Goku begins his life on the Saiyajin Home world of Planet Vegeta. He is born to a low class saiyan named Bardock who was later killed by Frieza. Born under the Saiyajin name Kakkarrott, Goku only had a power level of two when he was born which was considered to be a low fighting potential. Because of this, he was to be sent to another planet in order to destroy it. Goku's constant crying as a baby beside of another Saiyajin child, Brolli, caused an intense hatred for Goku in the evil Saiyajin. Finally, right before Frieza destroyed his father and Planet Vegeta, Goku is sent in a space pod to Earth. Bardock Special


When Goku arrives on Earth, his space ship crash lands on a forested mountain and Goku is found by Grandpa Gohan. Grandpa Gohan takes gives him the name Goku and raises him. Goku was wild as a child, but an accident where Goku falls from a cliff and bumps his head, changes him into a calmer child.

Goku begins his training in the martial arts under Grandpa Gohan. He meets his best friend Krillin and ends up continuing his instruction with others including Master Roshi.

Goku goes in search of the dragon balls and meets Bulma for the first time during his travels. He has encounters with the Red Ribbon Army and Dr. Gero's creations.

Goku transforms into his Oozaru form and accidentally steps on Grandpa Gohan. To prevent him from causing more destruction, Goku's tail is removed.

Dragonball Z begins when Goku, who is married to Chi Chi, goes to visit his friends at Roshi's island. He has had a child in the time between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z and has named him after Grandpa Gohan. After he introduces his son, Gohan, to Bulma, Krillin and Roshi, a mysterious alien arrives and reveals that he is Goku's brother, Radditz, and that Goku is from the Saiyan race. Goku is forced to fight Radditz to rescue his son. During the fight, Goku, who is wearing the orange gi that is seen through most of the series, removes his weighted clothing. He removes the weighted boots, armbands and shirt before confronting Radditz with Piccolo.


During the fight with Radditz, Goku is able to restrain him long enough for Piccolo to blast the evil saiyan with the new attack he had been developing. Piccolo hits Radditz with a huge blast from his special beam cannon, or better known as his makankosappo attack. Unfortunately, the blast also kills Goku. In the afterlife, Goku must travel down snake way in order to train with King Kai for the upcoming battle with the Saiyans. Goku successfully completes his training with Kai and learns a new attack, the Sprit bomb or Genki-Dama Goku has a halo over his head and must be wished back to life with the dragon balls.


Goku is wished back to Earth and is able to defeat Nappa and Vegeta. He asks Krillin to allow Vegeta to live and Vegeta escapes. Goku recovers in the hospital while Bulma, Krillin and Gohan all leave to retrieve the Namek dragon balls in order to wish their friends that were killed during the battle with Nappa and Vegeta back to life. Goku later follows them in order to confront Frieza. During the battle with the evil alien, Piccolo is injured and Krillin is killed. This pushes Goku anger to the point that he makes his first major appearance change into a Super Saiyan. Goku's hair changes from black to golden yellow and his eyes change to green. In this form, Goku is able to defeat Frieza but is trapped on the doomed planet Namek.


Planet Namek explodes and everyone thinks that Goku has perished. The Namekian dragon is summoned again and he is wished back. It is then that Goku's friends learn that he is alive. Goku returns to Earth after Frieza and King Cold arrive and are defeated by Future Trunks. His friends learn that he was able to leave the planet in on of the Ginyu force's space pod. He crashed on a planet Yardrat. The people of the planet are friendly and teach Goku a new technique, Instantaneous Movement (or the yucky FUNi dub, Instant Transmission). Goku is wearing clothing from the planet when he arrives back on the Earth.


Goku is warned of his future death by Trunks and is given an antidote to counteract the heart disease that will affect him. Unfortunately, Goku shows no signs of the illness and does not take the antidote. Goku, in his Super Saiyan form, begins his fight with Android 19 and is struck with the disease suddenly. Luckily, Vegeta steps in and saves Goku, who is rushed home by Yamcha to be given the medicine that will save his life. It looks as if Goku is not going to recover but the antidote finally works. Goku is seen again training this time with his blue shirt on.


After his recovery, a new menace has arrived on the planet. Cell, another android created by Dr. Gero has emerged and is absorbing many humans to increase his power level enough to fight Androids 17 and 18. Cell must absorb them both to reach is "perfect" form. Goku and Gohan enter the Room of Spirit and Time, while Vegeta and Trunks fight Cell. While training, Goku wears one of the modified Saiyan uniforms that Bulma created.



Cell is allowed to absorb Android 17 and 18 by Vegeta and reaches his Perfect form. Vegeta is no match for him and Trunks steps in to fight. After seeing that Trunks new Ultra Super Saiyan form is too slow to be a challenge to him, Cell proposes a tournament that he calls the Cell Games. He gives thee Z fighters nine days to prepare. During this time, Goku and Gohan both relax and continue their training by remaining in their Super Saiyan forms.


During the fight with Cell, Goku again wears his orange gi. Unfortunately, during the battle, Cell tries to blow himself up in order to destroy the planet. Goku uses his Instantaneous Movement technique to take Cell to King Kai's planet where he blows it up and kills everyone there. Goku is now dead again and can not be wished back to life. Goku again has the halo and is allowed to fight in the afterlife tournaments.
NOTE: Goku's Super Saiyan form 3 was attained in Movie 12 during his fight with Janemba. During the series he transforms into Super Saiyan Level 3 when he fights Buu.


A few years go by and Gohan is now attending High School. Another Tenkaichi Budoukai takes place and Goku is granted a day on Earth in order to participate. Goku retains his halo and his Orange gi. During the tournament, the Z fighters learn that a new villain, Babidi, is planning to release Buu, a powerful fighter that lives to destroy the Earth. Goku, Gohan, Vegeta go to fight the evil being but Bebidi is able to make Vegeta his slave and is able to use his power to release Buu. Goku fights Buu and reaches Super Saiyan form 3. Goku's hair gets extremely longer and his eyebrows disappear. He is defiantly more powerful but is unable to sustain this form for long.

Ten years go by and Pilaf, on his quest to rule the world, has gathered the Dragon balls and summons the eternal dragon. He is about to make all his wishes come true when he accidentally wishes Goku was a kid again so that he would be easier to defeat. His wish is granted and Goku is transformed into a child again. This causes the series to begin as Goku, Trunks and Pan must travel the Galaxy in search of the Black Star Dragon balls.


After Goku gets back to Earth he must fight a new menace that followed them back to the planet. During the search for the Black Star Dragon Balls, the trio arrive on Dr. Myuu's planet. One of Dr. Myuu's projects is the sole surviving Tsufuru-jin, who, seeking revenge on all Saiyans, follows them back to Earth. When he arrives, he takes over Vegeta's body and Goku is forced to fight him. Goku must transform into his Super Saiyan 3 form to fight Bebi Vegeta. Unfortunatly, he is not strong enought to defeat him.


During the fight, Goku transforms into Golden Oozaru and then attains a new level, Super Saiyan form 4. In this form, Goku is able to defeat Bebi, who leaves Vegeta's body. Goku also uses this form during the Evil Shenlong series.