You’ve seen it on the gloves. On the shorts. On the tee. The intricate geometric artwork that runs through the SKS Empire range — ancient script, sacred symbols, tigers and geometric patterns woven together into something that feels like more than just design.

That’s because it is. What you’re wearing carries over two thousand years of Thai spiritual tradition. It’s called the Sakyant — and every fighter, coach and fan who wears the SKS range is carrying a piece of that history with them.

Here’s the full story.

What Does Sakyant Mean?

The word breaks down simply. Sak — from Thai — means “to strike” or “to tap”. Yant comes from the Sanskrit word Yantra, meaning a sacred geometric instrument or diagram. Put together: a sacred design struck into the skin.

But calling the Sakyant a tattoo barely scratches the surface. It is a spiritual practice — a ceremonial art form rooted in the oldest animist beliefs of Southeast Asia, fused with Brahmanist and Buddhist philosophy over thousands of years. The tradition of sacred tattooing in the region dates back to the third millennium BC.

Each Sakyant is not merely decorative. It is believed to be a living talisman — a direct channel between the wearer and spiritual protection. The designs carry blessings, prayers and spells encoded in ancient Khmer script, geometric patterns and sacred imagery. When a Sakyant is applied by a monk or ordained Ajarn (master), it is accompanied by prayers, ritual and the transfer of spiritual energy. The bond created is believed to last far beyond the physical ink itself.

The Sakyant & Muay Thai

The connection between Sakyant and Muay Thai runs deep — centuries deep. Soldiers and Muay Thai fighters were among the earliest and most devoted wearers of sacred Yant designs, seeking spiritual protection before entering combat. The belief was straightforward and absolute: a warrior bearing a Sakyant could not be harmed by weapons. The designs offered invincibility, courage, and divine protection in battle.

As Muay Thai evolved from a battlefield art into the organised sport it is today, the Sakyant tradition came with it. Fighters at the elite stadiums of Thailand — Rajadamnern and Lumpinee, the same venues SKS Empire sponsors — still bear Sakyant designs today. It remains a rite of passage for many, a visible declaration of commitment to the discipline and a request for spiritual protection before stepping into the ring.

Muay Thai is often described as the “Art of Eight Limbs” — fists, elbows, knees, shins. But the Sakyant adds a ninth dimension: the spirit. For Thai fighters, the two have always been inseparable.

Look closely at the fighters who step into the ring at SKS Empire UK fight nights and you’ll see this tradition alive and well on British soil. A significant number of competitors on our cards carry Sakyant tattoos — worn visibly on their chests, arms, backs and necks as they walk out under the lights at Walsall Football Club. For these fighters, it isn’t decoration. It’s part of their preparation, their identity, and their connection to the art they’ve committed their lives to. The same sacred imagery that has protected Thai warriors for two thousand years is still being carried into competition at SKS Empire shows today.

Key Sakyant Symbols & Their Meanings

There are dozens of Sakyant designs, each carrying its own specific blessing and power. Here are some of the most significant — and most recognisable:

How A Sakyant Is Given

A Sakyant is not simply tattooed. It is bestowed. The process is a sacred ritual — performed by a Buddhist monk or an ordained Ajarn who has studied the tradition for years. The application is traditionally done by hand, with a long metal rod or bamboo spike dipped in sacred ink and tapped rhythmically into the skin.

Throughout the process, the monk or Ajarn chants prayers and mantras, infusing the design with spiritual energy. It is believed that the Sakyant carries not just the physical ink but the intentions, blessings and spiritual power of the practitioner — creating a bond between the giver, the design and the wearer that lasts a lifetime.

Receiving a Sakyant comes with responsibilities. Traditionally, the wearer must observe certain precepts — avoiding disrespectful behaviour, keeping the spirit of the Yant through their conduct. The tattoo is a commitment as much as a protection.

In modern times the tradition has spread well beyond Thailand’s borders — drawing people from around the world to receive a proper Sakyant from a monk or Ajarn. The allure is easy to understand: in an age of mass production and disposable culture, the Sakyant is irreducibly personal, ancient, and alive with meaning.

The Sakyant At SKS Empire

When SKS Empire chose to place the Sakyant at the heart of its premium range, it wasn’t a design decision. It was a statement of identity — a commitment to the roots of Muay Thai and the culture that built it.

The SKS Empire Sakyant artwork draws on the Tiger and sacred geometric traditions — the same protective imagery worn by fighters at Rajadamnern and Lumpinee for generations. Every product in the Sakyant tier of the range carries that lineage with it.

For fighters who want a full coordinated set — gloves, shin guards, shorts and tee — the Sakyant range lets you carry that sacred artwork across everything you wear into training and competition.

Shop the full SKS Empire range →

The next time you lace up your SKS gloves or pull on your Sakyant tee, you’re wearing something with a story that stretches back millennia — through Thai warriors, Muay Thai fighters and the sacred halls of Rajadamnern and Lumpinee. That’s not just kit. That’s heritage.