Son Goku (Dragon Ball) Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Son Goku (孫 悟空 Son Gokū) is the main character of the Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z manga and the anime series Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT. Goku's first appearance was in issue #1 of the series. Note that in the English dub of the anime, Goku's family name 'Son' is never used. In the original Japanese anime, in art cells, and other Japanese merchandise, his name has been spelled in a variety of ways.Although he is one of the most recognizable anime characters in the west, Goku is generally depicted incorrectly by most of his detractors. The man himself is known for his cheerful, energetic personality and love of fighting (mainly as a sport.) He has remarkable intuition at seeing the good in others in spite of their actions, and his capacity for forgiveness (even for those trying to kill him) is sometimes criticized and seen as excessive in the eyes of other characters. His power is reined in (or in some cases enhanced) by his fierce sense of loyalty and morals.
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2 Special Abilities 3 See Also |
Biography
Goku is the adopted grandson of Grandpa Gohan. (In the Dragon Ball Z anime, he is also the son of Bardock) His wife is Chi-Chi and he has two sons: Son Gohan and Son Goten.
Dragon Ball
In the original series Son Goku is first seen as a young boy living in the wilderness. He is seemingly normal except for ignorance of the world, his great strength, and his tail. In the original Dragon Ball series, he accompanies Bulma as they try to acquire the seven Dragonballs. Who ever collects them all will have one wish granted. During their initial quest Goku confronts Yamcha who at first challenges Goku, but is soon overcome and then joins him.
After the quest finishes, Goku begins to train with Muten-Rôshi (Master Roshi), and develops into one of the most powerful fighters on Earth. His fellow student Kuririn (Krillin) is a rival at first, but they soon become good friends.
After the first Tenkaichi Budokai [World Martial Arts] tournament Goku participates in, he leaves once more in search of his grandfather's 4-Star Dragonball. Along the way he must confront the ruthless Red Ribbon Army who are also seeking the 7 Dragonballs and have no scruples with killing anyone -- not even women or children -- who get in their way. However, Goku manages to overpower the army numerous times and they are forced to call in the World's Deadliest Assassin, Taopaipai [Mercenary Tao] to "take care of" him. But against all odds he manages to defeat the infamous hired killer and defeats the entire Red Ribbon Army itself!
Goku's next major opponent is Tenshinhan (Tien), a warrior trained by Roshi's nemesis, Master Shen. Like Yamcha before him, Tien eventually sides with Goku.
Following Tien, Son Goku then must confront Demon King Piccolo, the evil half of Kami. It's a difficult series of battles, but Goku eventually manages to defeat the demon after Krillin is killed. Moments before Piccolo's death however, he manages to spit out an egg that contains his offspring, the current Piccolo.
After the difficult battle with the Demon King, Goku decides to except the grueling training of Kami, the Guardian of Earth! He trains for five long years after which he partisipates in the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budôkai (World Martial Arts Tournament). King Piccolo's offspring, Piccolo Junior, also competes much to everyones horror. Piccolo becomes a great rival for Goku, as he is determined to avenge his father. At the end of Dragon Ball, Goku defeated Piccolo.
Dragon Ball Z
Sayain Saga
At the start of Dragon Ball Z, Goku is found to now have a family. His wife Chi-Chi, and their son Son Gohan. It wasn't long into this series before he was confronted by Raditz, his previously unknown brother who had arrived from space. Raditz explains Goku's saiyan heritage to him and then informed him that he was to destroy the Earth (his original purpose for being sent) and rejoin the remaining saiyans. When Goku refused, Raditz quickly defeated him and kidnapped Gohan to convince him otherwise.
In order to defeat this new menace, Goku and Piccolo joined forces. Even with their combined strength though, Raditz still held the upper hand until Goku made the ultimate sacrifice of holding Raditz in place so Piccolo could kill them both.
Learning that other, more powerful saiyans were destined to arrive on the Earth in a year, Goku then made his way up Snake Way to the planet of the North Kaiô (King Kai) for additional training. He learned several new techniques and gained considerably in strength. His friends managed to wish him back to life just in time for him to join the battle against the saiyans, which was underway and going badly for earth.
When Goku joins in while the Z Fighters are nearly extinguished; Yamcha, Tien, Piccolo and Chaozu (Chiaotzu) are all dead, killed by the vicious Nappa. Goku is powerful enough at this point to defeat Nappa without serious difficulty, but is pushed to his limits against Vegeta, whom he emerges barely victorious against.
Freeza Saga
Krillin, Gohan and Bulma then head to Planet Namek to use the Namekian Dragonballs to wish their friends killed in the sayian battle back to life. Goku joins soon after, being kept in the hospital until then. On his way there he trains in very heavy gravity to further boost his power.
Once again Goku manages to join a battle in progress, this time saving Gohan, Krillin and now Vegeta from the assault of the Freeza's Ginyu Force. He is taken by surprise from their leader, Captain Ginyu, who has the ability to switch bodies with his opponent. Critically injuring himself first, Ginyu swaps bodies with the more powerful Goku. Goku manages to get his body back after intercepting a beam sent by Ginyu to swap with Vegeta after being pummelled by the Z Fighters.
Goku then undergoes a recovery process inside Freeza's ship, emerging to again join a fight in progress, this time against the tyrant Freeza himself, and just in time to witness the death of Vegeta. The battle against Frieza is furious, as he seems unstoppable. Even Goku's most powerful attack, the Genki Dama (Spirit Bomb), fails to bring him down. It's only from the merciless killing of his best friend Kuririn that Goku finds the rage within himself to go Super Saiyan and defeat Freeza in a climatic showdown.
Cell Saga
When Goku returns to Earth, he is confronted by Trunks, a Saiyan from the future, who tests his strength in battle. Satisfied, Trunks gives Goku medicine for a heart disease that he will contract and warns him about two androids that will threaten the Earth in one year. Goku trains himself for this new threat, but neglects to take the medicine.
On the initial assault with the Androids, Goku is bested by Android 19 when he begins to drastically weaken from the heart disease he was warned of. However, Vegeta manages to save him. Goku then spends the rest of the Android Saga recovering from the virus.
When Cell arrives though, Goku goes to the Room of Time and Spirit (Hyperbolic Time Chamber) with his son Gohan to get a years worth of training in one day. Upon conflict with the new menace though, he finds that he still can not gain an upper hand. He decides to let Gohan, whose power is starting to appear greater then his own, fight in his place. Gohan does very well against Cell, coming ever so close to defeating him. Goku finds he must step in when Cell triggers his self-destruct though, and teleports them both to King Kai's planet using his Shunkanido (Instant Transmission) ability, leading to his second death. He makes a brief reapperance on Earth to help fuel Gohan's kamahamaha against the reconstructed Cell.
Buu Saga
Several years go by where Goku trains in the afterlife. He is given special permission to return to Earth for one day to participate in a fighting tournament. It is soon interrupted when the now teenaged Gohan's energy is stolen by Spopovich and Yamu to be used by an evil wizard named Babadi.
Goku is confronted by the Supreme Kai and his assistant Kibito. They inform Goku along with everyone else that the energy will be used to bring back a monster known as Majin Buu. The Z Warriors follow the two to where the wizard is. When they enter Babidi's ship they must fight his henchman. Goku must do battle with Yakkon, a monster that devours energy. In an effort to defeat the beast, Goku releases the energy he has on Yakkon and makes the him explode from the enormous amount of energy.
After Vegeta is returned to his old evil self by Babidi, Goku and Vegeta have a long awaited battle. The battle is interrupted by Goku sensing that Majin Buu has been released and begs Vegeta to help him defeat it before finishing their battle. In a false show of agreement Vegeta knocks Goku out and flies off to do away with it himself.
After awaking, Goku can't sense Vegeta or Gohan anywhere and comes to the conclusion that they are dead. He heads to Kami's Lookout and is healed by Dende. After transporting everyone to the Lookout he tells them the bad news. With the little time he has left on Earth, he decides to teach Trunks and Goten the art of fusion so they may form one being to battle Buu.
When it's found out that Buu is about to destroy West City, Goku decides to take on Buu himself. After a short fight, Goku shocks everyone by going Super Saiyan 3. Unfortunately, this action shortens Goku's time on Earth and he is sadly forced to return to Other World.
Upon returning he surprisingly senses Gohan on the Kai Planet. He realizes that Gohan has been training with the legendary Z Sword and to test its strength, Goku throws a block of ore at it, expecting it to slice the block in half. Instead it snaps in half and from it emerges Old Kai. He tells them he will heighten Gohan's power level in a 35 hour long ritual. Goku watches the fight between Gotenks and Buu with much anticipation.
Old Kai gives Goku his life force in order to battle Buu after has absorbed both Gotenks and Piccolo. He is also given the Potara fusion earrings so that he can fuse with Gohan. Before he can, however, Gohan is absorbed. The only other person that Goku can fuse with is Vegeta. They then become Vegetto.
After a lengthy fight Vegito is also absorbed, automatically separating the two Saiyans. While inside Buu they rescue their sons and Piccolo just in time to make it out and be teleported back the Kai Planet just as the newly transformed Buu destroys Earth.
When Buu finds them Goku fights him first. First in Super Saiyan 2, then in Super Saiyan 3. After using almost all of his power Goku decides to do the Spirit Bomb. While Vegeta and Fat Buu try to hold of Kid Buu, Hercule convinces everyone on the newly regenerated Earth to give Goku all the energy he needs to destroy Buu once and for all. And he succeeds.
Ten years later the Z Warriors participate in another Tournament and Goku senses a fighter with a power level that rivals his own. He soon discovers that it is the reincarnation of Kid Buu, Uub. After a short fight he and Uub fly off together so that Goku can train him.
Special Abilities
Fusion Dance
Goku can temporarily fuse with someone else provided that they also know the fusion dance and are within the same power range. The effects last for about 1/2 an hour and require a resting period of one hour before it can be done again. Vegeta is the only person he has fused with, to create Gogeta.
Genki Dama
Perhaps Goku's most powerful attack, the Genki Dama draws energy from all life and places it in a deadly ki bolt. Goku uses this against many of his most powerful opponents. The downside is that he's quite vulnerable during its lengthy creation time. It's called the Spirit Bomb in the English anime.
Kamehameha
Goku's signature attack, the Kamehameha is a powerful, constant stream of energy hurled at an opponent. Goku has several other variations of this attack as well.
- Chô Kamehameha
- An even more powerful version of the Kamehameha. It's also called the Ultimate Kamehameha
- Magaru Kamehameha
- This is a Kamehameha that Goku can guide towards his target, even having it do a complete 180 to zero in on them.
- Shun-kanido Kamehameha
- Goku charges up the attack, then, right before he releases, he teleports in front of the target and release the blast directly into them.
This ability allows him to transform into a higher entity, which changes his power level tremendously. He's been able to do this in the fight with Freeza when Frieza has killed Kuririn. Since then, he's achieved Super Saiyan 2 when fighting Majin Vegeta, and Super Saiyan 3 when fighting Majin Buu. (In Dragon Ball GT, there is a Super Saiyan 4; those who consider DBGT non-canonical see Super Saiyan 4 as not real).
Kaiô-ken
This ability allows Goku to multiply his speed and power, often letting him work on an equal level against an initially more powerful foe. The Kaiô-ken is dangerous though, and does damage (potentially fatal) to his body while he's in that state. Goku stops using it once he is able to access the more potent Super Saiyan state. An excepton to this was during a after-life tournament fight against Pikon, although he used it briefly.
Shun-kanido
A unique ability Goku learned on his way back to Earth from Namek, it allows him to teleport nearly anywhere so long as he focuses on a specific ki signal where he wants to go. He places two fingers on his forehead while he searches for the signal. This ability is also referred to as the Instant Transmission technique in English anime translation.
Taiyô-ken (Fist of the Sun)
A technique learned from Tenshinhan, it creates an extremely bright light which can temporarily blind and stun those in close proximity. Known as the Solar Flare in the English anime translation
Zanzo-ken
The user of this technique is able to move extremely fast over small distances, leaving an after-image behind. It can be considered a very short-range teleportation.
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