Saiyans (Saiya-jins) are an extraordinary, barbarous and powerful race. (Note: In Japanese, "jin" means people; so that means that saiya-jin are "Saiya people") Their sole purpose in life was to fight and survive. At the beginning of the Dragonball series, we learn that they lived on Planet Plant. They shared this planet with a race called tsufuru-jin. The tsufuru-jins were an advanced race with many cities and highly advanced technology. Their technology allowed them to fight against the naturally strong saiyans. The saiyans were strong savages who lived in wastelands attacking the tsufuru-jins at times. Because the saiyans had the natural ability of fighting using their bare hands, they were a force to be reckoned on. Fortunately for the tsufuru-jins, they were able to defend their planet with their technologies. Then, one night on the full moon, all the saiyans who had been exposed to the light of the full moon, underwent the change into Oozaru (Giant Ape) and easily crushed the tsufuru-jins out of existence. From then on the planet was called Planet Vegeta.

 The saiyans used some of the tsufuru-jin technology to become the strongest race in the universe. The strongest being in the universe, Freeza, an evil creature, used the saiyans as mercenaries to take over planets for him and sell them. One day, the saiyans got tired of working for Freeza, so the king, King Vegeta, revolted with several of his loyal men. Unfortunately, he was killed along with his men. Freeza then destroyed Planet Vegeta in one giant blast, along with the entire saiyan race. Only a few saiyans survived, including Kakarot (Goku), Prince Vegeta, Radditz, Nappa, Taurus, Paragus and Brolli.

SAIYAN

Description:

This is the typical appearance of a saiyan. A normal saiyan has black hair, a thick, strong, muscular body, and a unique tail. Saiyans have the excellent natural fighting ability that causes them to consume a great amount of calories daily. In order to provide these calories, they eat a lot. Goku, a low-class saiyan, consumes about 10 times the appetite a normal human would eat daily. Compared to humans, saiyans are extremely strong. Even when hit by Bulma's car in the beginning of the Dragonball series, Goku was not hurt. He immediately stood up after he was hit.

Super Saiyan

Description:

Freeza's worst fear... the Super Saiyan. This level is a legend early in Dragonball Z, but eventually becomes a natural form. Goku is the second person to ever reach this level, but is the first one we ever see doing it. When reaching this level the Saiyan's hair turns yellow, the eye's turn green, and his power level rises greatly. The Legendary SSJ mentioned throughout the series is Brolli. Super Saiyan are supposed to be ruthless killing machines, but we see that the Saiyan's personality barely changes after the transformation. The Super Saiyan level is triggered by emotional rage (usually). Someone with a pure heart of good or evil can only reach it. Once reached the status of super saiyan, the Saiyan can go SSJ at will.

 Those who achieved this form: Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Trunks, Goten a

                                        Super Saiyan 2

Description:

Gohan first reached this stage while fighting Evil Cell in the Cell Game. This stage is very much like the first Super Saiyan stage, but of course much stronger. Occasionally, the Saiyan who is in this form has electricity going around his body and through it. That's how you can tell the difference between SSJ and SSJ2. Also a Saiyan level 2 has slightly longer hair. This level is more superior than ssj level 1 in terms of strength and speed. It is also triggered by extreme rage.

 Those who achieved this form: Gohan, Goku, Vegeta, Brolli

                   Super Saiyan 3

Description:

Gohan first reached this stage while fighting Evil Cell in the Cell Game. This stage is very much like the first Super Saiyan stage, but of course much stronger. Occasionally, the Saiyan who is in this form has electricity going around his body and through it. That's how you can tell the difference between SSJ and SSJ2. Also a Saiyan level 2 has slightly longer hair. This level is more superior than ssj level 1 in terms of strength and speed. It is also triggered by extreme rage.

 Those who achieved this form: Gohan, Goku, Vegeta, Brolli

                    Super Saiyan 4

Description:

This stage was made by TOEI Animation and was nothing to do with the original author of Dragonball, Akira Toriyama. During this stage the Saiyan's tail grows back. Their eyes turn yellow with a red outline around the eyes. The palm contains a hole that can absorb energy. Their back and most of their body is covered with red fur. The hair stays black, but gets long, not as long as SSJ 3. And again the Saiyan gets unbelievably powerful. Goku is the only real person to reach this level, but Bulma creates a device that turns Vegeta into a SSJ 4 also. This form is triggered by extreme rage, anger and sorrow.

 Those who achieved this form: Goku and Vegeta