Is Yamcha a Saiyan?

Yamcha is everyone’s favourite underdog, and I’m sure everyone has their own favourite Yamcha Meme! He’s been friends with Goku for many years and even shares a similar appearance to Goku, with his Orange Gi Suit, pale skin and wild bushy hair. However, it’s a widely known fact that Goku is a Saiyan, so is Yamcha a Saiyan as well?

No, Yamcha is not a Saiyan. Yamcha is human. He wears an orange Gi similar to Goku’s because they were both students of the Turtle School, and although Yamcha looks similar to Goku, they are of a different race.

Yamcha’s Race – Is Yamcha human?

Yes! Yamcha is human. If the Dragon Ball Z Yamcha character looks likes a human, sounds like a human, and smells like a human, then it’s probably a human…unless, of course, it’s a Saiyan who looks suspiciously similar to humans.

Yamcha isn’t just any human, but he is one of the strongest humans alive due to his mastery of Ki, allowing him to smash the competition when it comes to baseball.

Due to Yamcha’s superhuman strength, some people may think he isn’t human, but he is just one of the few human’s who studied Ki in a martial arts school such as the Turtle School.

Can Yamcha go Super Saiyan?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Yamcha will ever be able to become Super Saiyan.

It seems that it’s a transformation exclusively for Saiyans, and there doesn’t seem to be any equivalents coming for humans.

We explored in another article ways in which another Earthling Krillin could possibly become a Super Saiyan, so be sure to read the article here to find out how Yamcha could potentially become a Super Saiyan.

Why does Yamcha look so similar to Goku?

I have to confess. When I first watched Dragon Ball Z, I thought Yamcha and Goku were maybe brothers.

Mainly because they both wore those cool orange Karate outfits, were a similar height, and both liked to fight. It is, after all, a massive coincidence that Humans from Earth and Saiyans from Planet Vegeta both look exactly the same and have enough shared genetic history to be able to create half-Saiyans like Gohan and Trunks.

But no explanation is given in-universe, so we just have to accept that although Yamcha and Goku look similar (at least more similar than Goku and Frieza look!) Yamcha is most definitely not a Saiyan.

Even though Yamcha is pretty conclusively a human, there’s a small part of me that hopes that Yamcha is revealed to be a secret Saiyan who doesn’t have a tail or Zenkai boost. Imagine Yamcha showing up with an even more power Super Saiyan transformation and kicking Goku’s and Vegeta’s ass without breaking a sweat…but then I wake up from my crazy dream where Yamcha can win a fight against anyone other than Master Roshi’s Turtle.