Ryu vs Chun Li

Chun Li

Matchup

I personally find this match up pretty fun though it’s a farely tough and annoying match up. In the beginning it’s a fair match up…but once Chun Li gets Ultra 1…and starts turtling like a bitch with perfect anti air…..6:4 match up Chun’s favour. This match up is somewhat similar to Guile’s. Whoever gets the lead and able to hold it wins.

Ground Game:

Far Range: Ryu players can ignore Chun Li at this range only if she has U1. Use this chance to build meter and throw fireballs to push Chun Li near the corner. (Watch out for Chun Li focusing a fireball then dash forward and going over your fireball with her Hazanshu)

Mid Range: This is Chun Li’s best range and Ryu players have to respect it due to her standing strong, sweep and Hazanshu. Chun Li can control/ outplay Ryu at this range with her amazing pokes. Her st.strong can beat Ryu’s low forward and fast enough to stop Ryu from throwing a fireball. Not to forget mentioning about her sweep that can do the same or better job, it’s fast startup + fast recovery + knockdown. Treat her sweep like Balrog’s and Akuma’s. Most of the Chun Lis tend to follow it after low jabs. In this range, you have to fear to throw fireballs because of Chun Li’s Hazanshu which goes over fireball and it is not hard to react. The best solution for Ryu is to use his low strong instead of low forward (of course you don’t NOT want to use your low forward because it’s Ryu’s best normal for footsies, use it when you can hit with max distance). Ryu’s low strong can beat Chun Li’s st.strong, sweep and Hazanshu.

Close Range: This is the range where Ryu wants to be in. A chance to land big damage and basically Chun Li can’t do much but block. However, Chun Li can also be very scary at this range after she knocks you down. With her fast low jabs and shorts into Ex Lightning kicks that deals decent damage and on top of that, also be aware of her FAR throw range.

On Ryu’s Wake Up:

Nothing scary except what I mentioned above about her with low jabs/shorts into throw mixups.

Counter:

Hazanshu: Best to use focus level 2 attacks to crumple for big damage, though it also works focusing the Hazanshu and dash forward to punish, however, timing is strict plus decent reactions are required. If you have sick reactions, react to the move and SRK.

Ex Version: Same as normal.

KiKoken: Can counter this move with early Super, ex fireball and hurricane kick.

Ex Version: Same as normal.

Spinning Bird Kick: Chun Li will not use this move aside from combos.

Ex Version: Can beat it with SRK, Super and Ultra.

Lightning Kick: Chun Li will not use this move only if it’s into combos.  Can punish with sweep or fierce SRK on block.

Ex Version: Same as normal version

Against Ultra 1: When Chun has ultra meter, by all means..NO fireball unless she is walking forward. Don’t forget about her dash forward ultra…so make sure you watch her motion carefully. Moreover, don’t sweep recklessly because IT IS reversal punishable on block.

Against Ultra 2: Nothing too scary about this Ultra when it comes to this match up. Just don’t get combo into ultra J

Mind Games and Option Select:

Alright, in this match up you have to guess which option select to use on her wakeup. Obvious situation like when she has no meter after you knock her down, use hurricane kick as an option select following with a jump in attack. Once she has meters, you might want to choose between safe jump OS hurricane kick which allows u to block her ex SBK or jump in attack OS strong SRK/SUPER/ULTRA to beat the move. OS strong SRK does beat backdash but it depends how close you when you jump in.

Mixing jump in OS with crossup jump ins, empty jumps hitting low or throw to be unpredictable. Don’t forget to use Ryu’s ex hurricane kick as a frame trap which works extremely well against Chun Li.

Things to be aware of:

Majority of the Chun Li would try to keep you out with stand strong which gives her + frame on blocked. They would usually follow with another stand strong /standing roundhouse/ Hazanshu or Kikoken to force Ryu to sit in his place. However they are all counter-able if you can read or react to your opponent correctly.  Also beware of her standing roundhouse kick which has great range but counter-able with standing fierce or sweep and punishable with super on whiff.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you should not jump to her at all when you are leading in life. All you should do is turtle and make minimal mistakes. She can easily anti air or beats Ryu in the air. If you can keep her out properly, her only option is random Hazanshu (don’t forget to expect).

Usually after Chun Li gets out of trouble with a backdash, they would do a Hazanshu or a sweep just to keep you out.

As usual, any questions, comments below or my facebook page. And remember to let me know if I am missing anything.