I really took a lot of time to study what I posted about last time.  The main points I’ve focused on are

• Use more thunder knuckles / Improve my ground game / Jump less
• Backdash to bait attacks or on wakeup

These are techniques that I”m learning to incorporate into my game, and in addition to that I’ve also been trying to pay more attention while playing and sense patterns.  Because of this, however, my reactions are slower and I end up losing more than I usually do.  I imagine these are just growing pains for refining ‘dat Yomi.

I recently moved to a different PSN account and levelled it up to G2 in Championship mode, just because G1 is virtually empty and impossible to get a good connection.  While in G2 the players will be a lot less skilled, at least I’ll get to play.  I intend to visit Dorion’s more often too to substitute for online, so Dorion = Quality and Online = Quantity.

The most notable of my sessions recently is a session I had with ConQueso, online.  He played various characters that I pretty much tore through, except for Blanka and Honda.  For some reason (and this applied to ST/HDR and Alpha), I do terrible against downback characters.  Honda is already a terrible matchup for Viper, but Blanka I really shouldn’t be having so much trouble with.  Most of the problems I have with Blanka involve wakeup.  And while the three Blankas that come to mind all have ways of attacking me when I’m knocked down, each one has a different strategy and thus a different counter I need to be mindful of.  Louie = Backdash, ConQueso = Neutral jump (?), Eric = Block.

Going back to how I’ve been trying to improve lately, I have been playing online a lot against beginner players like Nathan and Austin.  Following Zaine’s advice, I’ve started utilizing TK rushdowns.  Rather than focusing on knockdowns and okizeme games via burning kicks, I’ve found that pressuring and overwhelming the opponent with Thunder Knuckles, feints, c.MKs, and Viper Elbows results in lots of dizzies.  I have various strings that I’ve been utilizing after landing the initial m.TK:

• Feint
• Viper Elbow (High)
• c.MK (Low)
• Jump over, reverse Burning Kick
• c.MP
• Crossup BK (If spacing is correct)

Each of these can be done one after another or strung together at random.  A sample string that I like using is c.MP xx m.TK, c.MK xx Feint, Viper Elbow, c.MK m.TK, repeat.

If I can get into a situation where I can execute a string like this, I’ve pretty much won the round.  It nearly always results in a dizzy, which then leads me to either a FFF or an Ultra combo.

Speaking of FFF, I’m sad to say that my progress in it hasn’t been the greatest as of late.  I resolved myself to learning FFF over winter break, but the most I’ve got is a 30% chance on the 2P side and an 80% chance on the 1P side.  I need to go back and practice this more.  Also, my SJC FADC works the majority of the time on the 2P side, but while I can execute it flawlessly on the 1P side, I nearly always screw it up in a real match.  In short, execution-wise my two areas of focus need to be

• FFF, 2P Side
• SJC FADC, 1P Side
• And while we’re at it, practice plinking the sweep after the SJC FADC.

In other news, I’ve been fooling around with Ken recently.  I learned to Kara Throw (It’s basically plinking!) and learned a worked on of Ken’s combos/links:

• c.LK, c.LK, c.LP, h.SRK <- Link
• c.LK, c.LP, s.LP, c.MK xx EX Tatsu
• c.LP, c.LP, c.MK xx Hadouken
• c.LP, c.LP, c.LP, Kara Throw

Dorion and Sabre have instituted a new training regimen that will begin next week.  I’m excited to participate in it: http://www.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=222828