Ryu vs Ken

Ken

A classic match up that I have a lot of problem with since Vanilla until now. No doubt it was an even match up in SF4, but shifting to SSF4 with Ken adding an ultra 2, once Ken has ultra meter it instantly changes the match up. I would say it’s slightly turns into Ken’s favor (5.5:4.5) because Ultra 2 of Ken’s can shut down Ryu’s zoning. Ken has more superior normals compare to Ryu except his low strong. Ken has a faster start up low forward and a WAYYY faster recovery on his sweep even though the start up is not as fast as Ryu’s, but Ken’s unique F.MK covers his slow sweep. Ken’s F.MK has a great range and fast start up allowing him to punish a lot of moves on block. This special kick also allow Ken to do moves like KARA throw (GREAT RANGE), kara uppercut, kara fireball and even kara focus….anyways, enough introduction of Ken’s f.mk. In my opinion, the best strategy in this match up is……….RUN and throw jab fireballs.

Ground Game:

Far Range: Like any other matchups, throw fireball and build meters. Since Ken has a slower start up Hadoken, it is not hard to react and counter with a full screen forward jump air tatsu.

Mid Range: This range Ryu loses to Ken because of slower normals and Ken’s f.mk. It is not a great idea to challenge him in a footsies match…however if you plan to fight him at this range…a timed and spaced low strong of Ryu’s which does beat Ken’s f.mk OR throwing smart fireballs before Ken’s normal hits you are probably the only solution that I know of at this range…

Close Range: This range is as hard as mid range due to Ken’s kara throw/ frame trap mix-ups. You want to option select tech with low strong just so that it’s harder for Ken to do a safe poke string> walk back > kara throw your whiffed normal because he has to walk farther back + you might already recover from your low strong by the time his grab reaches you. However, there’s nothing much you can do against his fierce SRK frame trap but to delay tech and predict it.

Counter:

Hadoken: Tatsu/Forward jump air tatsu or super and ultra 1.

Ex Version: Same as normal version

Hurricane Kick: Doesn’t hit on crouch and can be punished with any moves. On top of that Ken’s hurricane kick does not go through Hadokens.

Ex Version: Same as normal version except it goes through Hadokens.

Shoryuken: Ex SRK

Ex Version: Ex SRK beats this version clean

Against Ultra 1: It’s hard for Ken to land a full animation ultra 1 especially against Ryu. Ken’s Ultra 1 IS an AA ultra, he shouldn’t be able to land a full animated ultra unless you are jumping NOT AFTER a knock down, crumpled by his focus attack or got hit by a counter-hit fierce SRK.

Against Ultra 2: This ultra is so good…..it has great range and it goes through projectiles. Don’t challenge his ultra by throwing projectiles (treat it as Abel’s ultra 1). Ken can also combo into full U2 by linking from Ken’s normal fireball which highly increases his chance of using ultra meter when compared to ultra 1.

On Ryu’s Wakeup:

Ken has this common safe setup on Ryu that almost EVERYBODY uses it and it’s easy to do and effective. Here is the setup: Ken ending his combo into fierce SRK then immediately crosses up with jump LK = Ryu can’t uppercut it. However, Ryu can avoid this setup by NOT doing a quick wake up and just lie on the ground.

Ken has two cross up tatsu setup after his forward throw. The first setup is just simply cross up with LK tatsu and the second is after the forward throw, does a ground tatsu to go behind you and does a neutral jump “air kara tatsu (I don’t know why it’s called kara…)” and that tatsu crosses you up.

Other then these setups Ken’s over heads are very hard to block. Though its only one hit, but it still deals a “decent” damage and it’s very effective when use to finish off an opponent. Beware once you have low life.

Mind games and Option Select:

Not much OS against Ken on his wake up except OS sweep on ground. Ryu does have a safe jump on Ken, however only works if Ken is AA with his MP SRK because it is a 4 frame start up move. (Remember, as long as it’s not a 3 frame move, you can perform a safe jump.) After a forward throw and a back throw, the cross up on ground tatsu setup works on Ken (if you watched my dvd you should know what I am referring to :D)

Things to be aware of:

His forward ex air tatsu contains 2 hits that force you to block high. It’s a very tricky move that I am sure the Ken user himself/herself doesn’t even know if it’s going to one or two hits. Therefore before the ex tatsu actually hits they would be mashing on moves like low jab…sweep, etc. Ken’s cross up air ex tatsu is very hard to AA with SRK. When I was in Japan, there was this Ken player always using his air ex tatsu to bait my SRK and punishes. Therefore whenever I play against a Ken, especially when I have a life lead, I would use low fierce as my AA just so that it beats that weird EX tatsu.

Ken’s jump HK has farther range than Ryu’s jump HK. Which means at a range where Ryu’s jump hk doesn’t reach, Ken’s might hit. Be careful with your Hadokens.

Some sample videos against Ken. Hope these helps.

As always….questions and comments..you know where to go.