You know that feeling when a show stops being just a show and becomes a core memory?
For millions of people sitting in public squares in Mexico or staring at crunchyroll servers crashing in 2017, that moment was the goku ultra instinct kamehameha. It wasn't just another blue beam. Honestly, we’d seen the Kamehameha a thousand times since Master Roshi first blew up Fire Mountain. But this? This was different.
It was the "sliding" Kamehameha against Kefla. It was the roar. It was the fact that Goku finally stopped thinking and just... did.
The physics of the "Sliding" Kamehameha
Let’s get into the weeds of why the fight with Kefla in Episode 116 is basically the peak of Dragon Ball Super. Kefla—the fusion of Caulifla and Kale—was throwing literal "Christmas-colored" lasers everywhere. She was fast. Scary fast.
Goku, stuck in the "Omen" version of Ultra Instinct, couldn't quite land a punch because his brain was still trying to calculate the attack. If you’ve ever overthought a joke and then missed the timing, that was Goku.
Then came the jump.
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Most people remember the beam, but the setup is the real genius. Goku charges the Kamehameha while jumping toward her. In any other fight, being mid-air while charging a stationary blast is a death sentence. You're a sitting duck. Kefla sees this and fires her "Gigantic Burst"—a red and green spiral of pure extinction.
She thinks she's won.
But Goku doesn't dodge away. He uses the Kamehameha as a freaking surfboard. By firing a small amount of propulsion or just using the kinetic energy of his own building blast, he slides over her beam.
It’s the most disrespectful, high-IQ martial arts move in the history of the franchise. He gets right in her face—point-blank range—and unleashes the full wave. The impact was so hard it literally broke her Potara earrings.
Mastery vs. Instinct: What changed with Jiren?
Now, fast forward to the finale. When we talk about the goku ultra instinct kamehameha against Jiren, the vibe shifts. Against Kefla, it was a desperate gamble. Against Jiren, once he hit "Perfected" or "Mastered" Ultra Instinct (the silver hair), the Kamehameha became a tool of absolute precision.
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There’s a specific nuance here that casual fans often miss.
Whis mentions early on that Goku’s biggest weakness is his mind. He’s always thinking about his next move. In the Mastered state, the Kamehameha isn't just a move he "chooses" to do. His body realizes it’s the only way to win and executes it with zero lag time.
Against Jiren, the beam wasn't just blue; it was wrapped in that silver, galaxy-like aura. It felt heavy. When they clashed in Episode 130, Jiren—the guy who literally glared a Spirit Bomb away—was actually getting pushed back.
Why this move actually matters for the lore
Some people say Dragon Ball is just "guys screaming and changing hair colors." Kinda true, but the goku ultra instinct kamehameha actually pays off a 30-year character arc.
Think back to the original Dragon Ball. Roshi told Goku that the Turtle School is about "moving well, studying well, playing well, eating well, and resting well." Ultra Instinct is the ultimate "moving well." It is the pinnacle of the martial arts philosophy Roshi planted in a kid with a monkey tail decades ago.
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By the time Goku is sliding down Kefla's beam, he’s not just using a power-up. He’s showing he has finally mastered the very first lesson he ever learned.
Common Misconceptions
- Is it a new technique? No. It’s a standard Kamehameha executed with the "Ultra Instinct" state of mind. The ki is more refined, and the timing is perfect, but the mechanics of cupping your hands and screaming the name remain the same.
- Can anyone do the sliding version? Theoretically, maybe? But without the auto-dodge reflexes of UI, you’d probably just get vaporized by the opposing blast.
- Why didn't he use it against Moro or Granolah the same way? In the manga, Ultra Instinct becomes more of a "state" he tries to use in base form. The flashy, cinematic "sliding" move was a product of the specific arena and the sheer desperation of the Tournament of Power.
Actionable Takeaways for the Super-Fan
If you’re looking to relive the hype or analyze the frame data (shoutout to the sakuga fans), here is what you should do:
- Watch Episode 116 again. Focus specifically on the sound design. There is a weird, dual-voice "Oozaru" roar layered under Goku's scream when he fires the blast. It’s a subtle nod to his Saiyan roots.
- Compare the "Omen" vs. "Mastered" beams. Notice how the "Omen" version (vs Kefla) is slightly more chaotic and unstable, while the "Mastered" version (vs Jiren) is a solid, focused pillar of light.
- Check out the Dragon Ball FighterZ adaptation. The game actually recreates the "sliding" Kamehameha as a cinematic finisher. It’s a great way to see the angles that the anime moved through too quickly.
The goku ultra instinct kamehameha isn't just a cool animation sequence. It’s the moment Goku stopped being a brawler and became a master. It’s why we’re still talking about it years later while other anime transformations just fade into the background.
Go back and watch that slide one more time. It never gets old.