temple which now serves as the tournament grounds. The tournament originally occurred every five years, which is changed to every three years after the 21st World Tournament. It features the Earth's strongest fighters, as well as the regular participation of the Dragon Team. Besides the title of World Martial Arts Champion, the winner of the tournament receives the considerable amount of 500,000 Zeni as a prize. It is shown that in the 21st and 22nd World Tournament, the prize is given to the winner directly after the tournament.

In the tournament, anyone who comes into contact outside of the ring, is knocked out and does not stand up until commentator counts to 10, or gives up, automatically loses. If both fighters are knocked out and neither can reach their feet by the count of ten, the match is normally declared a draw. However, the tournament as a whole must have a champion, so if this happens in the final round, a special "sudden death"-esque rule is employed: the first one to stand up on both feet and state the entire sentence "I'm the Champion" is declared the winner.

The tournament forbids any use of weapons, protective body gear or teams (although natural weapons, such as bear claws, are allowed, and it is never clarified if are included in the ban on protective gear). Poking someone in the eyes or hitting them in the groin is also not allowed, although the latter can be overlooked if it was accidental. The most important rule is that killing the opponent is not allowed. Disobeying any of these rules results in disqualification from the tournament.

However, more than one villain in the manga has entered the tournament with more interest in killing someone against whom they have a vendetta than in winning the prize. This seems to suggest that, while killing in the tournament may get you disqualified, it may still be an affirmative defense to murder, in the eyes of the law. After all, this is the only explanation that makes any sense as to why people such as Man-Wolf (who, unlike Mercenary Tao or Piccolo Jr., does not appear strong enough to defeat the police) could attempt to murder Jackie Chun in front of hundreds of witnesses without fear of going to prison.

The tournament has two parts: the preliminaries and the tournament itself, although this changed significantly in the later tournaments. The preliminaries are held indoors and without an audience. In the preliminaries, all the contestants are divided in several groups, usually eight (after the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament, more contestants than ever have started entering). These eight groups fight in mini-tournaments with a one-minute time limit for each match (matches that last longer than one minute are decided by points). The eight winners, one of each group, move on to the actual tournament.

World Martial Arts Tournaments are hosted, run and announced by the same World Tournament Announcer.

## Martial Arts Temple

There are several buildings in the Martial Arts Temple.

* **Dining Hall**: It seems that the World Tournament participants can eat here for free.
* **Nurse Room**: A room that has a treatment table and basic medical equipment. The wounded Videl received treatment here after being injured in her match in the 25th World Tournament.
* **Preliminaries Grounds**: It is located in the back of the martial arts temple's main building. For the 24th World Tournament and onward, the preliminaries grounds are equipped with a Punching Machine.
* **Room for Contestants**: The main temple building of the Martial Arts Temple that the World Tournament grounds are located on. Here, the contestants in the main tournament wait their turn.
* **World Tournament Stadium**: The martial arts arena where the main fights take place.

## Staff members

\*World Tournament Chairman.
\*World Tournament Announcer.
\*List of Tertiary Characters#Unnamed Tournament Referee|Preliminaries Referee.
\*List of Tertiary Characters#Unnamed Registration Staff Member|Registration Staff Member.
\*List of Tertiary Characters#Unnamed Indian Tournament Staff Member|Guide.
\*Marvin.

## List of champions

* Master Roshi/Jackie Chun (13th and 21st World Martial Arts Tournaments)
\*Spike the Devil Man (two unknown World Martial Arts Tournaments)
\*Baragon (one unknown World Martial Arts Tournament)
\*King Chappa (one unknown World Martial Arts Tournament, possibly the 20th)
\*Tien Shinhan (22nd World Martial Arts Tournament)

===Notes===
\***King Chappa** – Coincidentally, he is Goku's first opponent in both of the preliminary matches of the 22nd and 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. King Chappa is mentioned to have won a tournament without even being touched. Though it is not specified in the manga if the tournament he competed in was a World Martial Arts Tournament, during the King Piccolo Saga in the Dragon Ball (anime)|anime, Chappa is revealed to be one of the targets on Tambourine's hitlist and is killed by the demon; this indicates that the tournament in which he fought was in fact a World Martial Arts Tournament. Since the records on Tambourine's list only goes back ten years, thus covering only the 20th, 21st, and 22nd World Tournaments. King Chappa would have had to have won the tournament prior to Goku's first entry: the 20th World Martial Arts Tournament.

* **Master Roshi** (under unknown alias) – When Master Roshi is fighting Goku as "Jackie Chun", he says he fought Goku's adoptive grandfather Grandpa Gohan|Gohan and won. While it is possible Roshi and Gohan fought each other on an occasion outside the tournament, it is unlikely Roshi would have used the Thunder Shock Surprise in a simple sparring match, he might only have used such a devastating attack if he felt he had to win at any cost and the only reason he would feel this way about a pupil he loved might have been if he was trying to help him, as he helped Goku by preventing his victory and keeping his passion alive. It is impossible to estimate how many tournaments Roshi won using this disguise, or in fact if he used different disguises, or even if he disguised himself as Jackie Chun and that it was simply so long ago people forgot about him. Regardless, it can be assumed that Roshi won at least one World Martial Arts Tournament in the days of Gohan and Ox-King's youth.

* **Champion Morgan** - Won an unspecified World Martial Arts Tournament. In Age 991, his fight with one-hundred robots caused a controversy/scandal that lead to the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Division that permitted the use of armor, weapons, and robots.

* **Baragon** - Won an unidentified World Martial Arts Tournament shown in Krillin's flashback while he explained to Goku what the World Martial Arts Tournament was.

==Pattern==
All tournaments in the original *Dragon Ball (manga)|Dragon Ball* series follow a certain pattern:
\*Yamcha is always far outclassed and always loses in the quarter-finals, often to the main opponent.
\*Goku far outclasses his opponent in the semi-finals.
\*One of the other Z Fighters makes it to the semifinals (usually Krillin, once Tien Shinhan) but loses to a more powerful opponent (usually the one Yamcha fought).
\*Goku makes it to the finals, and takes on the powerful opponent who has defeated at least one of his friends.
\*In the 22nd and 23rd World Tournament, the one who beat the champion from the last tournament in the semi final match became champion: Tien beat Jackie Chun, the winner of the 21st, and Tien became champion that year, and Goku beat Tien at the next tournament and he became champion.
\*A giant opponent is defeated easily at an early stage (Bacterian, Antoine the Great, Pintar, Wild Tiger)

## List of known World Martial Arts Tournaments=====Pre-*Dragon Ball*=

====Pre 20th====
It is known that Spike the Devil Man had won two tournaments, and Master Roshi had won once prior to the 20th tournament.

====20th====
Date: Age 745, May 7

It is never officially mentioned who won this tournament, but when Goku faces King Chappa in the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, it is said King Chappa won his last tournament without a single opponent landing a hit. Later, in the King Piccolo Saga, King Piccolo's underling Tambourine gathers a list of all the finalists in the last 10 years, which would cover the last 3 World Martial Arts Tournaments and, since Tien Shinhan won the 22nd and Master Roshi as Jackie Chun won the 21st, that would mean that King Chappa won the 20th.

**Winner:** King Chappa

===*Dragon Ball*===
====21st====
File:Gokchu.png|thumb|Goku vs. Jackie Chun in the final round of the 21st Tournament
Date: Age 750, May 7

Total entrants: 137

Notable Contestants that did not pass the elimination rounds:
\*Fighter 40
\*Fighter 69
\*Fighter 83
\*Fighter 97
\*Bruce Lee Impersonator
\*Bullies of the Orin Temple
**Contestants:**
\*Krillin (semi-finalist)
\*Bacterian (quarter-finalist)
\*Jackie Chun (winner)
\*Yamcha (quarter-finalist)
\*Ranfan (quarter-finalist)
\*Nam (semi-finalist)
\*Goku (finalist)
\*Giran (quarter-finalist)

**Winner:** Jackie Chun

**Runner-up:** Goku

====22nd====
Date: Age 753, May 7

Total entrants: 182

Notable Contestants that did not pass the elimination rounds:

* Anton the Great
\*W:c:Dragonquest:Archdemon|Archdemon
\*W:c:Dragonquest:Cyclops|Cyclops
\*King Chappa
\*Mohawked Fighter
\*Nam
\*W:c:Dragonquest:Orc|Orc
\*W:c:Dragonquest:Sabrecat|Saber tiger
\*W:c:Dragonquest:Shaman|Shaman
\*Sumo Wrestler
File:ChiaotzuVsKrillinWMAT.png|thumb|Chiaotzu and Krillin during the 22nd Tournament
**Contestants:**
\*Tien Shinhan (winner)
\*Yamcha (quarter-finalist)
\*Jackie Chun (semi-finalist)
\*Man-Wolf (quarter-finalist)
\*Chiaotzu (quarter-finalist)
\*Krillin (semi-finalist)
\*Goku (finalist)
\*Pamput (quarter-finalist)

**Winner:** Tien Shinhan

**Runner-up:** Goku

#### 23rd

===*Dragon Ball Z*===
====24th====
Date: Age 767, May 7

This tournament is not seen in the series, it is only alluded to and it is present in the *Daizenshuu 7* timeline. Before the Cell Games, the Z Fighters (both in the manga and the anime) comment that there has not been a World Martial Arts Tournament since the 23rd,Template:Fact though newcomer Mr. Satan is called the world's wrestling champion (world's martial arts champion in the anime). Therefore, in the anime, the 24th tournament takes place before the Cell Games. It is also known that this was the first tournament to feature a Junior Division.

**Known Junior Division Contestants:**
\*Videl
**Winner:** Videl

File:SpopovichVsMr.Stan02.png|thumb|Spopovich vs. Mr. Satan
**Known Adult Division Contestants:**
\*Pintar
\*Spopovich
\*Mr. Satan
\*Jewel
\*Killa
\*Mighty Mask
**Winner:** Mr. Satan

**Runner-up:** Jewel

====25th====
File:Tournament ring.jpg|thumb|The ring was re-designed to be much bigger in *Dragon Ball Z*
Date: Age 774, May 7

Total Junior Division entrants: 35

Total Adult Division entrants: 194

**Known Junior Division Contestants:**
\*Goten
\*Trunks
\*Idasa
\*Ikose
\*Koryuu
\*Mooki
\*Template:Nihongo
\*Template:Nihongo
**Winner:** Trunks

**Runner-up:** Goten

**Contestants:**
\*Goku (resigned to fight Babidi)
\*Vegeta (resigned to fight Babidi)
\*Pintar (lost by ring-out to Krillin)
\*Krillin (resigned to fight Babidi)
\*Piccolo – Using the alias of Ma Jr. (lost by forfeit to Shin)
\*Shin (resigned to fight Babidi)
\*Spopovich (resigned to give Gohan's energy to Babidi)
\*Yamu (resigned to give Gohan's energy to Babidi)
\*Videl (lost by ring-out to Spopovich)
\*Kibito (resigned to fight Babidi)
\*Great Saiyaman – Gohan's alter-ego. (resigned to fight Babidi)
\*Mr. Satan
\*Android 18 ("lost" by ring-out to Mr. Satan in the battle royale)
\*Jewel (lost by ring-out to 18 in the battle royale)
\*Killa (lost to "Mighty Mask" in the battle royale)
\*Mighty Mask – Impersonated by Goten and Trunks (disqualified for cheating)
**Winner:** Mr. Satan

**Runner-up:** Android 18 (who loses to Mr. Satan on purpose in a deal to make money)

**Due to many contestants leaving due to Babidi and his fighters, the tournament is held in a "battle royale" style rather than in brackets.**

====26th====
Date: Age 778, May 7

**Winner:** Mr. Satan

**Runner-up:** Good Buu|Mr. Buu (who loses to Mr. Satan on purpose)

====27th====
Date: Age 781, May 7
;Contestants
:

* Wild Tiger (semi-finalist)
\*Mr. Buu
**Winner:** Mr. Satan

**Runner-up:** Mr. Buu (who loses to Mr. Satan on purpose)

====28th====
Date: Age 784, May 7

Total entrants: 114

**Contestants:**
\*Pan
\*Goku
\*Uub
\*Mr. Buu
\*Nareg
\*Captain Chicken
\*Goten
\*Trunks
\*Otokosuki
\*Vegeta
\*Nok
\*Mr. Satan
\*Wild Tiger

**The tournament was cancelled due to Goku and Uub leaving. Mr Satan keeps his title.**

===*Dragon Ball Online*===
====29th====
Date: Age 787, May 7

**Winner:** Mr. Satan

**Runner-up:** Mr. Buu (who loses to Mr. Satan on purpose)

====30th====
Date: Age 790, May 7

**Winner:** Mr. Satan

**Runner-up:** Mr. Buu (who loses to Mr. Satan on purpose)

===*Dragon Ball GT*===
====31st====
Date: Age 790, May 7

**Junior Division Contestants:**
\*Goku
\*Charlie
\*Mugley
**Winner:** Mugley

**Runner-up:** Goku

* This is this first tournament where "Kid" Goku fights in the Junior Division. As a child, Goku had fought in the regular division because there was no Junior Division.

Kid Goku lost in the tournament because the Crying Child (Mugley) was tickling Goku while Vegeta walked into the stadium and distracted Goku, making him fall out of the ring.

Notable Contestants that did not pass the elimination rounds:
\*Mad Chilli

**Known Contestants:**
\*Pan
\*Majuub/Papayaman
\*Super One
\*Matt Cat

**Winner:** Mr. Satan

**Runner-up:** Majuub/Papayaman

====64th====
Date: Age 889, May 7

Junior Division:

* Goku Jr. vs. Vegeta Jr. - the outcome of this fight remains unknown.

None of the fighters participating in the Adult Division were even mentioned. Although the child's division may have been removed making that the final round of the tournament.

==Special World Martial Arts Tournaments==
===Cell Games===
Template:Main
Contestants:
\*Cell
\*Cell Jr. (7)
\*Caroni
\*Pirozhki
\*Mr. Satan
\*Goku
\*Gohan
\*Vegeta
\*Future Trunks
\*Piccolo
\*Krillin
\*Yamcha
\*Tien Shinhan
\*Android 16
**Official Winner:** Mr. Satan

**Actual Winner:** Gohan

**Runner-up:** Cell

*Note*: The Cell Games was not an official World Martial Arts Tournament. However, Cell himself stated that he would "revive the World Martial Arts Tournament". This is the first tournament in the series where contestants actually die (there are also deaths in the movie-only *Intergalactic World Tournament*, see below). Android 16, Future Trunks, and even Goku die at the hands of Cell. Cell and the 7 Cell Juniors died at the hands of Gohan. This is also the second tournament where the outcome determines the fate of the Earth.

===Intergalactic World Tournament===
File:Chrome 2013-11-30 12-39-07-30.jpg|thumb|The Intergalactic World Tournament fighting arena
The Template:Nihongo is a tournament that was featured in the movie *Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound*. It was sponsored by the millionaire X.S. Cash as a birthday present for his only son Monty. The tournament was supposed to feature fighters representing the four corners of the galaxy; in reality, the four fighters were actually Intergalactic Fighters|pupils of Mr. Satan, made-up to look like aliens. The winner of said tournament would win a prize of 100,000,000 Zeni and gone on to fight Mr. Satan (due to him being the "official" winner of the Cell Games).

However, this tournament was ruined by the intrusion of Bojack and Galaxy Soldiers|his henchmen, who killed Mr. Satan's pupils (the fake galaxy warriors) and then fought the contestants in their place. Bojack and his minions were eventually defeated by Gohan (with a little help from Goku).

This is the second tournament where Mr. Satan takes the credit for Gohan's victory. Technically, this is the third tournament in which the outcome determines the fate of the Earth (and possibly all the four parts of the galaxy). This is also the only other tournament, besides the Cell Games, where fighters are actually killed (though, unlike the Cell Games, killing was against the rules).

**Known contestants:**
\*Gohan
\*Future Trunks
\*Piccolo
\*Krillin
\*Tien Shinhan
\*Yamcha
\*Doskoi
\*Udo
\*Sky Dragon
\*Man-Wolf

**Final contestants:**
\*Gohan
\*Future Trunks
\*Piccolo
\*Krillin
\*Tien
\*Doskoi
\*Udo
\*Sky Dragon

**Quarter-finalists:**
\*Gohan (defeats Udo)
\*Krillin (Piccolo forfeits)
\*Future Trunks (defeats Tien)
\*Doskoi (defeats Sky Dragon)

**"Official" Winner:** Mr. Satan

**Actual Winner:** Gohan

**Runner-up:** Bojack

The whole tournament was somewhat flopped, since Bido killed Doskoi. Later, Mr. Satan, who was supposed to fight the winner of the quarter-finals, was introduced in the battle arena as a safety measure against Bojack and crew. Finally, he convinced everyone that he defeated Bojack due to the unavailability of video proof.

=== Tournament of Destroyers ===
Template:Main
The Tournament of Destroyers, also called the Universe Tournament, is a conflict fought between the Gods of Destruction of Universe 6|Universes 6 and Universe 7|7 using teams of five to face off in a World Martial Arts Tournament type contest.

Contestants:
\*Team Universe 7
\*\*Goku
\*\*Vegeta
\*\*Piccolo
\*\*Good Buu (disqualified for sleeping)
\*\*Monaka
\*Team Universe 6
\*\*Botamo
\*\*Frost
\*\*Auta Magetta
\*\*Cabba
\*\*Hit

**Official Winner**: Monaka

**Runner Up**: Hit

===Tournament of Power===
Template:Main
The Template:Nihongo is a multiverse tournament held by Zeno and Future Zeno.

Contestants:
\*Team Universe 2
\*Team Universe 3
\*Team Universe 4
\*Team Universe 6
\*Team Universe 7
\*Team Universe 9
\*Team Universe 10
\*Team Universe 11

**Official Winner**: Team Universe 7

**Runner Up**: Team Universe 11

===Super World Martial Arts Tournament===
A martial arts tournament held in late Age 779. The finals for the tournament were a battle royal, with the winner of the battle royal having to fight Mr. Satan. However, this tournament was interrupted by Broly.

**Finalists**
\*Goku
\*Vegeta
\*Krillin
\*Piccolo
\*Great Saiyaman

===New World Tournament===
A special tournament that takes place during the Special Age in the video game *Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z*. In the tournament, a team of four must defeat as many of the ruffians who fill the arena as possible.

**Known Contestants:**
\*Z Fighters
\*Ruffians
\*\*Saibamen
\*\*Frieza Soldiers
\*\*Cell Jr.|Cell Jrs.
\*\*Meta-Coolers
\*\*Innocent Buu|Majin Buu Clones

==Similar tournaments==
===Who's The Strongest In The World?===
The **Who's The Strongest In The World?** tournament is a tournament that was held by Akira (character)|Mr. A in Walrus Field on Gengoro Island during *Dr. Slump*. The first prize was 400,000 Zeni with the second prize being 100,000.

**Contestants:**
\*Tsukutsun Tsun (semi-finalist)
\*Kill R. Snyper (quarter-finalist)
\*Pahpunch (quarter-finalist)
\*Allizdog (semi-finalist)
\*Zou-No-Shirizeki (quarter-finalist)
\*Dr. Mashirito - registered as Caramel Man 008 (later changes it to Caramel Man 009 (finalist)
\*Senbei Norimaki (quarter-finalist)
\*Renault Citroen (semi-finalist)
\*Arale Norimaki (winner)
\*Heyheyho (quarter-finalist)

**"Official" Winner:** Arale Norimaki

**Actual Winner:** Obotchaman

**Runner-up:** Dr. Mashirito

===Fortuneteller Baba's Tournament===
====First Tournament====
A test where in order to get help from Baba, a team of five fighters must face off against her team of five.

**Goku's team**
#Krillin
#Puar
#Upa
#Yamcha
#Goku

**Baba's five warriors**
#Fangs the Vampire
#See-Through the Invisible Man
#Bandages the Mummy
#Spike the Devil Man
#Grandpa Gohan

**Winner: Goku**

====Second Tournament====
In *Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu*, Baba forces Gohan through a second tournament so that he can have her help.

Challenger
#Gohan
Baba's five fighters
#Chiaotzu
#Yamcha
#Krillin
#Tien Shinhan
#Raditz
**Winner: Gohan**

===Chiaotzu's Tournament===
File:Bora and Tao!!.png|thumb|Tao vs. Bora at Chiaotzu's Tournament
The tournament held by the Mifan Emperor Chiaotzu in *Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure*. It is an elimination match where the winner faces the next opponent.

**Known Contestants:**
\*Yamcha
\*Bora
\*Mercenary Tao|General Tao
\*Goku
\*Gregor

Contestants that did not fight:
\*Master Roshi
\*Krillin

===King Wonton's Royal Match===
File:KingHouse.png|thumb|King Wonton's Royal Match
The tournament held by King Wonton during the events of "Goku vs. Sky Dragon". Each year, the chosen representatives of two schools fight for the title of Master of Martial Arts.

Contestants:
\*Goku representing the Chin-Star School
\*Sky Dragon representing the Panther-Fang School

**Winner: Goku**

1. ↑ *Dragon Ball (anime)|Dragon Ball* episode 27, "Number One Under the Moon?"
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `DBCh114`
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `DBCh115`