Notes on the Saiyan Race

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Notes on the Saiyan Race
Questions answered about the biology, physiology, behavior, and culture of the Saiyan race. If you've ever wondered what in the world makes the Saiyans tick, find it here. This is written with the best of research possible and hours of hard investigation into manga and anime, and biology, anatomy, and anthropology text. Of course, it's fictional, so the laws of reality are warped, but it is maintained as real as possible. Reference notes are also included to illustrate points in graphics or side investigations. Click on contained links to find more information.

Article Outline

I. Basic introduction

A. Description of race.
B. Physical description, basic types.
C. Currently known information, from an outside view.

II. Culture up front, outsider's perspective

A. Treatment of strangers
B. Actions taken to become a part
C. Initial observations
D. As acceptance occurs, more opens up

III. Anatomical studies

A. An overview

1. General performance
2. Aging, longevity, and growth patterns
3. Feeding habits

B. Skeleto-muscular system

1. Relates to strength/speed
2. Specific adaptations

C. Internal organs

1. Differences from human
2. Adapted for regeneration

D. Other body systems
E. Nervous system

1. The brain
2. Double nervous system
3. Energy generation
4. Importance of the tail
5. Extrasensory abilities

F. Ozaru transformation

1. Utilization of energy-to-mass trans-state
2. Genome layer shift
3. Use of neronic energy
4. Ozaru behavior, feral and awakened

G. A word on "pre-Saiyans"

1. The originally created race
2. Physical differences
3. Behavioral differences
4. The change, genetically
5. The change, physically and socially

IV. Basic behavioral studies

A. An instinct/intelligence race
B. Animalistic habits reflection on culture
C. Shortage of females, a genetic deficiency

IV. Culture as it opens

A. Acceptance by the culture
B. A bit of linguistics
C. Individual behavior

1. As a member of a warrior/military culture
2. As part of a hierarchy of individuals
3. Ideals of honor, right/wrong

D. Family groups

1. Genetic background seen as important
2. Sexuality from both sides
3. True nuclear family, although ratio of females to males 1:4
4. Pair bonding
5. Birth and raising of children

E. Private citizenry

1. Those not powerful enough for warfare
2. Those of "tainted" or questionable bloodlines
3. Common producers, artisans, non-military occupations

F. Military culture

1. Power ratings extrapolated at birth
2. Lifelong training
3. Rank determined by family, performance, power rating
4. No retirement
5. Honorable/dishonorable death

G. Royal/noble culture

1. Absolutism as a rule; comparison to wolfpack
2. Power ratings much higher than general populace
3. Hierarchy among nobles
4. Royal reproduction
5. Duties of the King
6. Importance of the Heir in the hierarchy

H. Foreign relations

1. Planet brokering as main income
2. Slave populations
3. Subordinate worlds

a. Some useful science or technology
b. Monetary alliegance
c. Allies in warfare

4. Other Empires, uneasy coexistence

Articles I: Basic Introduction

I--A: Description of Race

III: Anatomical studies

III--A: An Overview

Short skeletal description
Modern Saiyans:

Large cranial capacity, the average being larger than the average for humans.
Skull shape high, broad, and elongated
Rear of the skull round
Heavy browridges
High forehead
Broad, flatter faces
Strong, pointed chin
Postcranial skeleton rugged with bones very thick
Postcranial vertebral connection vertical

Old-Type Saiyans:

Large cranial capacity, the average being equal to the average for humans.
Skull shape low, broad, and elongated
Rear of the skull rather pointed
Flat browridges
Low forehead
Narrow, long faces with the center of the face jutting forward
Moderate chin
Postcranial skeleton somewhat rugged with bones moderately thick
Postcranial vertebral connection diagonal

A--1: General performance
Saiyans have the remarkable ability to soak up damage that would kill or incapacitate a lesser life form and still remain standing--and even fighting furiously! The Saiyan will eventually use up his reserves and fall; however, when he is healed he will be that much stronger, directly proportionate to the amount of damage inflicted on him. (See this note.) A Saiyan's metabolism and energy production increases in strength and efficiency with recovery from damage, as his body attempts to shield him from further injury of the same kind. This type of recovery is extremely beneficial. However, physical damage is the only damage that, if not permanently crippling or lethal, is directly beneficial to increases in strength. Overburdening a Saiyan's energy generating cells to make them stronger can have adverse effects.

A--2: Aging, longevity, growth patterns
Aging and longevity: Normal Saiyans, on average, have a full life expectancy of over three hundred standard Earth years. Most modern Saiyans do not reach this full expectancy due to the type of life they lead, often dying in battle or challenged by the younger for position, but some individuals in recorded history have surpassed three centuries before death, and the race could possibly live longer. A Saiyan at seventy is comparable to a human at thirty, and they maintain this level of health and vigor well into their second century before their abilities begin to wane. The last fifty to seventy years of a Saiyan's life begins to follow the pattern of a physically fit human approaching and passing through their sixties and beyond; wrinkling of skin, graying of hair, and lessening of muscle tone. In many cases there is the development of some arthritis due to the extreme pressures their skeleton withstood during their physically active life, now that their bodies are no longer capable of arresting the proces. (Conditions similar to osteoporosis have not been in evidence in examined geriatric skeletons.) However, the Saiyan remains an extremely dangerous fighter and quite physically capable until the last ten to fifteen years of life; even then, they are mentally sharp and still substantially stronger than any human, and usually pass on in their sleep with no prior warning whatsoever.

Growth patterns: Saiyans grow in spurt phases, for lack of a better term. While slow growth does occur, it us just that--slow, with major growth periods taking place after the body has stored sufficient nutrients for the process. Prenatal Saiyans, during their six Earth-month tenure, have a single rapid spurt during the last two and a half months of the pregnancy. Still, Saiyan children are remarkably small given the size of many adults, with a birth weight generally under nine pounds at most. That may seem excessive, but a Saiyan's weight is much greater in relation to his size than a human's. (A nine-pound Saiyan baby may be less than fourteen inches long!) Between the ages of three and five, the Saiyan children have a second spurt phase, in which they can go from a twenty-inch height and thirty pounds weight to three feet high and weigh up to eighty pounds, more than doubling their mass. Most are built rather stocky and short-boned during this period in life. Some slow growth occurs, but the child generally stays the same size until the preteen years (12-14) where the slow growth can become slightly more rapid due to increasing levels of hormones, especially in males. Most growth here is a slight lengthening of the limbs in preparation for the third spurt phase.

The third spurt phase takes place in the later teens, between the ages of sixteen to eighteen. This is often the most rapid and startling phase of all, in which a 3'6" child can suddenly leap to a six-foot young-adult (see this note)--or greater, in the case of males. Heights of up to nine feet have sometimes been reached by young Saiyan males by the time they were twenty. (It has been noted that only modern Saiyans demonstrate this type of rapid late-teen growth; the old type of Saiyans skipped this third phase.) Prior to and during this growth the young Saiyans are more ravenously hungry than ever, often consuming nearly their weight in food over the course of three hours, their digestive metabolism having kicked up its production in honor of the third spurt phase. The long period of intake and storage during the teen years has prepared the body for this rapid jump. Most of the faster slow growth stops after this spurt, returning to the preteen rate. Most Saiyans during this phase fit the human norm of appearance, including average height, lean build, and proper proportion to limbs and features.

The fourth spurt phase is one seen only in male Saiyans. After the age of twenty to twenty-five, when the body is nearly physically mature, male hormones and behaviors increase and yet another growth phase takes place. Some height may be gained during this period (less than 6 in.), but most of the growth occurs in bone and muscle mass. Limb bones thicken, final cartillage fusion takes place in all necessary areas, and the muscles begin to grow larger in ways that no female Saiyan nor human can emulate. Greater depth to the chest, neck, shoulders, and thighs is the first indicator, with other muscles increasing in size and definition after that. Increases in the training levels also help bring about this rapid growth, although much of it is inherently natural (see this note). This extra musculature greatly increases the strength and bulk of a male Saiyan, making him a visually daunting opponent, intimidating even when not roused to battle (see this note). Where this extra mass might seem unwieldy, these Saiyans carry themselves with an ease and grace one never sees in bulky human body-builders. (See III-B for info on how the specially developed brain relates to the skeleto-muscular system. Also see III-E-1 for info on cerebellum.) Even without their energy assisting their muscle functions, these men are extremely strong, easily rating twice the physical strength of a female Saiyan, often more.

III--B: Skeleto-muscular system

B--1-2: Relates to strength/speed | Specific adaptations
Biological investigation indicates that the Saiyans are people of incredible power and strength--far superior to even the most avid human body builders. One of the most characteristic features of the Saiyans is the exaggerated massiveness of their trunk and limb bones. All of the studied skeletons demonstrate a strength never attained by humans. Furthermore, not only is this robustness present among the adult males, as one might expect, but it is also evident in the adult females, adolescents, and even children. However, with the continuous will to train and achieve, some Saiyans push their bodies too far, especially young Saiyans in the process of their growth. Damage to the epiphyseal (growth) plates in the long bones can cause a slowing or halting of growth altogether. Bone growth can be impaired by over-excessive weight, pressure, and exercise, all of which are common to Saiyan methods of training.

Saiyans are far more powerful than humans. Whereas humans can experimentally duplicate the methods of physical attacks such as are used by most peoples from the known galaxy, the attack patterns of Saiyans cannot be duplicated. We simply do not have the strength to do it. Effective use of these techniques requires extreme strength and control. The Saiyan skeleton reflects a supremely powerful musculature. They are heavily muscled, males especially in the shoulders and neck. The larger brain is required to control the extra musculature. The bones of the limbs are thicker than humans; the legs are slightly shorter and the arms slightly longer, a leftover from their more quadrupedal ancestors. However, the length of body trunk compensates for height, making the difference almost unnoticeable.

A Saiyan's muscle cell action is a rarity in the biological world that has come to be known as multi-twitch, unusual when compared to human (and galactically common) fast- or slow-twitch muscle fibers. Most races posess groups of slow-twitch (long, enduring strength and slow fatigue, such as marathon runners) and fast twitch (fast bursts of greater strength and rapid fatigue, such as a sprinter). In Saiyans, there is no great distinction between fast and slow, but the cells do lean more toward a fast type as a base form, biologically speaking. The muscle groups are made up of all one kind of fiber, which is equally anaerobic or aerobic as needs arise. The aerobic/anaerobic muscle cells of the Saiyans have steady, explosive power, high endurance, and extremely slow fatigue.

Saiyan muscles contain heavy amounts of myoglobin (a respiratory pigment) and dense capillary beds with greater amounts of blood and oxygen. These muscles are highly resistant to fatigue and have substantial reserves of glycogen and fat, as well as an excess of mitochondria. Oxygen is a necessity for Saiyans, as a steady, prolonged production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate; the breakdown of ATP into ADP--adenosine diphosphate--makes energy available for cells in all living creatures) is only possible when oxygen is available. However, they can function normally in air much thinner than the average human can tolerate, due to the incredible oxygen efficiency in their lungs. The muscle fibers can also function anaerobically under necessity, and are designed specifically for amazing speed and strength; they can produce massive explosions of kinetic energy and have an extremely high maximum tension.

It has been recorded that if all the muscles in the human body pulled in the same direction at the same time, they could lift 25 tons (50,000 lbs; 22,680 kg). Saiyans are designed to thrive under the conditions of a planet with ten times the gravity of Earth. A weak to average Saiyan's muscles could lift 250 tons on Earth--ten times the amount. Stronger Saiyans could achieve even more.

III--E: Nervous system

E--1: The Brain
Since great strength, agility, and precision and speed of bodily movements are required for such hunting/fighting techniques, those parts of the brain controlling motor functions in the hunter/fighter have to be greatly developed. Saiyans possesses a massive cerebellum and motor cortex compared to humans, explaining in part, the large, long, high brain case and larger occiput of the Saiyan. The Saiyan brain, on the average, is slightly larger than a human's, which allows them to process the input and respond to their surroundings in an accelerated manner. Especially in male Saiyans, whose extra size and musculature requires greater accuracy in motor control. The Saiyan race has on average a higher IQ than most humans by at least ten points; however, their aptitudes differ from humans. They excel in areas concerning reflexive thinking, fighting and tactics, physical response, accurate pictographic memory, target memory, and strategic planning. They are less artistic, less diplomatic, and may seem less intelligent than an average human, but it is simply that their areas of excellence are different. However, most Saiyans seem to have a natural ear for music and will often listen to and play music of various kinds.

In humans a neurotransmitter speed of up to 200 meters per second (450 mph) have been recorded. Thus far, no instruments have been able to accurately measure the neurotransmitter speed of a Saiyan. However, individuals have demonstrated the reflex response ability to accurately catch a pistol bullet at ten feet, even when the weapon was not aimed at them. Others have actually been able to chase down rifle bullets when standing beside the shooter. This would indicate a neurotransmitter speed that must exceed the speed of sound, at least. (A safe hypothesis is to multiply the human capability by ten.) Much of the Saiyans' reflex systems are bioelectric rather than biochemical, which does function faster.

E--1a: The Cerebrum; center of thought and will
Brain hemispheres: The left hemisphere of the brain specializes in details, known procedures, and formal logic (spoken language, written language, mathematical ability, scientific skills, logical thinking). The right hemisphere specializes in the "big picture," creativity, and intuitive approaches to problems (artistic awareness, three-dimensional perception, intuition, imagination, music awareness). As such, studies have shown that most Saiyans are inherently right-brained; their thinking specializes in perception, intuition, and rhythm. Their left-brained abilities are considerably less developed, which is especially noticeable when comparing the thinking processes of a human and a Saiyan. A human combines the thought patterns of both halves of the brain, where a Saiyan's thought patterns remain predominately right-brained and they fall back on instinct and intuition to solve problems. Rarely will a logic argument work when presented to a Saiyan. (Given ample opportunity and motivation, Saiyans could become remarkable artists, musicians, or authors; unfortunately, their thinking lacks the range and scope that humans consider normal to these types of professions.) Some Saiyans demonstrate markedly increased left-brain ability, usually due to schooling or training, and half-human hybrids show even more marked improvement in their logical and scientific thinking skills. (The right-brain tendency is most likely a racial, genetic trait. Gohan's human heritage allows him the more balanced thinking available to humans.)

Frontal lobes: The forward portions of the frontal lobes are associated with personality, judgement, and self-control; thought and consciousness. The rear portion, the motor area, controls the voluntary movement of the skeletal muscles. Between the two rests the premotor area, responsible for translating the decision to move (generated in the frontal part) into a muscular command (sent to the motor area and then to the cerebellum). Of course, due to the nature of the Saiyan's biology, the motor and premotor areas are much larger than those observed in human brains, while the frontal lobe is not as pronounced (hence the noticeably limited nature of Saiyan personalities). This lobe also houses the speech area.

Parietal lobes: The portions just behind the frontal lobes are responsible for analyzing and processing data from the senses--pressure, temperature, pain, shape, texture--and for making judgements based on that information. The body awareness area (input from nerves) and the sensory area (processes nerve information) in a Saiyan brain are enormous compared to a human's; a Saiyan's body and extra-senses are alive with incoming information that must be processed by the brain. The writing area is also housed here, but is not very developed.

Temporal lobes: Below and to the side of the parietal lobes are the temporal lobes, associated with hearing, taste, and smell. The hearing area is very wide, and the area responsible for the memory of sound and sight is very well developed. A Saiyan can hear over five to six miles away in wooded areas; eight to ten miles away over open country, nearly equaling that of canine species. The olfactory bulbs (extensions of the brain's olfactory area and responsible for gathering and transmitting scent information to the olfactory area) are almost twice the size of a human's, accounting for the Saiyan's enhanced sense of smell. While similar to a human in outward structure, a Saiyan's increased olfactory and auditory sensitivity compensates for the structural disadvantages. A canine's muzzle structure is specifically designed to gather, trap, and analyze scents much more efficiently. Most animals have saucer-like ears for trapping even the smallest noises directed at them. Because of their structure, a Saiyan's actual sensitivity to such stimuli has to be greatly increased to make up for the lack of proper outward design.

Occipital lobes: The sense of vision is interpreted in the rear portion of the brain, where the optic nerves connect to the brain tissue. The visual cortex is much, much larger than that of humans (like the olfactory and hearing centers), hence the longer brain case (skull) to contain the extra brain matter. All the vision areas (general processing, shape, movement tracking) are housed in the occipital lobes. The only area of the rear portion that is not as developed as that in humans is the reading association and color recognition areas. Saiyan eyes cannot see as many color gradients (shades) as the human eye can, so their color interpretation is less developed. Where a human could see ten or more changing hues on a strip of successively shaded colored paper, a Saiyan would see only four or five separate shades. (Like the difference between True Color and 256 Color on your display settings.) Their visual acuity is geared towards shape and movement rather than color, as befits a hunter/fighter.

E--1b: The Cerebellum; center of muscle coordination
Most of the body's complex muscle coordination is handled in the cerebellum. The cerebellum relieves the cerebrum of the work of coordinating muscle groups, nerve firing, balance, and many other necessities associated with even the simple task of walking upright. Once the cerebellum has been trained and memorized the proper movements, the cerebrum merely needs to tell the cerebellum a command (such as "walk" or "swim") and the cerebellum handles the individual muscle commands. A Saiyan's cerebellum is massive when placed in comparison to that of a human; this is necessary to coordinate both the extra musculature a Saiyan posesses, as well as the movements made at extremely high speeds. The Saiyan's movement pattern memory in the cerebellum is incredibly quick, able to master intricate movements, from playing a musical instrument to martial arts of any kind, in a matter of a few repetitions.

E--2: Double nervous system
Saiyans posess, in actuality, two complete nervous systems. One is entirely sensory, and compares directly to the human nervous system. This is known as the primary nervous system. The other set, known as the secondary nervous system, is the site of all neuronic energy generated by Saiyans, popularly known as "ki" and often thought of as "spiritual energy." This secondary system (SNS) lies alongside most of the Saiyans' primary system (PNS), but does not connect directly to it or to the brain.

The SNS does not carry very much sensation at all; it is connected to the brain stem via the PNS through a series of redundant buffer nerves that serve as fuses should the SNS overload, to prevent the brain from being damaged. While the buffer nerves could easily heal and regenerate after an overload, the brain cannot, especially if it is flash-burned and the Saiyan is dead. The SNS is controlled by this buffer nerve system, which is a part of the cranial meninges, cerebellum, and brain stem, which allows the Saiyan conscious control of the amount of energy he generates and/or outputs. Overload, burnout, severe physical trauma, or concussion can cause damage to the buffer nerves and cut off access to the SNS. As a safety, the SNS completely stops most or all of its energy generation without a constant carrier current from the PNS through the buffer nerves, so if conscious control is lost through one of these instances, the SNS will not produce randomly.

Where the PNS is composed of sensory and motor neurons, the SNS is made up primarily of axons and generator cells. The primary generator cells (PGCs) lie close along their shared axons, each contributing its axon to the ever-growing "grapevine" of axons that form greater and greater "power cables." The secondary generator cells (SGCs), which more closely resemble normal nervous cells, are further from the main axon paths and generate less energy, and are often called in as reserve power. Those SGCs that lie near or in muscle areas contribute to the energy of the mitochondria in the muscle cells, giving boosts of speed or strength when needed.

There are specially formed SNS cells with longer, stronger axons and thicker myelin coats that connect directly with the spinal generator cords at the back of the shoulders and close to the neck. These special transmitter neurons are made to carry the great quantities of energy produced to the outside world, becoming, in effect, biological superconductor cables. Most of the transmitter neurons are found in the arms, leading to flaring emitters in the fingertips and palms of the hands, where most of the energy is focused and output. Miniature transmitter neurons run the length of the body just beneath the skin, and serve as barrier generators and excess energy shunts, and are in part responsible for the visible aura around the body when energy is high. (See this note.)

E--3: Energy generation
Each generator cell has within it three chambers that might at first be mistaken for a large mitochondrion. However, these chambers are the site of the main energy generation activity. Much of the food eaten by a Saiyan is processed into concentrated heavy-element nutrient and stored inside the sheaths of the SNS and in surrounding tissue gaps. This is the fuel used by the GCs. In average Saiyans, this nutrient is processed in a micro-cellular nuclear fission-fusion process (which is still largely not understood by scientists) which allows individual atoms of nutrient to be recycled many times until the complete atomic energy is used up and the electrons dissipate. A few molecules of nutrient per chamber can allow an individual cell to produce the equivalent of several hundred watts, depending on the Saiyan; one hundred of these GCs can produce multi-gigawatts of energy, and there are millions of GCs in each Saiyan's body. Most instruments used to measure a Saiyan's actual equivalent wattage-output break before a reading can be achieved; even the Saiyans' own instruments, known as scouters, cannot accurately measure some higher power levels without overloading their gains and exploding. Research still continues.

Large use of this energy, despite the recycling efficiency of the nuclear chambers, can empty a Saiyan's nutrient storage sacs throughout the body and force them to deplete muscle and bone nutrients. However, only extenuating circumstances can force the Saiyan's body to such measures, and it has rarely been observed. The result of the nutrients being consumed is a cessation of energy production, forcing the Saiyan to revert to physical-only tactics or to consume more food and replace the lost nutrient. A depleted Saiyan can be battle-ready after a properly-composed meal in less than thirty minutes, but the nutrient will not be at optimum levels and the Saiyan can and will run out again in two or three hours if their energy is used full-time. The generation of enough energy can actually result in a visible aura, as the energy itself builds into the visible spectrum. This has been measured by the human eye's visible spectrum; it is believed the Saiyans can see more into the higher and lower spectrums and thus can see more of the manifested auras than humans can. (See this note.)

The Saiyans' generation of energy is still a largely unknown process; however, what is known is that it requires large amounts of oxygen (presumably to ignite and react) and nutrient fuel (hence the Saiyans' ravenous appetites).

Strong young Saiyans can become overzealous about increasing their power levels. While a Saiyan's strength and power does increase with recovery from damage, injury to the SNS can be serious. The Saiyan's present power level can be reduced and their potential stunted by this kind of damage at a young age, resulted from forcing the energy output too high too early. While the young Saiyan's body is capable of producing the requisite amounts of energy for social recognition, they do not have the thickened SNS axons from long conditioning, their GC chambers may not be strong enough to withstand the atomic pressure, and the reserves built up from long use are not present. Overuse of an unconditioned SNS is known as burnout. A young Saiyan's full potential may never be reached because of the continued over-stressing of his growing capabilities. Care must be taken with the growth and maturation of young Saiyans to nurture them to their maximum power levels without damaging the SNS--care which is often ignored by Saiyan parents pushing their young to greater levels of achievement. While metabolic increase does occur with damage, and can be beneficial, overburdening the generator cells can scar them permanently. Varying degrees of burnout range from slight debilitation and fainting, which good bed rest and meals will cure, to full incapacitation of the SNS, PNS buffer damage, and other organ and tissue damage from the overload. Brain damage can also occur.

E--4: Importance of the tail
The spinal generator nerves, extending into the tail, are the major sites for the generation of neuronic energy. The spinal cord is accompanied on both sides by two generator cords, which generate energy as well as funneling it from other sources in the body. Over 35% of the body's energy is generated in the tail, making it a full half of the spinally generated energy, with another 35% generated in the spinal generator cords, and the final 30% is generated elsewhere in the body. The saying that a Saiyan's power is in his tail is actually quite true; Saiyans with tails consistently achieve higher power ratings than those who have lost or damaged theirs. There have been instances of tailless Saiyans with extremely high power levels; most of this is due to either special genetic circumstance or increased will to become stronger due to the loss of the tail. The tail is the only large appendage on a Saiyan's body that has the capacity to completely regenerate quickly. Other lost limbs will not regrow, but a Saiyan's tail can randomly regenerate in a matter of minutes or even seconds, depending on the bioenergy output at the time. Extenuating circumstances often cause a Saiyan's tail to regrow, such as a life-threatening situation or the activation of the panic state. This is a biological reaction to danger, giving the Saiyan the option to transform or to increase their energy generation. The regeneration of the tail requires a large portion of a Saiyan's stored nutrients and energy, and the tail itself is not completely ready to generate its full capacity until the Saiyan has eaten and recharged, but it can provide a quick boost or the ability to become an Ozaru, which can be a life-saver.

The tail is the Saiyans' only commonly known physical weakness. The tail generates half of all spinal energy, but where the spine itself has an architechtural function and must be strong, the Saiyan's tail has no purpose other than balance and energy. It basically serves as an extra "engine" for the Saiyan's power level, which is why cutting off the tail will temporarily drop the Saiyan's SNS production, until the body compensates. The tail is literally a bundle of nerves; the SNS is closely intertwined with the PNS in this area, and rough treatment of the tail can injure both the PNS and the SNS. Normal handling of the tail elicits no more response than touching an arm or leg. Among mates, gentle petting is even pleasurable due to the tail's sensitivity. However, a hard grip or pulling can cause great pain by triggering and/or damaging the sensitive nerves in the tail. Some Saiyans have trained themselves to ignore this pain, as a competent martial artist can train himself to ignore the pain of smashing bricks and boards with his head or hands. The pain still exists, but rigid mental conditioning helps focus the mind and ignore it.

IV: Basic behavioral studies

B: Animalistic habits reflection on culture.
Saiyans will hunt in packs/hunting groups or alone. Their tactics vary, and they prefer active pursuit to ambush. During coursing, one or more Saiyans will run a herd of prey-beasts, either on foot or in flight, and pick off animals of their choosing. Stalking is usually done alone, a secretive advance on the prey in question until a quick, surprise kill can be made. The Saiyans posess no spears for throwing from a distance, instead using long-weapon pikes for hand-to-hand during battle, if weapons are used at all. Study shows that in most instances Saiyans disdain the use of their ki-energy and prefer to engage in close-quarter hunting. A knife is usually the only weapon used by the warriors during a traditional hunt of any kind.

Pack hunting during the coursing of extremely large prey: While one hunter diverts the animal's attention, one or more other hunters rush in and attack the sides of the animal where vital internal organs are more accessible to inflicted damage. If the animal has long hair, such as mahoks and daryins, one hunter might actually attach himself to the body of the prey, holding on to the long hair with his powerful grip. With the animal thus distracted, another hunter, using bare-handed techniques, rushes in and crushes the lumbar vertebrae, or with a knife slashes open the chest cavity or cuts the tendon of the hindleg.

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