Liu Kang is the main hero in Mortal Kombat

With lightning fast fury and unwavering honor, Liu Kang has cemented himself as Mortal Kombat‘s most iconic hero and Earthrealm‘s greatest champion. As a Shaolin monk trained in the ancient arts of kombat, Liu Kang lives to protect our realm from the forces of evil – whether they be sorcerers, conquerors or even gods.

Origins: Humble Beginnings as an Orphan Trained by the Shaolin

Before he was "The Chosen One", Liu Kang had humble beginnings. Orphaned as a young child, he was taken in by the spiritual Shaolin order – a sacred clan of monks disciplined in the martial arts. Under the guidance of masters like Bo‘ Rai Cho, Liu Kang‘s outstanding athletic talents and moral compass soon shone through. He honed his reflexes through rigorous training and obtained mastery over the flying kick and bicycle kick techniques that would become his hallmarks.

“He struggles with the enormity of the tasks before him but within him resides the mother of all virtues – Hope” – MK4 bio card

The Shaolin saw Liu Kang as the embodiment of their teachings and believed he was destined to represent the virtues of Earthrealm kombatants in the tournament held every generation. While Liu Kang struggled with living up to such grand expectations, his inner hope and determination ultimately guided him down the hero‘s path.

Key Moments: Proving Himself as the True Champion of Mortal Kombat

When he debuted in the first ever tournament, few could have predicted that the unassuming Shaolin Liu Kang would go on to decide the fates of realms time and time again.

Defeating Shang Tsung (MK1)

By defeating the powerful sorcerer Shang Tsung, Liu Kang earned the title of Grand Champion and saved Earthrealm‘s freedom for another generation. More importantly, this victory cemented his status as a Mortal Kombat icon forever.

Thwarting Shao Kahn‘s Schemes (MK2/MK3)

When the megalomaniacal Emperor Shao Kahn threatened Earthrealm by force, Liu Kang fought valiantly to repel the invasion. Though Shao Kahn battered him within an inch of his life, Liu Kang once again prevailed – proving himself as Earthrealm‘s mightiest protector.

Becoming an Elder God (Deception)

In an alternative timeline, Liu Kang is promoted to Elder God status after single-handedly defeating Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. Though he initially enjoys his newfound power, Kang soon becomes corrupted and descends into madness – showing that even gods can fall without proper wisdom.

Given New Life as a Revenant (MKX)

In one of his most tragic moments, a battle with Raiden ends with Liu Kang being involuntarily transformed into a dark Revenant sent to lead Netherrealm‘s undead legion. Despite this fate, a spark of his old nobility still remains – foreshadowing his eventual restoration as the chosen hero.

Passionate Warrior Spirit: Liu Kang‘s Iconic Powers and Fighting Style

As a warrior monk, Liu Kang utilizes a passionate fighting style that mixes grace and fury in equal measures. He is a master of Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu as well as his Shaolin temple‘s unique techniques. Though he lacks the raw strength of brawlers like Jax, Liu Kang‘s arsenal of swift kicks, fiery fists and fluid combinations make him a lethal combatant.

Special Moves

• Flying Kick: Liu Kang launches himself feet first like a missile striking the opponent. One of his most iconic maneuvers.
• Dragon Fire: He erupts flames from his palms ala the mystical Mortal Kombat dragon.
• Bicycle Kick: By gracefully spinning his entire body mid-air, Liu Kang batter opponents with relentless aerial kicks.

Variations

In recent games, Liu Kang can customize his playstyle further via different fighting variations:

• Dragon‘s Fire: Enhances his pyrokinetic abilities with empowered fireballs and flaming wakeups.
• Dualist: Wields his signature nunchucks in a more weapon-based moveset.
• Paragon: Focuses purely on Liu Kang‘s Shaolin martial arts for a very traditional playstyle.

Fatalities

While he rarely indulges in excess violence, Liu Kang has performed some memorable fatalities against foes like Shang Tsung and Goro:

• Dragon Bite: Liu Kang transforms into an ethereal dragon and consumes the opponent whole.
• Soul Invasion: He enters the victim‘s body and violently explodes their upper half from within.
• Arcade Drop: An original finisher where he quite literally uppercuts foes right out of the arcade cabinet screen.

The One True Hero: Liu Kang‘s Legacy Across the Franchise

Across alternate histories, different generations and both life and death – no other kombatant comes close to Liu Kang‘s central role in shaping Mortal Kombat‘s epic narrative. He stands apart from even series mainstays like Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Raiden when looking at his impact safeguarding all of reality multiple times over. Some key accolades include:

• Defeated Shang Tsung to become the first MK champion (5 generations in a row!)
• Saved Earthrealm from Outworld‘s Emperor Shao Kahn twice
• Died protecting his mentor Raiden, helping awaken the god‘s true power
• Reborn as one of the game‘s ultimate boss characters in MK11
• Will oversee all realms and timelines as a new Elder God in coming eras

By defeating mythical fighters, resisting corruption and transcending death itself time and again, Liu Kang‘s heroics lift him to legendary status with every new generation. And this immortal champion of Mortal Kombat may just be getting started…

The Eternal Hero: Liu Kang Stands Ready for Every New Threat

For over 25 years and counting, Liu Kang has proven himself as Mortal Kombat‘s quintessential hero – whether defending the realm as champion or defying the odds as a reinvigorated god. His mastery of martial arts only matches his champion spirit deep within; the same force of hope and determination that turns him into the pivotal hero whenever crisis strikes the realms.

As both longtime fans and newcomers to the iconic fighting game franchise, we are living in the age of Liu Kang‘s legend thanks to his peerless impact. With threats like Kronika now rewriting all of existence, his resolve shall undoubtedly shine through once again against reality‘s end.