Shoryuken

The Shoryuken (昇龍拳, Shouryuuken, "Rising Dragon Fist") is a special attack in the Street Fighter series used by Ryu, Ken, and other Street Fighter characters that train under or imitate the same style.

It was introduced in the original Street Fighter as one of Ryu's two special attacks at the time, the other being his Hadoken.

Description
Executed by moving the stick forward, down, and then down-forward (commonly referred to as a "Shoryuken motion"), the move is a jumping uppercut in which the user spins and rockets upwards with some horizontal movement as well, knocking the opponent to the ground with much damage.

Tactics
This move is an excellent anti-air move, as it usually hits nearly all aerial assaults, and in the hands of good players, this move is very deadly. Ken players, in particular, should familiarize themselves with this move. The Shoryuken is invincible while the fist is rising, but completely vulnerable to counterattack when descending.

Different Variants of Shoryuken

 * Gou Shoryuken (豪昇龍拳, gou shoryuken, "Strong Rising Dragon Fist") - The original Shoryuken, which is a more powerful variation of the regular Shoryuken used by Akuma.
 * Shining Circuit Shoryuken - Cyber Akuma's enhanced variantion of the Gou Shoryuken.
 * Shoryu Reppa (昇龍裂破, shouryuu reppa, "Rising Dragon Destroyer") - A series of two or three Shoryukens that progressively cause more and more damage to an opponent with each hit.
 * Shinryuken (神龍拳, shinryuken, "Divine Dragon Fist") - A Shoryuken that corkscrews vertically into the air, causing a vacuum effect that sucks in the opponent and strikes multiple times.
 * Metsu Shoryuken (滅・昇龍拳, metsu shouryuuken, "Destroying Rising Dragon Fist") - A legendary version of the move seen in the Street Fighter story, when Ryu was near defeat during the first Street Fighter tournament. Two different variations are seen in Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Street Fighter IV.
 * Shin Shoryuken (真・昇龍拳, shin shoryuken, "True Rising Dragon Fist") - The strongest known variant of the Shoryuken, only known and used by Gouken and Ryu.
 * Kinjite Shoryuken (禁じ手・昇龍拳, kinjite shoryuken, "Forbidden Rising Dragon Fist") - A potentially lethal variant based off Goutetsu's original ansatsuken, it is used as a last resort technique by Gouken. An imperfectly executed Shin Shoryuken also resembles the Kinjite Shoryuken, but does not have the same killing potential.
 * Messatsu Gou Shoryuu (滅殺豪昇龍, messatsu gou shoryuu, "Murderous Strong Rising Dragon") - A stronger version of the Shoryu Reppa. While this move does not scorch the opponent, a well-placed Messatsu Gou Shoryu can instantly kill an opponent with the least amount of effort.
 * Hadou Shoryuken (波動・昇龍拳 Surging Rising Dragon Fist) - A Shoryuken empowered by the Hadou. Two different versions of the move exist.

Ryu
Ryu focused on making his Shoryuken hard-hitting, usually hitting in one blow and knocking the opponent on his back. Though still necessarily weaker than Ken's, it is powerful. Ryu's have slightly less aerial range than Ken's, but better recovery time. In Street Fighter Alpha, Ryu began using the Shin Shoryuken. The move was also a part of Ryu's arsenal in Street Fighter III (minus the elbow strike) and Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001. The Metsu Shoryuken, which Ryu scarred Sagat with, also appears in SFA as well. It is visually similar to the Shin Shoryuken minus the second uppercut, and is right-handed instead.
 * Shoryuken
 * Go-Shoryuken  (As Evil Ryu or Mode Change:Akuma in Marvel vs Capcom 1)
 * Shin Shoryuken 
 * Metsu Shoryuken 
 * Messatsu Gou Shoryuu
 * Hadou Shoryuken (Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 only)
 * Shoryu-Reppa (only through Mode Change:Ken in Marvel vs Capcom 1)
 * Shinryuken (only through Mode Change:Ken in Marvel vs Capcom 1)

Ken Masters
Ken prefers this move to finish opponents, as it is a stylish and graceful way to win the match, and has different powerful version of Shouryuken. Ken has focused on this move in order to distinguish himself from his training partner (fitting that, Ryu surpasses him with the Hadoken). In most games, Ken's Fierce Shoryuken (unlike those of other practitioners) also covers a lot of horizontal distance, allowing him to strike an airborne opponent from almost half a screen away. This does, however, give his Shoryuken a good amount of ending lag, making him open for counter-attack if missed and/or blocked. His fierce version also causes his opponent to burn when hit, to reflect Ken's more aggressive fighting style. In SF2, Ken's Super Combo is the Shoryu Reppa, which is a series of Shoryukens; specifically, a light Shoryuken followed by a medium one, and a heavy one imbued with flames.

During the Street Fighter Alpha series, Ken gains the Shinryuken, a Shoryuken that goes straight up, creating a flaming vacuum. In SFIV, he strikes the foe with a Shoryuken, and follows up with a series of kicks and punches before finishing with the titular Shinryuken.


 * Shoryuken
 * Shoryu Reppa
 * Shinryuken
 * Hadou Shoryuken
 * Shin Shoryuken (Namco vs Capcom only)

Akuma
Akuma has a Shoryuken that strikes hard and can score multiple hits, like Ken's (though Akuma's fist doesn't become engulfed in flames), and has the range and overall function property of Ryu. Instead of crouching, however, Akuma launches differently; he directly hits them in the chest then in the chin, then he jumps up and hits them. This property makes the attack quick and hard to block. This property disappeared when Akuma becomes Oni
 * Go-Shoryuken 
 * Messatsu Gou Shoryuu

Cyber Akuma
Akuma's cybernetically enhanced form, featured only in the crossover, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter has much stronger variations of the Shoryuken in comparison to his former self. His basic Shoryuken, dubbed the Shining Circuit Shoryuken can connect upto 10 times up close and setup the opponent for a juggle. Cyber Akuma has his own variation of the Messatsu Gou Shoryuu, dubbed the Scramble Gou Punch. It surpasses the Messatsu Gou Shoryuu every way concievable.
 * Shining Circuit Shoryuken 
 * Scramble Gou Punch 

Oni
Akuma's Shoryuken became stronger when he became Oni, and it bears resembelence to the Shin Shoryuken. The first uppercut will hit the opponent in the mid section, while the jumping uppercut to the chin is performed with the other fist. It deals out 3 hits and good damage, although if the uppercut whiffs it, will turn into a regular Shoryuken that can catch airborne opponents for less damage. Oni's second Ultra Combo in the Street Fighter IV series, the Tenchi Sokaigen concludes with a Shoryuken to the spine of an airborne opponent.
 * Go-Shoryuken
 * Tenchi Sokaigen

Gouken
As evident by his Super and Ultra Combos in Street Fighter IV, Gouken uses them as a last resort, having trained them and honed them to perfection.


 * Shin Shoryuken (True Shoryuken)
 * Kinjite Shoryuken (Forbbiden Shoryuken)

Sakura
Sakura developed her own variation of the Shoryuken, the "Shou'oken", in which she runs at her opponent and finishes with an uppercut. Her Shoryu Reppa-inspired combo Midare Zakura is three of these Shou'oukens back to back.


 * Shou'oken 
 * Midare Zakura

Sean Matsuda
As he has not completed his training with Ken as of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Sean's version of the Shoryuken is incomplete. His "Dragon Smash" involves him jumping like a Shoryuken, and throwing both fists into the air. He does a proper Shouryuken as part of his "Shoryu Cannon" super art (aided by pressing the Punch button repeatedly).
 * Dragon Smash 
 * Shoryu Cannon

Dan
Dan uses his own version of the Shoryuken, the "Koryuken". It is possible that he learned this move during his brief training under Gouken. Dan also has a super move similar to the Shoryu Reppa, the "Koryuu Rekka". 
 * Koryuken 
 * Kouryuu Rekka

Seth
Since Seth can mimic the techniques of other fighters, he has developed his own modified version of the Shoryuken. His unique Shoryuken can be performed multiple times in midair if the initial Shoryuken hits (the motions must be repeated), and looks somewhat similar to a flame-less Shinryuken.
 * Shoryuken

Sprites

 * See Shoryuken/Sprites.

Legacy
The move has been the subject of a very famous rumor and hoax revolving around Ryu's mistranslated quote, "You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance". Sheng Long would later become one of the most well known legends in video game history.

As for the Shoryuken itself, it has since been referenced in various forms of media. The full list can be viewed here.