Muay Thai, otherwise known as "the art of eight limbs" due to its focus on fists, kicks, shins, and elbows equally, is one of the most well-known and powerful martial arts in the world. Recognizable for its traditional wear – the mongkol headband, pra jiad armbands, and hemp rope wrapped around hands and forearms – and unique raised arm and knee stance, it should come as no surprise that Muay Thai has been featured in fighting games for decades.
With flying knees, roundhouse kicks, and sharp elbows and shins, fighting game characters who utilize Muay Thai are instantly intimidating and almost always a popular and strong pick among players.
6 Brad Burns
The handsome Muay Thai champion first appeared in Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution as one of the expansion’s new characters, alongside Goh Hinogami. Unlike other Muay Thai practitioners, Brad is not focused on improving himself and his fighting ability, instead choosing to take part in tournaments primarily to gain the attention of women.
Brad’s personal style of Muay Thai appears similar to boxing, ducking and weaving through his opponent’s offense in order to land devastating punches and elbows. Brad is a master of whiff punishing with his fast, long-ranged punches and kicks, bullying his opponent into cracking under pressure.
5 Adon
Making his first appearance as a non-playable boss character in the original Street Fighter before being granted playable status in Street Fighter Alpha, Adon is a Muay Thai fighter who seeks strength above all else. Previously a student of the legendary Sagat, Adon became furious at Sagat for losing to Ryu and distanced himself from his master, walking his own path of arrogance to become the strongest Muay Thai fighter there is.
Adon’s variation of Muay Thai is incredibly acrobatic, allowing him to fly through the air to mix up opponents with high-speed attacks that are difficult to react to. His Jaguar Kick and Rising Jaguar both let Adon approach the opponent and control the airspace, while Jaguar Tooth sees him leap off the edge of the screen itself to land with a powerful dive kick.
4 Bruce
First appearing in Tekken 2, Bruce took to training himself in Muay Thai to protect himself as a vulnerable orphan. Over time, Bruce used this training to take part in underground tournaments and become a heavyweight champion. Eventually, a chance encounter with Kazuya Mishima during his war efforts led to Bruce working under his wing as hired muscle.
Bruce uses a brutal form of Muay Thai, relying on pure strength, mastery of the art, and underhanded techniques to stand against Tekken’s varied cast of demons and non-humans. Despite being missing in Tekken 7, Bruce could still make a grand reappearance in Tekken 8.
3 Joe Higashi
Hailing from the Fatal Fury and King of Fighters franchises, Joe is a Japanese martial artist who lives to develop his body and fighting style, yet maintains a light-hearted and jokey personality. He trained for much of his life in Thailand, honing the art of Muay Thai, before eventually heading to South Town to prove his skills in the King of Fighters Tournament.
Joe fights using many Muay Thai staples such as high roundhouse kicks and flying knees, but is unique in his ability to summon howling wind and blazing fire alongside them. His Hurricane Upper launches a fast-moving tornado at his opponents, while his Tiger Kick and Slash Kick imbue his legs with flames to knock the opponent down in a fiery blaze.
2 Fahkumram
Making his debut as part of Tekken 7’s Season Pass 3, Fahkumram is a towering giant of a man, using his massive stature to grant huge reach and power in his Muay Thai techniques. After being struck by lightning as a child, Fahkumram would go on to become a Muay Thai champion at only 18 before being taken in by the military and forced to take part in underground fighting rings. The three scars upon his face are a mark of this time, as they were left by a tiger he had no choice but to fight.
Fahkumram’s incredible power manifests in gameplay through long pokes, control of neutral and an excellent mix-up game. Several of his moves can be charged to force an opponent’s guard to break, making him immensely threatening when opponents are pressed against the wall. Fahkumram can even power himself up by imbuing himself with lightning, increasing the devastation of many of his moves.
1 Sagat
First appearing as the final boss of the original Street Fighter, Sagat is a Street Fighter staple. As one of the largest characters in the series, Sagat is an inherently intimidating foe, deserving of his titles as both the Emperor of Muay Thai and a former King of Shadaloo. Yet, after his defeat at the hands of Ryu, which left him with a lifelong scar, Sagat took upon a change of heart and began using his trained strength for the greater good, even deliberately losing fights to satisfy his enemies’ revenge.
Sagat’s huge frame grants him fantastic neutral and offense, dealing heavy damage while also succeeding in keeping his opponents away. His Tiger Shot projectiles are some of the best in the series for maintaining distance and chipping away at health, while his Tiger Uppercut and Tiger Knee are both powerful tools for punishing opponents who jump in and rush at him prematurely.