For those beginning to learn Ultra Street Fighter 4, it can be difficult to know where to begin to become better when so much is out there bombarding the newcomer given the series' long lifespan. I have compiled five quick tips for beginners to get a jump start to learning solid fundamentals. This guide is intended for complete beginners or those that are struggling mightily to win a single match against their local competition.
Anti-air - Stopping an opponent's attempts to approach from the air is one of the core fundamentals of any fighting game, not just Street Fighter. Anti-airing is essentially free damage that must be taken advantage of since most jump attacks can be reacted to and punished if the proper anti-air is utilized. This also means punishing as hard as possible, for example anti-airing with an Ultra, EX move, or an attack that can be juggled for additional damage. In addition to pure damage, anti-airing establishes your ground presence and forces your opponent to play a grounded game. It also leads to knockdowns which give an important advantage that may turn the momentum of any given match.
Don't jump - I'll say it again: Don't jump. Good players start to salivate when they see an opponent jump towards them, because they know they're about to cash in on that free damage I was talking about earlier. As much as you should focus on Anti-air, equally focus on not giving your opponent the same opportunity. These first two points are involved in playing a solid ground game, a key to becoming a solid player and minimizing mistakes while optimizing opportunities.
Know your character - How well do you really know your character? Take this pop quiz: What is your best poke? Your best anti air option? Your optimal ranges? Bad ranges? What is your best air-to-air move? What is a good hit confirm combo? How does my Ultra and/or Super change the match? You must be able to answer these and more about your character before you can start to study match-ups. A good place to start is your optimal range. This is often the range of your character's best poke. For example, Ryu's optimal range is the max low forward range. Knowing this will set your character up to have success, because being in this range will lead to damage and favorable situations.
Don't needlessly corner yourself - Controlling the corner carries a tremendous advantage in Street Fighter. It allows the controlling player to dictate the pace and leisurely press the opponent. When players start out, they have a tendency to jump back or walk back into the corner, making it that much easier for opponents to beat them. In addition, if you have your opponent cornered, do not cross them up-- thereby cornering yourself. The potential reward for relinquishing control of the corner often pales in comparison to simply maintaining control. Controlling the corner can be and often is a winning advantage.
Optimize easy punishes - This involves doing the correct combo at the right time and not dropping it. It seems obvious, but many beginners seem to have this problem. Their go-to punish is often throw or sweep. If you block a highly punishable attack like dragon punch- Start your combo with a heavy move and use your meters to do as much damage as possible as you may not get many big punish opportunities within a single match.
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