Ken — 对策

You can in theory hear the difference, but in practice it's not realistic. The shortcut is the combo rule: each strength of 236K only links from a same-or-higher-strength normal.

• LK does NOT chain into 236MK
• 2MK does NOT chain into 236HK
• 2MK chains into 236MK
• HP chains into 236MK

So assume Ken matches the strength of the cancel source and react from that.

• You can mash before the follow-up — go for it

• Mashing loses to 623MK → LK frame trap
• It becomes an overhead/low yomi, but if the Ken only ever uses the fastest follow-up, fuzzy-block works
  • Punish-counter scaling applies, so set up the punish-counter starter

• The HP → 236K window has a gap — a jab interrupts it (hard but worth it)
  • Even if Ken goes for 236MK instead, that's a true block string so mashing is free
  • Tight execution, big reward — for confident reactors

• If you can't interrupt, hold block and resist the urge to mash
  • When you read a follow-up, Drive Impact is extremely effective
  • Without DI, Ken defaults to fastest 236K → 6LK — keep that in mind

Once practiced you can cover the entire menu.

• Once the OD follow-up starts, hold block rather than mash
• When you read a follow-up, Drive Impact is effective
• Without DI, Ken defaults to the fastest 236KK → 6LK route

Once you are comfortable with all the options, you can cover every branch simultaneously as shown below.

• The HP → 236K window has a gap — a jab interrupts it (hard but worth it)
  • Even if Ken goes for 236MK instead, that's a true block string so mashing is free
  • Tight execution, big reward — for confident reactors

• If you can't interrupt, hold block and resist the urge to mash
• When you read a follow-up, Drive Impact is extremely effective
• Without DI, Ken defaults to the fastest 236K → 6LK

• The L version of Jinrai has a mash window before the follow-up
• From an LK starter, you can interrupt before Kazekama comes out — mash freely

• If you can't mash through Jinrai itself, hold block
• When you read a follow-up, Drive Impact is highly effective
• Without DI, Ken defaults to the fastest 236K → 6LK (Kazekama)

• Mashing loses to 623MK → LK frame trap
• The overhead/low yomi is real, but if Ken only ever uses the fastest follow-up, fuzzy-block works
• Punish-counter scaling applies — set up the punish-counter starter

• If you can't interrupt, hold block
• When you read a follow-up, Drive Impact is highly effective

Just-parry

28F startup is comfortably parry-reactable from a fixed neutral spacing.

Drive Impact

• DI on reaction is a guaranteed punish
• Slow reactions get punished, but practiced reaction is worth it

Standing 4F

• Reactable on paper but very hard in practice
• A late press eats a counter-hit combo — risk-reward is poor
• Just-parry or DI is recommended

Throw range, +1 to Ken. Don't reach for OD reversal or delayed throw-tech here. Pick one of these three:

• Fastest 4F mash
  • Beats Ken's throw
  • Beats his frame trap
• Fastest throw tech
  • Beats his shimmy (watch for jumps)
  • Loses to fastest button — accept the variance
• Just-parry
  • Beats his fastest 4F
  • Loses to throw, so use sparingly
  • The right call once Ken commits to mash punishes

The clip below has Ken set to mash 4F / vertical jump / throw on +1 in repeat:

• L (-23) / M (-28) / H (-36) / OD (-40): always go heavy-starter max combo
• OD blocked = SA3 punish for max
• Drill the four punish recipes in training

• Quick-rise vs. back-rise is the matchup
• Drive-rush oki: quick-rise kills the walk-shimmy mixup

• Walk oki: back-rise kills it
  • Quick-rise here means Ken can shimmy without drive-rush

• Ken sits at +22. Drive-rush gives him full oki
  • Quick-rise: throw lands meaty
  • Back-rise: HP frame-traps mash
• Recommended: back-rise → just-parry HP, or simply hold block since throws don't reach

• Quick-rise kills the walk-shimmy
• Don't autopilot back-rise — quick-rise → reversal / fast drive-rush punishes Ken