A muay thai fighter sports a full back sak yant, or magical tattoo, as he goes through his pre-bout wai kruu. He is also wearing the mongkon headband and the pa-prajiet armband to bring him luck in the ring.

Traditionally sak yants were done by monks believed to have special powers, which were passed on to the wearer of the sak yant. Nowadays you can find them being done in any tattoo shop catering for tourists, but don’t expect those to have magical powers to protect you from life’s dangers !