Dragon Ball Z is known for its epic battles, and the series is best described as a “fighting series with a story.” This makes sense, since characters like Goku and Vegeta love to fight and train to become stronger. At the same time, there are some characters who aren’t as passionate about martial arts, and one of them is actually Goku’s son.

Gohan may be Goku's firstborn, but he follows a very different path. Compared to his father, he apparently hates fighting, even if that's not exactly an accurate description. Regardless of his true feelings about training, it's clear that all his interests lie elsewhere compared to how his father's life turned out.

Gohan had a different childhood compared to Goku

When he was cast off Planet Vegeta as a baby, Goku landed on Earth in the mountains, where he was found by an elderly man named Gohan. He became Goku's adoptive grandfather, who raised him alone in the desert. Unfortunately, Goku's nighttime transformation into an Oozaru caused him to accidentally kill Grandpa Gohan, and after that, he lived in solitude until he was found by Bulma. His days were filled with adventures and battles against the elements, and once he met Master Roshi and his future friend/rival Krillin, his life became more focused on fighting than ever.

He quickly demonstrated an aptitude for mastering powerful attacks, and this skill took him far in the various martial arts tournaments he and his allies participated in. Even when these fights didn't involve the fate of the universe, Goku was always focused on fighting and getting stronger. Of course, this often happened to the chagrin of social mores, with Goku being oblivious to social standards. Gohan (named after Goku's grandfather) was not raised this way, with Goku's wife Chi-Chi wanting her son to be a scholar.

He had a comparatively sheltered childhood, given the way his mother and father were raised, and it wasn't until the middle of the Saiyan Saga that Gohan was finally thrust into the life of a fighter. This meant he had to undergo grueling training under the tutelage of Piccolo, who was once the epitome of evil and Goku's greatest rival. Given this, it's no wonder Gohan had such negative feelings towards fighting. However, this seemed to change over time, at least more than fans realize.

Did Gohan really hate fighting?

As noted, the training Piccolo put Gohan through was far from easy, especially considering the boy's youth and complete lack of fighting experience. This would give anyone a negative view of fighting, especially a child who had been literally forced into it after his father's death. In the following story arc, Gohan notes that he is a scholar and not a fighter at heart, setting him apart from everyone else fighting alongside him on Namek.

He finally comes into his own at the end of the Cell Games, which was supposed to see Gohan become the new protagonist of Dragon Ball ZThere, he states that he does not enjoy fighting at the same level as his father, although he is clearly not averse to it. After all, he is the one who ends up defeating Cell, an act that metaphorically passed the torch from Goku to his son.

Both in the non-canonical sequence dragon ball gt and the official sequence Dragon Ball Super, Gohan has diverged even further from his father's life. Both futures show him immersing himself headfirst into his studies and business, while all his father still does is train. This is perhaps the biggest reason and representation why it seems like Gohan may be ambivalent towards fighting, at least compared to other characters.

For Goku, Vegeta and some other characters from dragon ball franchise, fighting isn't everything: it's the only thing. They have no other hobbies or interests, with fishing being the only other thing Goku does for recreation. Meanwhile, Gohan was exposed to academics and the various subjects that came with it, so it made sense that he wouldn't see fighting as the only subject in life to focus on. Although he was "forced" into both paths by his parents, he genuinely enjoyed being studious, while fighting was just a necessity for Gohan.

Gohan found a middle path in life between fighting and pacifism.

Some fans have mistakenly described Gohan as a pacifist, which isn't entirely accurate. While he may prefer many other things to fighting, he will still throw down when the situation calls for it. He's simply not as driven by fighting as his sole purpose in life, though he can use his abilities in other ways. This is best seen in his superhero identity of Great Saiyaman, with this moniker reflecting his dual nature as a Saiyan/human hybrid.

On the other hand, it also shows how, despite being a fighter, he is not completely like his father. Saiyaman's exploits are almost comical, as he toys with criminals and saves the day in an extravagant and over-the-top manner. It's not quite the same stern nature as Vegeta, Piccolo, or even the seriousness his father brings to fighting, showing how Gohan has found a different path and journey for himself. Likewise, him becoming Saiyaman is a way to protect the common civilian, while the protection that Goku and the others provide to humanity is more offensive and overly violent.

The Z Fighters are rarely shown going out of their way to perform "superhero" actions, and this would actually be a good use of their powers. Some fans lamented that Gohan didn't dedicate himself to fighting in the same way his father did. Ironically, the dark future of the mysterious Future Trunks was a world where Gohan only focused on training, again, out of necessity. Unfortunately, this didn't save him, as this extensive training for him and Trunks wasn't enough to defeat the androids.

Later, Future Trunks compares his version of Gohan to the main universe version, and he eventually realizes that this is the life his version of Gohan should have lived in order to continue and have. It's also important to note that both Goten and main universe Trunks are much less focused solely on fighting compared to their fathers. While Goten may not be pushed into studying in the same way that Gohan is, he also lacks the single-minded determination to train that his father has.

The same goes for Trunks, who is likely being groomed to take over Capsule Corporation (he even served as president in dragon ball gt). There are simply more options in life for young half-Saiyans, and they take advantage of that by being more well-rounded. They don't follow in their parents' paths because it would be impossible to do so. Goku was raised in the jungle and lived largely alone until his teens, while Vegeta was an arrogant prince who fully embraced the more violent aspects of Saiyan culture. So it's not that Gohan or the other children hate the paths their parents followed; it's more that they have destinies of their own.