Akira Toriyama Dragon Ball is full of unforgettable people who became some of the anime's most celebrated characters. Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, and Frieza became essential figures, but there would be no Dragon Ball without Goku. Dragon Ball has changed a lot over the years, but Goku has always been the powerful protagonist and ultimate hero of the franchise. Dragon Ball chronicled Goku's evolution from a 12-year-old boy to a proud grandfather as strong as a god. Goku is determined to push his limits, and there's no end to what this inspiring hero can accomplish.

Goku's more recent achievements, such as his rise to True Ultra Instinct or his defeat of the Planet Devourer Moro, are ubiquitous and hard to forget. That said, Goku's early years and the character's unusual history receive far less attention. It's easy for these details to slip by and go unnoticed. Goku's origins are just as important as his current milestones and provide some fascinating insights into this iconic character.

10 Grandpa Gohan is responsible for Goku's passion for martial arts

Goku is one of the strongest and most talented martial artists in Dragon BallIt's the multiverse. It's fair to say that Goku would have been incredibly powerful regardless of his origins, but Grandpa Gohan is responsible for instilling the basic fundamentals of martial arts in Goku. Grandpa Gohan was a prolific martial artist and studied with Master Roshi and trained alongside the Ox King, where he also learned the Kamehameha. Gohan's martial arts practice with Goku during his early years helped him learn how to properly defend himself, and he would likely have had a much harder time defeating dinosaurs and Bear Thieves without this guidance.

Goku also proves to be a natural when studying with Master Roshi, quickly excelling in these lessons because he has a strong passion for combat. Goku's continued interest in martial arts as a child may well be his way of honoring his connection with Grandpa Gohan and respecting his wishes. Goku is finally able to fight Grandpa Gohan, test his power, and ultimately surpass him during Fortuneteller Baba's tournament.

9 A head injury erases Goku's original Saiyan programming to destroy the human race.

Goku is such a generous and courageous individual that it's easy to forget he was sent to Earth with an apocalyptic agenda. Goku's initial goal, as a Saiyan, was to land on Earth and destroy humanity so the planet could later be resold, likely to Frieza. Raditz later arrives in Dragon Ball Z to finish this job Goku couldn't accomplish. The only reason Goku doesn't carry out this destructive plan is because Grandpa Gohan accidentally drops him on his head, which dulls his killer instinct and elicits a kinder, truer demeanor from the child.

Interestingly, Goku's story surrounding his exodus to Earth has been revised over the years. It's revealed that Goku's parents, Bardock and Gine, send Goku to Earth not because they want to or because Goku has a mission, but because Planet Vegeta is about to be destroyed. Both backstories may technically be true, but their origins... Dragon Ball Minus and Dragon Ball Super: BrolyGoku's prologue suggests a more sentimental reason for Goku's departure from Planet Vegeta.

8 Goku and his Great Ape form are responsible for Grandpa Gohan's death

Dragon Ball establishes that Grandpa Gohan helped raise Goku after finding him as a baby in the forest. However, the reason Goku is an orphan when Bulma finds him in Dragon BallThe first episode of is because Grandpa Gohan died in the meantime. This is a tragic turn of events, but it's even more melancholic when it's discovered that Goku is responsible for Gohan's death. Goku transforms into a Great Ape one night and accidentally kills his replacement guardian.

The audience is able to discover this after Goku's Great Ape transformation into Dragon Ball. However, Goku doesn't connect these dots until his battle against Great Ape Vegeta in Dragon Ball ZIt's a harrowing sequence, and Goku humbly apologizes to his fallen guardian. Goku, until this epiphany, had always believed that a random monster of nature was responsible for Grandpa Gohan's death.

7 Goku believes that Grandpa Gohan's spirit is in the four-star Dragon Ball

The seven Dragon Balls are iconic relics, and audiences are used to seeing Goku and company on grand adventures to collect them all. However, Dragon Ball begins with Goku completely unaware of the wish-granting abilities of these magical orbs. Goku possesses the Four-Star Dragon Ball, not because he wants to gather all seven and make a wish, but because he believes Grandpa Gohan's soul resides within it.

It's a sweet superstition that gave Goku hope and a sense of community during his years alone. That's why Goku cherishes the Dragon Ball. Only when Bulma's Dragon Radar locates the Four-Star Ball does Goku learn of its power and that it's part of a larger whole. Afterward, Goku still shows reverence for the Four-Star Ball, which is why he turns it into an heirloom-like garment for Gohan. It's his way of connecting his son with his namesake.

6 Goku's classic electric pole weapon used to belong to Grandpa Gohan

Goku develops incredible abilities that include destructive energy attacks, intimidating Super Saiyan transformations, and impressive ki techniques like flight and instant transmission. The original Dragon Ball starts in a much more grounded place, and while Goku is physically strong, he still relies heavily on the abilities of his Power Pole. The Power Pole is a valuable weapon that can extend to nearly unlimited lengths. It is an extremely powerful weapon, and many Dragon Ball fans are excited about the return to Goku's arsenal in Dragon Ball DAIMA.

Goku values the Power Pole for its strength, but he also maintains a significant connection with Grandpa Gohan, who gave it to Goku in the first place. Grandpa Gohan received the Power Pole from his own martial arts master, so there's a real sense of legacy in it as it's passed down through the generations. Goku doesn't give the Power Pole to Gohan, but it would be a touching gift for Pan.

5 Master Roshi teaches Goku how to read and count

Goku enters Dragon Ball as an extremely sheltered individual who lacks basic understanding of many common worldly details, such as the difference between boys and girls. Goku existed comfortably in a small bubble for the first 12 years of his life, and is suddenly thrust into the world when he embarks on his Dragon Ball adventure with Bulma. Master Roshi becomes a vital martial arts teacher for Goku and Krillin, but also helps the boy learn to read and write. Goku incorrectly believes he is 14 years old when Dragon Ball starts because he thinks 14 is the number that follows 11.

This is an oddly sweet gesture from Roshi that often goes unnoticed. Roshi helps Goku acquire these crucial skills, but it seems he's still relatively rusty in these departments. Goku is shown barely passing the written tests for Dragon Ball Supermartial arts tournaments. Furthermore, it is revealed that Chi-Chi's shopping lists for Goku are incredibly rudimentary and feature more visuals than written words.

4 It is proven that he has no darkness in his heart

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a hero occasionally having dark impulses and struggling with his actions. That said, Dragon Ball repeatedly shows that Goku has a truly pure heart, completely devoid of any darkness. This is first established with Goku's ability to ride the Flying Nimbus, a privilege reserved only for pure-hearted individuals. However, Dragon Ball It also showed that Chi-Chi, Arale Norimaki, Uub, Gohan, and Goten are worthy of riding the Nimbus and that it is not a privilege exclusive to Goku.

Taking it a step further, Goku's battle against Spike, the Devil Man, involves the use of the dangerous Devilmite Beam. The Devilmite Beam amplifies the darkness in its target's heart and transforms it into destructive energy that usually kills the individual. Spike is completely stunned when this attack hits Goku, but it proves completely ineffective against him due to the purity of his heart.

3 Bardock wishes to the eternal dragon that Goku succeeds

THE Dragon Ball Super The manga's grueling battle against Gas results in an illuminating flashback to Bardock's previous encounter with the villainous Heeter Force. These flashbacks reveal that Bardock is actually a Saiyan anomaly who was willing to risk his own safety to help others, and that he has more in common with Goku than previously believed. Dragon Ball Super Chapter 83, 'Bardock vs. Gas, Part 2', features a melancholic Dragon Ball wish from Bardock to the Eternal Dragon of Planet Cereal, Toronbo. Bardock casually requests that "his children prosper," which can be open to many interpretations.

There are some readers who believe that Bardock's wish is actually what prepared Goku for repeated successes over the years and was a guiding force that helped keep him safe and reach such impressive heights. It's possible that Goku's progress and growth are the result of a Dragon Ball wish, but it may not be that simple either. After all, this wish applies to both Goku and Raditz—not just Goku—and Raditz's life was far less successful. Furthermore, Goku also died on two separate occasions, so it's not as if he's invincible.

2 Goku gets married because he thought he was food

Goku meets Chi-Chi for the first time back there Dragon BallSeventh episode of, but they spend hundreds of episodes apart before their unexpected reunion at the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. The original Dragon Ball ends with a beautiful wedding ceremony between Goku and Chi-Chi, where they are surrounded by friends and family. Dragon Ball Z builds on this happy ending, giving Goku and Chi-Chi a son, Gohan. Goku and Chi-Chi's marriage has always been a bit temperamental, and Goku often puts his wife's feelings before his own. Goku prefers training and embarking on fantastical adventures to working a menial job and being confined to a more ordinary domestic life.

Goku's struggle to fit into this mold makes a little more sense when you understand that he never really wanted to get married and didn't realize what he was getting himself into. Goku ignorantly believes that Chi-Chi's marriage proposal is actually a form of food, rather than a lifelong commitment. Upon learning the truth, Goku decides to go through with it because he gave Chi-Chi his word—and thinks it would be rude to break a promise. This is far from the best reason to get married, but it helps to better understand his carefree attitude toward marriage. Dragon Ball Z.

1 Your hidden potential is revealed through volatile and ultra-divine water

Dragon Ball is a series dense with mysterious methods that help individuals unlock their hidden potential, whether it's the talents of Great Elder Guru, Gohan's Ultimate upgrade, or even Shenron's recent Piccolo power boost in Dragon Ball Super: Super HeroIt's easy to forget that Goku is one of the first individuals to undergo such an experiment to become strong enough to fight Demon King Piccolo. Korin possesses the Ultra Divine Water, a mystical elixir that extracts a person's latent abilities. However, drinking the Ultra Divine Water carries a great risk. If it doesn't work, the individual will die due to the water's poisonous nature.

The Ultra Divine Water has only been drunk by 13 people before Goku, none of whom survived. Goku must embrace some dark illusions before being able to drink this relic, but he proves successful. The Ultra Divine Water not only makes Goku stronger but also gives him the ability to sense ki. Some fans also believe that the only reason Goku survives drinking the Ultra Divine Water is because he is a Saiyan, not human, and that his Saiyan nature can also exponentially increase the Ultra Divine Water's capabilities.