Thunder Shock Surprise

The Thunder Shock Surprise is Master Roshi's last-resort lightning technique that fires a concentrated lightning blast from both hands and traps the opponent in an electric field. According to Yamcha, the technique converts all the energy in the user's body into 20,000 volts of electricity. It is extremely lethal and virtually inescapable under normal circumstances, which is why Roshi avoids using it whenever possible.

Master Roshi invented the Thunder Shock Surprise but considers it so dangerous that he avoids using it whenever possible. Before his fight with Goku at the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament, Roshi had only ever needed to use it once before, during a sparring match with Grandpa Gohan. Its rarity makes each appearance feel significant.

Disguised as Jackie Chun at the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament, Master Roshi deployed the Thunder Shock Surprise against Goku as an absolute last resort. The electric field engulfed Goku and appeared to have him completely restrained, but Goku spotted the full moon, transformed into a Great Ape, and broke free through sheer physical expansion. Roshi was forced to destroy the moon with a Kamehameha to revert Goku back to normal, making the Thunder Shock Surprise a failure in practice despite working exactly as intended.

Yes, Master Roshi used the Thunder Shock Surprise during the Tournament of Power against Za Priccio, successfully trapping the Universe 4 warrior while Tien finished him off with a Neo Tri-Beam. The technique also appears when a possessed Roshi, his power amplified by witchcraft, uses it to defeat Tien Shinhan while in Max Power form. These appearances confirm it remains a viable, if rarely used, part of his arsenal.

Piccolo later used a very similar electrical attack against Great Ape Gohan during his early training, suggesting the technique or something closely related has spread through the martial arts community over the centuries. The Thunder Shock Surprise is one of the oldest techniques in the franchise both in-universe and in publication history. It predates virtually every other named technique except the Kamehameha and a handful of others.