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Tsuru-sennin | 鶴仙人
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Otherwise known as the Crane Elder, Tsuru-sennin was Tenshinhan and Chaozu’s martial arts teacher and also Kamesennin’s former-schoolmate turned rival. His thirst for vengeance against Roshi was so complete that he passed his grudge onto his students, using them to his own evil ends. It is a curiosity as to how “hands-on” the old Crane was with his pupils’ training; but I’d definitely say that his methods were completely the opposite of Kame-sennin’s. He did teach Tenshinhan the incorrect use for martial arts, and Tenshinhan’s narrow view of the world - that no one is as strong as he is -- was, I believe, due to Tsuru-sennin’s influence.
Tsuru-sennin did not command respect; rather, he demanded it of his students and others, never to receive it voluntarily. As opposed to Roshi for whom Goku, Yamcha, and Kuririn hold great admiration and even wear his uniform long after they cease formal training.
In the end, Tsuru-sennin is abandoned by Tenshinhan and Chaozu and blown away (literally) by his arch rival, Kame-sennin. Tsuru-sennin is a rather flat character, a steady reminder that revenge is never sweet.
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Tao Pai Pai | 桃白白
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Tsurusennin’s younger brother and hired hit-man for the Red Ribbon Army, Tao Pai Pai was once the object of Tenshinhan’s utmost admiration. Tenshinhan even wanted to become a famous assassin, just like him. So of course, when Tenshinhan and Chaozu leave Tsuru-sennin, Tao Pai Pai is a bit angry, too. He was supposedly killed by Son Goku in the Red Ribbon arc of Dragon Ball but had actual survived and was turned into a cyborg. Along with his brother, Tao Pai Pai makes plans to punish the “traitors.” He attacks Chaozu at the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai and vows to kill Tenshinhan in the finals. Using his modified limbs and “Super Dodon Pa” Tao Pai Pai attempts to deliver a great fight; however, Tenshinhan has become much stronger than either Tao Pai Pai or Tsuru-sennin had anticipated.
The relationship between Tenshinhan and Tao Pai Pai is, as with all of the Crane School, rather skewed. Just how much interaction they had together is unknown, though the anime lends some speculation about this with a flashback of Tao Pai Pai training Tenshinhan. In it, the teacher is being pretty rough towards his student (quite a contrast from the methods Kame-sennin uses with his pupils.) Tao Pai Pai is clearly outraged that Tenshinhan doesn’t want to follow in his footsteps. He knows just how to push Tenshinhan’s buttons, by essentially using Chaozu as bait to lure him out. According to VIZ’s translation, to Tao Pai Pai, Tenshinhan has always been a “vainglorious fool”, and the older man uses this fact to his advantage. Having known Tenshinhan for a long time, Tao Pai Pai understands him quite well. Of course, being a villain, Tao Pai Pai has mistook honor for foolish pride; otherwise he would have known that Tenshinhan possesses honor to spare, and none of the latter. :)
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Kame-sennin | 亀仙人
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Also known as Muten Roshi, this perverted old man was the strongest in the world. And although he’s always looking to cop a feel, Kame-sennin really is a great martial artist, as he trained Gyuu-Mao, Gohan (Goku’s grandfather,) Goku, Yamcha, and Kuririn.
Later, at the World Tournament, it is Kame-sennin who plants the seed, so to speak, into Tenshinhan’s head that just maybe he doesn’t want to become a killer like his idol, Tao Pai Pai. Someone with Tenshinhan’s level of skill should not be using it for committing such atrocities (such a hero’s tale of good vs. evil).
Kame-sennin also offers Tenshinhan and Chaozu a place at his school, which Tenshinhan declines. As a former student of Tsuru-sennin, he will not be taught by another (especially by his old teacher’s rival). Muten Roshi accepts this and after seeing Tenshinhan in a later match, thinks to himself that there is nothing more he can teach.
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