Yamcha - Dragon Ball
Yamcha first appears as a bandit in the desert along with his shape-shifting friend, Puar in the Dragon Ball series. He has long hair and a Chinese style outfit and sword. His main ambition is to find a girlfriend, but hopelessly passes out when confronted by beautiful women. He falls in love with Bulma and the two are a couple from the original series until mid-way through Dragon Ball Z. He is voiced by Tōru Furuya.
Appearances in Dragon Ball
In Dragon Ball, Yamcha first encounters Son Goku and friends in the desert and attempts to rob them. He is on the verge of defeating a hungry Goku, though he is forced to retreat after seeing Bulma due to his fear of women. Later he spies on the team and discovers that they are on an adventure to find the seven Dragon Balls. He follows them for some time before eventually coming out and helping when Bulma is turned into a carrot by Monster Carrot (Boss Rabbit). During the Fortuneteller Baba’s challenge, Yamcha fights an invisible man, whom he defeats with the help of Krillin and Master Roshi’s nose blood. He also fights Bandages the Mummy above a pool of powerful acid. He is knocked off of the platform, but is saved by Goku at the last second. Following these events, Master Roshi accepts him as a student, making Yamcha the second person to learn the Kamehameha after Goku. Through many more ordeals, including being captured by Pilaf and fighting the Red Ribbon Army, Yamcha becomes friends with Goku and the others. He joins the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd World Martial Arts tournaments, but loses to various opponents like Jackie Chun (Master Roshi), Tien, and Shen (Kami) respectively. After this, Yamcha retires from the life of a fighter and goes on to become a professional minor league baseball player.
Appearances in Dragon Ball Z
In Dragon Ball Z, Yamcha gives up playing professional baseball in order to train with everyone for the arrival of the Saiyans Nappa and Vegeta. Despite this Yamcha, is the first to be killed in the struggle against the Saibamen. Everyone except Son Gohan and Krillin are also killed. On King Kai’s planet, Yamcha, Tien, Piccolo and Chiaozu complete the same training Goku once did and even defeats a member of the Ginyu force (during a filler segment).
Yamcha is wished back along with everyone else before the return of Dr. Gero. During this time, he lives at Capsule Corporation with Bulma until they split up. When the Androids finally appear, Yamcha is the first to find them and is swiftly defeated and nearly killed by Dr. Gero piercing his chest with one hand. Luckily, Yamcha survives and is given a senzu bean. He carries a sick Goku to Master Roshi’s house following a loss at the hands of Android 19. There, he helps care for Goku while the others attempt to stop the Androids and Cell. Yamcha teams up with Tien to help protect Goku from the Cell Juniors before being thrashed themselves.
Yamcha is later turned into chocolate and eaten by Majin Buu along with other characters, including Krillin and Bulma. When revived with the Dragon Balls, he also gives his energy to Goku to help create the Spirit Bomb used to end Kid Buu’s terror.
Appearances in Dragon Ball Super
In Dragon Ball Super, Yamcha appears as the team captain in the baseball match against Universe 6. He is also seen as a spectator in the Tournament of Power.
Appearances in Dragon Ball GT
In Dragon Ball GT, Yamcha has a couple of cameo appearances. He is among a large group of people that were teleported to a new planet before Earth self destructs. He returns to Earth with everyone else due to the Namekian Dragon Balls and is seen attending a party at Bulma’s home. Another appearance occurs when he is seen with Puar fixing his car in a desert at the very end of the series.
Powers and Abilities
For a human, Yamcha is incredibly powerful. Some of his abilities include super strength, super speed, and super-sonic flight. His main techniques include:
- Wolf Fang Fist - A flurry of punches and scratches followed by a powerful double-handed thrust. Famously used against Goku during their first meeting.
- Kamehameha - The same ki beam attack that came to be Goku’s signature attack. It was originally developed by Master Roshi.
- Spirit Ball - A ki ball attack that requires the user to focus surrounding energy into a ball. The speed and direction of this energy ball can be controlled with the index and middle fingers. Famously used against Shen (Kami) during the world tournament.
Spin-off Series
Yamcha is featured in his own spin-off series. The story follows a young Japanese boy who falls to his apparent death down a flight of stairs but awakes in the Dragon Ball universe as Yamcha. Knowing the story of Dragon Ball, he trains consistently, drinks the sacred water and even goes to Namek to have his potential unlocked by the guru. He easily defeats all of the Saibamen and Nappa. After distracting Vegeta by calling Beerus’ name and allowing Goku to land a powerful Kamehameha, he brings the Saiyan saga to an alternate close. Things change when the Cell Games begin, however, and he instead fights Chiaozu, who also is the reincarnation of his highschool rival.
Links
Dragon Ball Series
Dragon Ball Z Series
Dragon Ball Kai Series
Dragon Ball Super Series
Dragon Ball GT Series
Super Dragon Ball Heros
Akira Toriyama