Gohan stops using a sword because his training shifted from survival to martial arts.
Initially, Gohan used a sword as a tool for survival. He relied on it for:
- Catching prey.
- Cutting his way out of difficult situations.
- Physical training.
However, this changed drastically when Piccolo began training Gohan directly in martial arts.
| Training Phase | Focus | Tool of Choice |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | Utilizing tools for survival and basic physical training | Sword |
| Martial Arts | Pure fighting skills; enhancing the body itself | Body/Self |
Once Piccolo became Gohan's mentor, the focus shifted towards harnessing his inherent power and developing his martial arts prowess. This new training regimen emphasized:
- Physical conditioning: building strength, speed, and agility.
- Ki control: learning to channel inner energy for enhanced abilities.
- Martial arts techniques: honing fighting skills without the need for weapons.
This transition to rigorous martial arts training made the sword largely obsolete for Gohan. He found that his own body could become a far more versatile and powerful weapon than any blade. Consequently, Gohan abandoned his sword and focused solely on maximizing his fighting potential through his physical and ki-based training. This is not to say he does not use other objects as weapons from time to time, but he does not regularly incorporate a sword into his fighting style.
