Gohan in the 10-Year-Gap

Piccolo Daimao · Post by **Piccolo Daimao** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:10 am

On numerous occasions, I have been seeing people who think that Son Gohan did not train in the 10 years of peace after Kid Boo's destruction. But, frankly, where is the proof?

As we know, in the 7 years after the Cell Games, Son Gohan stopped training and, as a result, decreased in power. Before his battle with Dabra, Gohan seemed slightly embarrassed when Vegeta mentioned the fact that he hadn't been training. Later, when he and Kaioshin confronted Bobbodi and Dabra, we see that Gohan did berate himself for slacking in his training, lamenting that he "can't be the way he was then". Would Gohan really make the same mistake as last time, even with his knowledge that slipping behind in his training could potentially have bad consequences?

It seems that the fans who think that Gohan stopped training are getting it from the end of Dragon Ball Z. In all honesty, there is nothing to prove that Gohan stopped training other than the facts that he became a scholar and was depicted studying at home, and even those aren't enough to prove that Gohan stopped training.

Personally, I believe that Gohan is smart enough to learn from his mistakes and that he trained alongside his studies, however little.

Sprite Satan · Post by **Sprite Satan** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:13 am

Some would argue that as The Mystical Uber Ultimate Final Fighting Warrior Gohan, training would have had literally no benefit to Gohan at that point.

The other reasoning is simply that Goku, who has to save the day because he is Goku, is back, Vegeta is still around and Oob is the heir to the throne of Earth's super shonen protector.

Is it possible Gohan trained? Sure. But, really, the onus is to prove that he did, not for others to prove a negative.

Kingdom Heartless · Post by **Kingdom Heartless** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:39 am

I'm not sure if there is any proof... I mean, it's clear that he isn't going out of his way to fight (although, didn't he make a comment about how he might feel tempted in the Tenkaichi Budokai? Not sure).

Anyway, even if he did stop training, it's nothing against his character. I mean, a scholar was what he wanted to be and all the more power to him for being to achieve that. Heck, why should it be held against him to not training in that seven years after Cell? I mean, everybody else on Earth did as they pleased, and the ones who did train did it more for their own selfish reasons, because there was no reason to expect another villain. Looking at it from a logical point of view, rather than a fictional world sort of view, why the heck would someone more powerful come along? What were the odds of someone coming along that the likes of Piccolo couldn't handle. Or even Vegeta if it came to that. Sure, maybe Gohan should have dedicated his life to something he hated for a literally one in a billion chance that something came up, but he was just a kid with his own life and dreams. There was nothing lazy about his life, as so many people make out.... he clearly studied hard enough to become a scholar. The fact that he doesn't go out of his way to fight is what I feel makes Gohan one of the most believable characters in the series. He's just a kid who got thrown into this whole screwy world of fights and monsters and stuff like that... a world he didn't really want to be a part of... and when all that was over, he didn't keep himself in that world by choice. He led his own life, acted as a big brother, went on to get married, be a father. Having him constantly training would have taken away a little from his individuality as a character, and I'm glad Toriyama gave us such a broad variety of personalities and such.

So maybe he did train, maybe he didn't. At the level everyone was at by then, there was really no point, but at the same time, he may have had Goku on his case (I mean, he was on Goten's). You just don't know. As the jump special showed us, anything could have happened in those ten years!

Hm... wish I put this much effort in when I was at school.

Piccolo Daimao · Post by **Piccolo Daimao** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:07 am

Kingdom Heartless wrote:I'm not sure if there is any proof... I mean, it's clear that he isn't going out of his way to fight (although, didn't he make a comment about how he might feel tempted in the Tenkaichi Budokai? Not sure).

Anyway, even if he did stop training, it's nothing against his character. I mean, a scholar was what he wanted to be and all the more power to him for being to achieve that. Heck, why should it be held against him to not training in that seven years after Cell? I mean, everybody else on Earth did as they pleased, and the ones who did train did it more for their own selfish reasons, because there was no reason to expect another villain. Looking at it from a logical point of view, rather than a fictional world sort of view, why the heck would someone more powerful come along? What were the odds of someone coming along that the likes of Piccolo couldn't handle. Or even Vegeta if it came to that. Sure, maybe Gohan should have dedicated his life to something he hated for a literally one in a billion chance that something came up, but he was just a kid with his own life and dreams. There was nothing lazy about his life, as so many people make out.... he clearly studied hard enough to become a scholar. The fact that he doesn't go out of his way to fight is what I feel makes Gohan one of the most believable characters in the series. He's just a kid who got thrown into this whole screwy world of fights and monsters and stuff like that... a world he didn't really want to be a part of... and when all that was over, he didn't keep himself in that world by choice. He led his own life, acted as a big brother, went on to get married, be a father. Having him constantly training would have taken away a little from his individuality as a character, and I'm glad Toriyama gave us such a broad variety of personalities and such.

So maybe he did train, maybe he didn't. At the level everyone was at by then, there was really no point, but at the same time, he may have had Goku on his case (I mean, he was on Goten's). You just don't know. As the jump special showed us, anything could have happened in those ten years!

Hm... wish I put this much effort in when I was at school.

In Viz, when Gohan and the others are placed in seats they dislike, Gohan remarks that "we should've just signed up to fight".

And yeah, Gohan didn't have to train if he didn't want to, but I think he did because of the fact that he felt embarrassed and berated himself for not training. If Gohan didn't want to train, I think Goku would've made him do it whether he liked it or not, like Goten. Which would be pretty bad, even for Goku, because he knew full well that Gohan didn't like fighting...apparently.

Kingdom Heartless · Post by **Kingdom Heartless** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:12 am

Well I don't know if he would have forced him to, but I'm sure he tried out a few tricks up his sleeve.

I'm sure Goku would have kind of wanted to fight Gohan as well, since he was so much stronger than Goku at the point.

You know Goku... he sees someone strong and wants to fight them.

But really, I don't see how much training Gohan could have done without destroying the freaking planet!

Piccolo Daimao · Post by **Piccolo Daimao** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:30 am

Kingdom Heartless wrote:Well I don't know if he would have forced him to, but I'm sure he tried out a few tricks up his sleeve.

Goku made Goten enter the Tenka'ichi Budokai. I don't know why he would approach Goten differently than Gohan with training. Maybe it's something to do with Goku's "leave it to the next generation".

Kingdom Heartless wrote:But really, I don't see how much training Gohan could have done without destroying the freaking planet!

IF GOHAN WENT SSJ, THE PLANET WOULD COMBUST!!! OMFG X3!

Kingdom Heartless · Post by **Kingdom Heartless** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:33 am

Well, Goten was a lot younger. I'm sure he still wanted Gohan to train, but I doubt he would have been pushing it as hard, since Gohan was an adult who didn't live with them any more. Goten was just a teenager with awesome hair.

Piccolo Daimao · Post by **Piccolo Daimao** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:36 am

Kingdom Heartless wrote:Since Gohan was an adult who didn't live with them any more.

I thought when Trunks was talking with Gohan, he asked if Goten was there.

the_abberration · Post by **the_abberration** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:03 pm

I believe that while it may not have been rigorous training, Gohan did some trianing. I see it like this:

After Buu was gone, Gohan and Videl continued fighting crime as Great Saiyaman I & II respectively. When Pan was born he most likely played a small part in her training prior to the tournament.After that, Gohan most likely went back to the books and Pan went to Mr. Satan's school to continue her training. Can't say if this is proof or not, but in Movie 13 he and Videl were Great Saiyaman I & II.

Also in Episode 289 of DBZ, Pan was entering the tournament. We know Goku didn't train her (as the title suggests a first meeting). It's possible Mr. Satan or Videl could have trained her. But it is plausible Gohan trained her. It wasn't like she was fighting any major characters at the time. And he would be the most knowledgeble of the three about using ki.

B · Post by B » Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:17 pm

The proof was in the fact he was hardly any stronger. He was going toe-to-toe with Dabra, who was said to be around Cell's strength, and Gohan had a hell of a time with Cell. Based on this, we can deduce if he ever did any "training," it was sit-ups and push-ups at best.

CashmanX · Post by **CashmanX** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:46 pm

B wrote:The proof was in the fact he was hardly any stronger. He was going toe-to-toe with Dabra, who was said to be around Cell's strength, and Gohan had a hell of a time with Cell. Based on this, we can deduce if he ever did any "training," it was sit-ups and push-ups at best.

We're talking about after the Buu saga...

Blade · Post by **Blade** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:36 pm

Although there is no proof one way or the other and I can't really contribute anything which will help solidify either position outright, it was always my preconception that the reason why Gohan needs to go Super Saiyan in GT is because he stopped training after Majin Buu, causing him to lose much of the power that the Elder Kai awoke within him.

My theory rests upon the fact that when the Elder Kai powers up Gohan he tells him that at his new level of power he does not need to go Super Saiyan, as he is powerful enough to defeat Buu in his normal form, negating the need for a transformation which puts unneccessary strain on the body.

It was always my understanding that Gohan spent his time as a scholar and family man after Buu, not only by his nerdy appearance but also due to him not entering the Tenkaichi Budokai either at the end of the Manga or during GT. While Gohan originally offers to go with Goku to retrieve the Black Star Dragonballs, I always assumed his offer mainly hinged upon his technical expertise and ability to maintain the spaceship.

TheGreatness25 · Post by **TheGreatness25** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:42 pm

I think a pretty good indication is that he did not take part in the World Martial Arts Tournament. Why would he train for all that time and be one of the few Z Fighters to not partake in it?

Kingdom Heartless · Post by **Kingdom Heartless** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:39 pm

TheGreatness25 wrote:I think a pretty good indication is that he did not take part in the World Martial Arts Tournament. Why would he train for all that time and be one of the few Z Fighters to not partake in it?

Neither did Tenshinhan, who didn't seem to do much other than train. I'm sure Piccolo trained as well... maybe not as much as he used to, but he was a very dedicated warrior. Training to fight doesn't mean you have to do it every chance you get.

Besides, I'm sure Gohan didn't want to be in a position where he would have to beat the snot out of his 4 year old daughter.

IncompetentOverlord · Post by **IncompetentOverlord** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:49 pm

TheGreatness25 wrote:I think a pretty good indication is that he did not take part in the World Martial Arts Tournament. Why would he train for all that time and be one of the few Z Fighters to not partake in it?

Few Z-Senshi not to partake in it? The only ones who fought were Goku, Vegeta, Goten, Trunks, and Buu. That means that not only Gohan, Yamucha, Tenshinhan(who was obviously training),Chaozu(ditto), Yajirobe, Kuririn, 18, Videl, etc. etc.

Some people might say that I'm just bitter that my favorite characters were left in the dust by freaking Vegeta, and am now taking it out on forumers who make passing comments on whether Gohan trained or not in the 10 year gap.

To that I say, Bah Humbug.

( Sorry for the Oh-So-Off-Topic rant, especially to you TheGreatness

)

AndoKomando · Post by **AndoKomando** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:58 pm

I'd say that because Goku wasn't around to say Gohan train that is one of the major reasons why he didn't train in the 7yrs. Also the fact that Goku died and saying that since he is dead that no one will come attack the Earth since Goku ain't around no more. That also was a factor in Gohans reduction of training. And of course the fact Goku ain't around and only Chichi is and since it's only Chichi she made sure Gohan was studying. But the 10yr thing i think that Gohan would have trained a little bit in between there cause Goku is around and he made it to scholar status and has a family so Chichi can get off his ass about studying. So I would say that Gohan trained some but not a whole ton. To me there is no indication that Gohan stopped or didn't stop training its just a matter of opinion.

Duo · Post by **Duo** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:32 pm

And in that 7 year gap, you have to wonder how realistic it would be for them to actually encounter something Vegeta or Piccolo couldn't handle...as was mentioned above in regards to the 10 year gap.

Kingdom Heartless · Post by **Kingdom Heartless** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:48 pm

Duo wrote:And in that 7 year gap, you have to wonder how realistic it would be for them to actually encounter something Vegeta or Piccolo couldn't handle...as was mentioned above in regards to the 10 year gap.

Yep.

If you trained for seven years for a villain, you'd almost be hoping one showed up.

Travis Touchdown · Post by **Travis Touchdown** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:24 am

Sprite Satan wrote:But, really, the onus is to prove that he did, not for others to prove a negative.

I respectfully disagree. There's no word, proof, or any sign to for anyone to have grounds to say he did or didn't. As such, I feel if people are going to make the claim that he didn't and set that in stone, they're just as much responsible for having to "prove" it as those who claim he did keep up his training.

Godo · Post by **Godo** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:26 pm

He didn't train at all, no. He didn't need to, as his power kept the same during those 10 years, due to Rou Kaioshin's dance.

It seems silly to think that Rou Kaioshin's technique would make Gohan only temporarily stronger. I think that there is a reason why he is called "Ultimate Fighter" Gohan.