Liu Kang

Liu Kang
Mortal Kombat character
Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat X (2015)
First game	Mortal Kombat (1992)
Created by	Ed Boon and John Tobias
Designed by	John Tobias (early games) Luis Mangubat (MK:D/MK:A) Mark Lappin (MK:SM) Atomhawk Design (MK2011) Marco Nelor (MKX) Susan Mazer (The Journey Begins) Ha Nguyen (first film) Lynell Forestall (MK:DotR) Jennifer L. Parsons (Annihilation) Lisa Tomczeszyn (Legacy)
Voiced by	Josh Tsui (MK4) Tom Choi (MKvDCU, MK2011, MKX) Randy Hamilton (The Journey Begins) (MK: DotR)
Motion capture	Carlos Pesina (MK:A/MK:D) Lawrence Kern (MKvDCU, MK2011)
Portrayed by	Ho Sung Pak (MK, MKII) Eddie Wong (MK3, UMK3, MKT) Robin Shou (films) Carmichael Simon, Jon Valera, Michael Li, Allan Sandoval (Live Tour) Brian Tee (Legacy)
Fictional profile
Origin	Earthrealm (China)
Fighting styles	Pao Chui (MK:D) Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do (MK:D, MK:A, MK:SM) Choy Lay Fut (MK:SM) Monkey (MK:SM) Dragon (MK:SM) Shaolinquan (MK:SM)
Weapon	Dragon Sword (MK4, MKG) Nunchaku (MK:D, MK:A)

Liu Kang (Chinese: 劉鋼; pinyin: Liúgāng) is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Mortal Kombat fighting game series from Midway Games, introduced as one of the original seven player characters in the 1992 first game as a Shaolin monk who enters the Mortal Kombat tournament to save Earthrealm (Earth). Since his victory in the tournament, Liu Kang becomes the Mortal Kombat series' hero as the champion and chief defender of Earthrealm guided by his mentor, the thunder god Raiden. He also becomes romantically involved with Princess Kitana, the adopted daughter of evil Outworld emperor named Shao Kahn.

Designed with special moves intended to be easier to perform than the moves of other characters, Liu Kang has appeared in many of the Mortal Kombat fighting installments, in addition to starring with Kung Lao as the title characters of the action-adventure game Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, and being among the eleven series characters representing the franchise in the crossover game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. Liu Kang has extensively featured in alternate Mortal Kombat media and official merchandise, serving as the primary protagonist of the two feature-length films and the Malibu Comics comic book adaptations, in addition to supporting roles in other media such as the 1995 Mortal Kombat novel and the animated series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm. Critical and general reception of the character has been mainly favorable, although various aspects have been criticized.