Dragon Ball: Why The Feet Kamehameha Should Come Back (2024)

The Dragon Ball franchise is famous for its exciting and memorable fight sequences. Since the original Tournament Saga, the franchise has introduced hundreds of fighters, each with unique attacks and abilities. Sometimes, these attacks become legendary and frequently appear in the mainline Dragon Ball franchise and spin-off video games. However, other attacks are only used a handful of times before being forgotten and relegated to a historical footnote. But one forgotten move needs to make a comeback as it puts a unique twist on a beloved Dragon Ball move.

The Kamehameha is Dragon Ball's most famous attack. First introduced in "Kame Kame Kame Kame Kame Chameleon," the 14th chapter of the Dragon Ball manga, and "The Kamehameha Wave," the eighth episode of the anime, the move was invented by Master Roshi. This attack sees the user focus their latent Ki into a single point between their hands before launching it at their foe as a massive, destructive beam.

The History Of The Kamehameha

The Move Went From A One-Off To A Core Element

While Roshi invented the move, Goku is the Kamehameha's most famous user. Goku first learns the Kamehameha by watching Roshi perform it while attempting to extinguish the blaze on Fire Mountain. However, as Goku trains and fights, he improves the attack, increasing its size and destructive power. Goku's frequent use of the Kamehameha motivates other fighters, including Krillin and Yamcha, to learn how to use it, quickly making it one of the most commonly used fighting moves in the Dragon Ball universe.

Due to this ubiquity, the move has many variations as different fighters customize it to fit their biology and fighting style. This includes Goku's Bending Kamehameha (where the attack becomes a twisting beam rather than a straight one), Super Saiyan 2 Gohan's Electric Kamehameha, and Super Full Power Saiyan 4 Goku's Dragon Hammer.

However, among all of these variations sits the often-overlooked Feet Kamehameha. Making its debut in "Goku's Trap," the 146th episode of the Dragon Ball anime, and "Goku's Fight," the 188th chapter of the Dragon Ball manga, Goku uses this attack while fighting Piccolo at the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. During an aerial battle, Piccolo strikes Goku with immense force, sending him plummeting head-first towards the ground. However, before he crashes into the floor, Goku flips backward and launches a Kamehameha from his feet. This Kamehameha propels him back into the sky, allowing him to punch Piccolo in the face and take control of the battle.

Kamehameha History

While the Feet Kamehameha may seem weird on paper, it can be seen as the natural evolution of the Reverse Kamehameha first used by Master Roshi in the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament. Like the Reverse Kamehameha, the Feet Kamehameha uses the beam's energy to propel the user forward at high speed. But unlike the Reverse Kamehameha, the Feet Kamehameha vanished from the anime and manga after the Piccolo fight. However, the move would occasionally reappear in the Dragon Ball video games. It was Goku's midair attack in Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars, and Dragon Ball Xenoverse would include it as the Kamehameha Boost.

The Feet Kamehameha Has Lots Of Options

The Return Of The Feet Kamehameha Could Make For A Great Set Piece

It's a shame that the Feet Kamehameha has been forgotten, as it's a great move that could be used in several fun ways. The most instantly obvious advantage of the Feet Kamehameha is that it allows the user to propel themselves forward and punch simultaneously. Not only could this be used to suddenly turn the tables on an unsuspecting foe (much like how Goku uses it to surprise Piccolo), but it would also allow two fighters to engage in a unique form of high-speed aerial combat, one that resembles magical jousting more than traditional martial arts.

On top of this, lower-level fighters could use the Feet Kamehameha to unleash more powerful versions of regular martial arts attacks, like flying punches and kicks, by throwing themselves directly at their foe or launching themselves into the air and using their falling velocity to boost the attack's damage. This would allow lower-level human fighters to go toe-to-toe with stronger foes in a way that shows off their resourcefulness.

During most Dragon Ball fights, the surrounding environment gets utterly decimated as the fighters dodge incoming energy blasts and slam each other into the ground and nearby terrain. A canny fighter could use the Feet Kamehameha to take this to the next level, reshaping the terrain to their advantage as they fight. For example, a user could fire the attack at the ground to quickly create a crater they could hide in to dodge incoming attacks. Firing the Kamehameha at the ground could also kick up a cloud of dust that obscures the opponent's vision, allowing the fighter to throw them off guard or quickly get out of harm's way if they think they're losing. Plus, as the Feet Kamehameha leaves the fighters hands-free, they can reshape the terrain while fighting, allowing them to pull off many unexpected gambits.

The Feet Kamehameha could also be used to add new twists to moves viewers have seen previously. For example, Goku could use it to recreate the defeat of Raditz without Piccolo's help. After grabbing his foe in the Full Nelson hold, he could lift his feet and fire the Feet Kamehameha. Not only would this look cool, but it would also make it impossible for his opponent to block or dodge the attack, making it an extra brutal twist on a classic Dragon Ball moment.

In addition to the aforementioned potential, the Feet Kamehameha could also allow a new villain to make an instant impact by having them fire it at a downed foe. While the Kamehameha is usually a long-range move, Goku's Instant Kamehameha proves it can be fired at point-blank range without ill effects. Thus, in the ultimate display of arrogance, the villain could knock a Z-Fighter down, step on them, and then blast them into oblivion, making it clear that they're not messing around and that they're not someone who can be taken lightly, instantly giving them a uniquely threatening aura.

Plus, the return of the Feet Kamehameha opens the door for a new ultimate attack. Goku's Twin Dragon Shot (sometimes called the Feint Kamehameha) shows that a talented fighter can launch two energy attacks simultaneously. Thus, it isn't hard to imagine that someone could simultaneously launch a Kamehameha and a Feet Kamehameha, creating a massive and impressive blast that would stick in fans' minds long after the episode ended. It could also allow a character to fire four beams in different directions by spreading their arms and legs, leading to another epic moment that would capture fan's imaginations and stick in their memories.

The Feet Kamehameha Would Help Make An Impact

Dragon Ball's Fights Have Fallen Into A Rut

The return of the Feet Kamehameha would also help diversify the beam attacks in the franchise. A big issue with modern Dragon Ball is that nearly every fighter uses the Kamehameha or a similar energy attack as a core part of their offense. This often makes battles feel repetitive, especially during tournament arcs, as most fights are just two characters launching slightly different beams at each other with little to set the fighters or their battles apart.

Bringing back the Feet Kamehameha and making it a new character's signature move would help them stand out from the franchise's other fighters. It would give them and their attack a unique visual identity and thus make their battles feel more varied. The Feet Kamehameha's return would also open the door for more unique beam attacks, adding further variety to modern Dragon Ball's fight sequences. The writers wouldn't even need to justify the move's return, as it's always been clear that most fighters fire the Kamehameha from their hands simply because it feels natural to them.

It's a shame that the Feet Kamehameha has fallen into the dustbin of history, as it's an attack with lots of creative potential. Bringing back the attack could lead to many wonderfully memorable fight scenes that put new twists on classicDragon Ballconcepts, shake up modernDragon Ball'sfight sequences, and help them escape the repetitive rut they often fall into. Additionally, reviving this attack could help a new character stand out from the pack by giving them a unique finishing move to call their own, allowing them to quickly cement themselves as a massive player in the Dragon Ball world.

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball tells the tale of a young warrior by the name of Son Goku, a young peculiar boy with a tail who embarks on a quest to become stronger and learns of the Dragon Balls, when, once all 7 are gathered, grant any wish of choice.

Created by

Akira Toriyama

First Film

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Latest Film

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

First TV Show

Dragon Ball (1986)

Latest TV Show

Dragon Ball Super

Upcoming TV Shows

Dragon Ball DAIMA

First Episode Air Date

April 26, 1989

Cast

Sean Schemmel , Laura Bailey , Brian Drummond , Christopher Sabat , Scott McNeil

Current Series

Dragon Ball Super