WhileDragon Ballhas been defined by the massive, over-the-top battles of theDragon Ball Zera, that hasn’t been without its criticisms. In the early years,Goku’s fightswere far more grounded and focused more on martial arts techniques and creativity rather than who has the higher power level, and it’s common for people to accuse theZstyle of being less interesting because of that.
What kind of fighting best fitsDragon Ballhas always been a point of contention, but the fans have finally made it clear which one they prefer. In celebration of Goku Day 2024,Dragon Ballconducted a fan poll where people could vote onGoku’s best fights inDragon Ball, and based on the official results,fans prefer more grounded fights, as proved by the first-place winner.
The specific fight that won especially supports that idea, and overall, that sort of statement says a lot about where the true heart ofDragon Ball’s action lies.
Goku Vs. Jackie Chun Proves That Dragon Ball’s Grounded Fights Are The Best
Dragon Ball Chapters 46-54
The best of Goku’s fights in the entireDragon Ballmanga according to fans isGoku’s fight with Jackie Chun(Master Roshi in disguise) in the World Martial Arts Tournament, a fight that’s relatively lowkey, even by the standards of earlyDragon Ball. That being said, the fight is a prime example of howDragon Ballused to prioritize largely grounded martial arts combat and not over-the-top battles centered around transformations and energy attacks.Dragon Ballfans voting for Goku’s fight with Jackie Chun as his best fight shows that the more grounded fights are still the best.
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Goku vs. Moro (final battle)
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Goku vs. Vegeta (first match)
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Goku vs. Gohan (Dragon Ball Super sparring match)
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Goku vs. Cell (fighting with Gohan)
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Goku vs. Jiren (after unlocking Ultra Instinct)
As for why Goku and Jackie Chun’s fight, specifically, was voted so highly, that’s easy enough to see, as well. While not as flashy as some ofDragon Ball’s other fights,the artwork and fight choreography in Goku and Jackie Chun’s fight is some of the best of earlyDragon Ball, not to mention the intensity of it being Goku’s first true test as a fighter as he’s unknowingly pitted against his master. It’s an incredible fight from start to finish, and it’s great that people decided to rank it so highly.
Should Dragon Ball Go Back To Having More Grounded Fights?
With the poll results of Goku’s best fights being what they are, that invites the question of whether the series should return to more grounded fights. Goku’s fight with Jackie Chun ranking first is one thing, but with the fight with King Piccolo ranking third and the fight with Grandpa Gohan ranking ninth, people still have a strong appreciation for the fights of earlyDragon Ball. However, with how integral the over-the-top, bombastic action has become toDragon Ball’s story,it’s too late forDragon Ballto transition back into grounded martial arts combat, and that’s unlikely to ever change.
WhileDragon Ball Superis arguably the series at its most over-the-top, stories like the Tournament of Power and large parts ofDragon Ball Super: Brolydid try and prioritize close-quarters combat over bombastic energy attacks, so the creative team behind modernDragon Balldoes seem to recognize thatgrounded combat has a place alongside the franchise’s more over-the-top showcases. There will probably never be another fight inDragon Balllike Goku and Jackie Chun’s, but with it being so popular, it would be great to see the series pay more respect to its style, later down the line.
Source:Dragon Ball’s official website.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
