Pro Street Fighter Player Michael 'BrolyLegs' Begum Has Died at 35

Michael Begum, known as «BrolyLegs» among the fighting game community, has passed away at age 35. BrolyLegs leaves behind a legacy of perseverance through a condition that led him to greatness as a competitive video gamer.

Born in 1988, BrolyLegs was diagnosed with arthrogryposis, a condition that severely impacted the development of his muscles and joints. Doctors confirmed, shortly after he was born, that he would never walk. As he grew up, the limited ability to flex and extend led to his back developing scoliosis. Despite this, he became a champion Street Fighter player. Michael Begum chose the gamer pseudonym «BrolyLegs,» named after the powerful character Broly from Dragon Ball Z.

Of all the ways to get around his condition, BrolyLegs would play using the only part of his body he could fully control — his face. Using the limited mobility of his underdeveloped arms and the help of a contraption to keep the controller in place, he learned to play, starting with Super Mario Bros. 3. During his teenage years, BrolyLegs took a step out of casual play and tried his luck with the more competitive title Super Smash Bros. Melee. His competitive spirit drove him even further.

BrolyLegs' most prominent title is as the reigning Chun-Li player of Ultra Street Fighter 4 (Xbox 360 version). For many years, he competed in tournaments alongside hundreds of players from around the world. His disability never prevented him from taking up a controller and getting into the game. His expertise with Chun-Li in the Street Fighter games was incredibly impressive.

His book, My Life Beyond The Floor, tells his side of the story of growing up with arthrogryposis. His father was a mechanic, who built him an electric wheelchair, rigs, and other contraptions to help him get around. When it came to video games, BrolyLegs had a unique style of using his cheek, tongue, and lower lip to press the buttons on the controller. He became so talented with it that he could execute complicated combos in St