Sagat

Origins

Sagat’s story starts when he was only a teenager. Sagat grew up in Thailand, where the style of fighting of Muay Tai was greatly revered and he had learned it since he could walk. The title of Emperor of Muay Thai was the most honorable accolade a Muay Thai fighter could possibly receive and the bearer of this title was seen as a national hero. Sagat challenged the reigning Emperor of Muay Thai, Nuah Kahn to a fight for his title. Sagat won the battle and became the new Emperor of Muay Thai. Sagat later defended his title of Emperor of Muay Thai against Go Hibiki, the father of Dan Hibiki. Go would wound Sagat’s right eye and in return, Sagat viciously killed Go, causing him to win the fight. Dan swore revenge upon Sagat.

Sagat then hosted a World Warrior tournament, but Ryu ended his reign when he tapped into the Satsu No Hadou and used the Mestu Shoryuken on the Muay Thai emperor, giving him his trademark scar in the process. Later, Sagat’s former pupil Adon challenged his master for the title of Emperor of Muay Thai and won, but not before Sagat had injured the younger man in the process.

The aftermath of the battle left Sagat a broken angry man and he was approached by M. Bison who offered him Shadaloo resources to find Ryu and have his revenge for his service. Sagat’s nearly indomitable power brought him up to position as Bison’s right-hand man. As Bison’s personal bodyguard, Sagat would fight second to Bison himself in the second World Warrior tournament.

Creation

Sagat was created by Takashi Nishiyama and Keiji Inafune.

Character Evolution

Before the popularity of the Street Fighter series, Sagat was known only as the final boss of Street Fighter. Sagat’s origins and personality would later be expanded in the later video games and other media such as the comics and animated movies.

After losing to Ryu in the first World Warrior tournament, Sagat was consumed by revenge. He joined Shadoloo in hopes to have a chance to face Ryu again. He later got the chance to fight Ryu again, but it was when Ryu was brainwashed by M. Bison. When Ryu was freed from Bison’s control, Sagat learned to let go of his hatred for Ryu and saw him as a rival than an enemy.

Major Story Arcs

Udon Comics

In the Udon comics version, Sagat’s origins are slightly changed. In Street Fighter Legends: Chun Li, Sagat is working for M. Bison under his Shadaloo Hong Kong division to steal ancient statues of the terracotta warriors so that Bison could harness their psychic energy for the Psycho Drive. When Sagat learns that a karate master named Go Hibiki was causing trouble with his men, Sagat personally went to the master’s dojo to test his skills. Sagat easily defeated Hibiki, but was caught off guard when Hibiki came from behind and wounded his right eye. In rage, Sagat killed Go. Sagat later received treatment at the hospital and later escaped. He later donned an eyepatch to cover his injured right eye.

Sagat then learned that Dorai, a detective with Interpol was on his trail and decided to speed things up with the heist, along with sending armed men to kill Dorai. Unfortunately, things did not go as planed, and as Sagat was readying to transfer the statues at the harbor, Dorai showed up along with her daughter, Chun Li and her partner Po Lin. Sagat managed to escape in a submarine with six of the statues.

Later in the submarine, Sagat received a vision of the future of his defeat against a warrior. Seeing that the statues were too powerful for anyone to handle, Sagat destroyed them and told M. Bison that the mission was a failure.

Powers and Abilities

Renowned as The Emperor of Muay Thai, Sagat is a powerful Muay Thai fighter. Because of his height, he can attack in long range. His hands are so big, he can grab his opponents by their heads. Despite being blind in one eye, it has not diminished his capabilities. He created a number of attacks with the majority being tiger themed such as:

Tiger Shot: an energy blast attack that can be used standing or crouched

Tiger Knee (or Tiger Knee Crush): a flying knee attack

Tiger Uppercut (or Tiger Blow): an uppercut similar to the Shoryuken. After receiving his scar from Ryu’s Shoryuken, Sagat developed this technique to counter it.

Tiger Genocide: a move that combines the Tiger Knee and follows it up with a Tiger Uppercut.

Tiger Destruction: A powerful version of the Tiger Genocide that combines the Tiger Knee, Tiger Uppercut, and followed by a flaming Tiger Uppercut.

Tiger Cannon: A more powerful version of the Tiger Shot.

Characteristics

• Height: 7’5″
• Weight: 330 lbs

• Nationality: Thai
• Martial Art: Muay Thai

Other Media

Film and Animation

Sagat appeared in the live action film, Street Fighter. In this version, his full name was Victor Sagat, and instead of the rival of Ryu, he was the rival of Ken. He was portrayed by Wes Studi.

Sagat also appeared in Street fighter II: The Animated Movie as a minor role. He was seen in the opening movie fighting Ryu, both receiving his trademark scar and losing to Ryu. He later appears by M. Bison’s side requesting to be sent out to find Ryu to have a rematch.

Video games

• Street Fighter (first appearance)

• Street Fighter II

• Street Fighter II Champion Edition

• Street Fighter II Turbo Hyper Fighting

• Super Street Fighter II

• Super Street Fighter II Turbo

• Super Street Fighter II Revival

• Street Fighter IV
• Super Street Fighter IV
• Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition
• Street Fighter Alpha
• Street Fighter Alpha 2

• Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold

• Street Fighter Alpha 3

• Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper

• Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max

• Street Fighter Alpha Anthology

• Street Fighter EX 2

• Street Fighter EX 2

• Street Fighter EX 3

• Capcom vs SNK

• Capcom vs SNK Pro

• Capcom vs SNK 2

• Capcom Classic Collection Reloaded

• Capcom Classics Collection: Volume 2

• SNK vs Capcom: Chaos

• Street Fighter vs Tekken