Goku is the infamous hero of Dragon Ball, which started in 1984 in manga form. Since its origins, Goku has aged up in Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super and even got de-aged in some canon and non-canon spin-offs. For decades, fans have stuck by Goku as one of their favorite Dragon Ball characters and anime characters of all time.
One iconic thing about him, besides his giant hair, is that he goes through a lot of training arcs throughout the series. Some are more memorable than the last. So, from Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball Daima, these have been Goku’s best training exercises.
Turtle School (Dragon Ball)
Goku And Krillin Love Milk
One of the first big training arcs for Goku happens in his youth within Dragon Ball. Both he and Krillin enroll in the Turtle School run by Master Roshi. Even though Goku doesn’t turn into a Super Saiyan by the end, it’s one of the best arcs throughout the entire anime lineup.
It’s because Master Roshi is constantly messing with Goku and Krillin in the best ways possible, from carrying milk to swimming with sharks. There is a method to his madness as the two get stronger by the end, even though they don’t learn martial arts exactly. Also, Master Roshi gets a few surprises too, like being stung by bees and watching his students finish early because he underestimated them.
Korin Tower Finale (Dragon Ball)
Popo And Kami Kick Things In The Final Season
Goku first climbs Korin’s Tower in season five of Dragon Ball to face the titular Korin. It’s a short training arc, but Goku returns later in the final season to train with Mr. Popo and Kami a bit longer. Goku does similar things to other training segments, like trying to catch Mr. Popo, who is fast.
One of the wilder parts of this arc finds Goku in the past, working with Master Roshi as a younger man. It’s in an effort to build his spirit energy needed to face more trials with Mr. Popo. The overall training arc isn’t as funny as Master Roshi’s, but there are memorable elements that fans still love. It’s also wild that this arc foreshadowed time travel in the Dragon Ball universe.
King Kai’s Planet (Dragon Ball Z)
Make Me Laugh
During the Saiyan Saga of Dragon Ball Z, Goku dies, which is a wild way to kick off the new series. In the afterlife, Goku makes it to the end of the road and meets King Kai, who lives on a tiny planet with enhanced gravity. This makes it hard for Goku to walk, which is all part of his training.
King Kai, like Master Roshi, is a goofy character, and he won’t even train with Goku until he can make him laugh. Beyond jokes, Goku also has to catch and bug and a monkey to further his training. It’s silly, but effective, as Goku learns the Kaio-ken technique by the end, which is instrumental in defeating Vegeta on Earth. Also, the infamous Spirit Bomb technique.
To Namek (Dragon Ball Z)
High Gravity
After defeating Vegeta, Goku needs some rest on Earth. His comrades devise a plan to go to Namek to get new Dragon Balls, and while away, Goku gets a second spaceship. This one allows him to train in increased gravity, just like King Kai’s planet.
Since the entire thing is solitary, it’s not as funny as some other training segments. Still, watching Goku experiment is rewarding in-between segments of Bulma, Gohan, and Krillin exploring Namek. He’s so dedicated to becoming stronger that he even blasts himself with Kamehameha waves.
The Hyperbolic Time Chamber (Dragon Ball Z)
Goku And Gohan Bond
It’ll be quite some time until the next major training arc, which doesn’t happen until the Android/Cell Saga of Dragon Ball Z. Atop Korin’s Tower, Goku and Gohan train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. This place lets anyone train for a set amount of time, which may seem like weeks, but time will only pass briefly in the present.
It’s another instance of time travel, sort of, but Trunks literally coming from the future is a bigger deal. Trunks aside, this is a sweet father-son training arc as Goku tries to teach Gohan how to become a Super Saiyan. While Gohan’s confidence isn’t boosted completely, by the end of the Cell Saga, Gohan’s true grit is shown, and it’s thanks to Goku’s lessons within the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Whis’ Training (Dragon Ball Super)
Beyond Super Saiyan
This is biggest and most memorable training arc within Dragon Ball Super happens relatively early. Whis, the caretaker of the god Beerus, agrees to train Goku and Vegeta in an effort to give his master better sparring opponents. For payment, Goku and Vegeta agree to be maids, wearing aprons and everything as they do Whis’s chores.
They look ridiculous, but the most fun part about this arc is how much Vegeta despises Goku. They constantly try to one-up each other, and Goku’s having a great time while Vegeta takes things too seriously. It’s a good time whenever they’re together, which is why a lot of fans like Dragon Ball Super so much. That and Goku getting his Ultra Instinct powers and becoming a god himself.
Dragon Ball
- Release Date
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1986 – 1989
- Directors
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Minoru Okazaki, Daisuke Nishio
- Writers
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Akira Toriyama
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