Tri-Beam
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Directory: Techniques → Offensive techniques → Ki Blasts
| Tri-Beam | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Alternate names | Chi Kung Blast Kikoho Energy Work Blast Ki Blast Cannon | ||
| Debut | Tien Shinhan Saga | ||
| Inventor | Crane Hermit | ||
| Users | Tien Cell Juniors | ||
| Class | Energy Beam | ||
| Color | |||
The Tri-Beam (気功砲, Kikōhō; Literally meaning "Energy Work Blast") is a life-risking attack used by Tien, taught by The Crane Hermit. Tien first uses this attack during the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament against Goku. This technique is performed by gathering energy, forming a triangle with the hand by keeping the fingers on each hand together, overlapping the index finger on the one hand with the pinky of the other hand, and overlaping the thumbs. The object being focused on gets zoomed in on and visualized inside that triangle, then the user (namely Tien) shouts "Tri-Beam, ha!" while releasing the large yellow beam from the hands. He also has the ability to fire it with one hand as seen when he fires it Nappa after he chops off his arm.
In adition to being able to kill the target, this attack can easily kill the user, as it drains their life energy. Interestingly, this technique leaves a square hole in the ground, instead of a triangle. After training with Roshi, Korin, Kami, and later King Kai, Tien perfects the attack as the "Neo Tri-Beam," which is essentially an "upgraded" form of the attack that allows him to control and enhance how much energy he puts behind it, inflicting even greater damage.
The attack formation itself places the hands in a seemingly awkward position - and it appears that later in the series, the finger tips are touching, and the thumbs are the only things that overlap.
The attack is extremely powerful. Tien once used it against Semi-Perfect Cell, and despite the massive gap between Cell and Tien's powers, Cell was unable to break through the repeated blasts, though they did not inflict any real damage to him. Tien eventually collapsed from using the technique too much, but was saved from Cell by Goku.
[edit] Translations
Kikō (気功) is the Japanese translation of Qigong or Chi Kung, literally meaning "breath work" or "energy work", a traditional set of techniques for controlling breathing or circulating and cultivating chi (ki, energy) within the body, which is tied to a number of Chinese martial arts and medicinal beliefs.
