Gohan Son

Gohan is gentle, patient, and caring toward Goku, treating the mysterious child he discovers as family rather than abandoning him. He is responsible for teaching Goku basic manners as well as martial arts, helping shape the kindhearted personality Goku displays when Bulma eventually meets him.

He also possesses a playful streak. When Fortuneteller Baba gives him an opportunity to visit the living world, he conceals his identity behind a mask and enthusiastically tests how much his grandson has developed before revealing himself. His affection for Goku remains evident even while the two are fighting.

Gohan is an accomplished martial artist and one of Master Roshi's pupils. His training gives him considerable physical strength, speed, agility, and technical skill, and he is experienced enough to teach Goku the fundamentals that underpin the boy's fighting ability. Master Roshi remembers Gohan as one of his great students.

He knows the Kamehameha, having learned the technique through his Turtle School training, and is also skilled in the Jan-Ken fighting technique. His movements during his match against Goku are sufficiently familiar that Goku recognizes similarities to his own style.

Gohan's skill remains considerable even compared with the much stronger Goku who competes in the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament era. During their encounter at Baba's Palace, he avoids Goku's attacks, exploits weaknesses in his technique, and demonstrates the experience expected of a veteran martial artist.

Gohan's influence is present from the beginning of Dragon Ball even though he does not physically enter the main narrative until much later. He discovers Goku after the infant arrives on Earth and adopts him. Goku is initially aggressive and difficult to control, but after an accident changes his behavior, Gohan raises him as his own grandson and trains him in martial arts.

Gohan also warns Goku never to look at the full moon. Goku eventually ignores the warning, transforms into a Great Ape and accidentally crushes Gohan to death. Goku remains unaware that he caused his grandfather's death and initially believes that a monster killed him. The Four-Star Dragon Ball subsequently becomes Goku's keepsake from his grandfather.

During the Fortuneteller Baba Saga, Baba brings Gohan back to the living world for one day and has him compete as her fifth fighter while wearing a mask. Goku eventually recognizes him after his mask falls off, leading to an emotional reunion between grandfather and grandson. Gohan explains that he is content in the afterlife and chooses not to use the Dragon Balls to return permanently.

Much later, Vegeta's explanation of Saiyan Great Ape transformations finally allows Goku to understand that he himself was the monster responsible for his grandfather's death. Gohan's legacy continues through Goku's family, with Goku naming his first son Gohan in his grandfather's honor.

Son Goku is Gohan's adopted grandson. Gohan finds him as an infant, raises him in the mountains, and teaches him martial arts and basic values. Goku unknowingly causes Gohan's death after transforming into a Great Ape, but the two later share an affectionate reunion when Fortuneteller Baba temporarily returns Gohan to the living world.

Master Roshi is Gohan's martial-arts teacher. Gohan trains in the Turtle School under him and learns techniques including the Kamehameha before eventually passing his martial knowledge to Goku.

Ox-King is another of Master Roshi's students and therefore Gohan's fellow disciple. Both men trained under the Turtle Hermit before the beginning of Goku's adventures.

Fortuneteller Baba arranges Gohan's temporary return to the living world. She allows him to serve as her mysterious masked fifth fighter, giving him the opportunity to meet and test Goku again.