So... did the gravity even do anything?

[FindKenshi]

So, from the surface, a casual observer would get that as Goku travels to Namek, he increases his strength by training under heavier and heavier gravity. Eventually he works his way all the way up to 100G, and then when he turns it off, he's incredibly light and fast.

But, should one pay attention to details, and follow the narration... well,

Narration: Around and around he goes... working his body and chi almost to death and then refreshing himself by eating the senzu... as the seven beans given to him by Master Karin are already down to three. Whether he realizes it or not, Goku is living and reliving one of the primal cycles of the Saiyans... gaining strength by facing and overcoming death!

So, Goku's main means of powering-up here, are his near death power-ups... of which he's stated to have recieved four of so far (possibly five, if the one he ate at the hospital is not counted here?).

So... how much of a role did the increasing gravity he put himself through really play? Could it be that as he got the near-death power-up's, that's what increased his strength, and then he just turned the gravity up? Did they both sorta play a role? As in he's raising his level bit by bit with the gravity training, and then skipping ahead a whole bunch with the near-death power up? Was the gravity just basically sorta masking his gains and increases so he could discover them all at once at the end?

[peter291]

I think both aspects, the gravity and body hurting, were essential in Goku's training. Exercising under greater gravity was just a physilcal challenge for Goku, and I doubt such training alone would increase his power that much, in just 6 days.

Narration: Around and around he goes... working his body and chi almost to death and then refreshing himself by eating the senzu... as the seven beans given to him by Master Karin are already down to three. Whether he realizes it or not, Goku is living and reliving one of the primal cycles of the Saiyans... gaining strength by facing and overcoming death!

How would you consider Vegeta's words according to this matter? He says it will be no effect if he hurts his body himself.

Chapter: 303 (DBZ 109), P11.1-2
Vegeta: “Alright?! Do you get it?! How when we Saiyans revive from the brink of death, our strength increases! So go ahead and half kill me! There’s no effect if I try to kill myself! You do it! Quickly! Freeza is about to perform his final transformation!”
Kuririn: “I-I could half-kill you with my power…”
Vegeta: “Don’t worry…I’ll lower my battle power to its limit…! It’s fortunate that the Namekian brat who can instantly heal people is here…”

[hleV]

How would you consider Vegeta's words according to this matter? He says it will be no effect if he hurts his body himself.

He says it will be no effect if he tries to kill himself.

[Mystic Gohan]

I think the gravity touchened his body up, so that he could do kk x10

[Piccolo Daimao]

I think the gravity was just part of his strenuous physical training that may've also contributed to his Zenkais. Not to mention that the gravity training probably toughened up his body to withstand higher levels of Kaiouken, and when he starts his training, he even mentions that he'll have to toughen himself up from the basics.

Chapter: 251 (DBZ 57), 10.5
Goku: “If I don’t thoroughly toughen myself up from the basics…I won’t be able to withstand many-fold Kaio-kens…!”

Chapter: 270 (DBZ 76), P11.1-4
Context: Goku has turned the gravity back down to 1g.
Goku: “Hwoo!!! I…I feel so light… …It’s like I’m not even here!!! Hoo hoo hoo!!! I’m light, I’m light! And strong, strong! Like this, I can definitely withstand about a 10-fold Kaio-ken!”

Also, don't forget about his ability to rapidly heighten his battle power in the brief instant he attacks, so fast that even the scouters couldn't pick it up, to decrease unnecessary energy consumption. I don't think that's something that can be achieved by power alone; it must take an immense amount of skill and ki control, and even not even someone like Freeza could do that.

Chapter: 281 (DBZ 87), P11.2-4
Jheese: “Wh-what’s going on…?! There’s no mistake that his battle power is only 5,000…”
Vegeta: “Ka-Kakarot rapidly heightens his battle power for the brief instant when he attacks…That’s probably to decrease unnecessary energy consumption…It’s for an extremely brief instant, so even the scouters probably can’t pick up on it…Th-this is an outrageous battle power…H-how did he get that kind of power?...”

[Goten Forever]

If it's just the gravity, why doesn't he just lift up 99 small elephants and be done with it?

[Kaboom]

Vegeta got to a certain strength just by abusing the healing boosts.

Goku got to a way higher strength by abusing the healing boosts AND training in high gravity.

So looking at it from a simpler angle like that, yeah. Goku benefited from both aspects of his training working in conjunction.

[Fox666]

I guess it's not pratical to train like that? Of course the 2 tons weights that Kaio creates are still usefull...

[FindKenshi]

Vegeta got to a certain strength just by abusing the healing boosts.

Goku got to a way higher strength by abusing the healing boosts AND training in high gravity.

Good point. Epsecially when you consider that Vegeta himself began the gravity training after Namek, and went on to unlock his Super Saiyan potential. I suppose I can see now, the clear evidence that it wasn't the near-death power-up's alone that strengthened Goku.

Thanks for all your input, DaizEXians.

[bizness86]

Digressing a bit, Vegeta (and Nappa) were already used to fighting under less-than-desirable conditions; I recall Vegeta, after Zarbon pleas for mercy, lamenting over how Zarbon made sure that Vegeta would have the hardest time possible on his missions. I'm not sure that Vegeta had to endure anything past 10× Earth's gravity, but eh.

At Goku, a lot of things are already mentioned; evidently, increaseing gravity is a bit more effective than simply wearing weighted clothing. Heck, in all honesty, 100G was really just 10G to the 10G Goku was already used to.