Neko Damashi

"Clap the palms of both hands together in front of your face. Not only can it be used as an attack, but it can also be used to negate projectiles."

—Street Fighter 6

Neko Damashi (猫だまし, Neko Damashi^? Cat Deception) is E. Honda's first V-Skill in Street Fighter V, which returns as a special attack in Street Fighter 6.

Input

Appearance	Function	Input
Street Fighter V	V-Skill I	+
Street Fighter 6	Special Attack	+ (Classic) + (Modern)

Description

Executed by pressing Medium Punch and Medium Kick simultaneously, E. Honda performs a heavy-handed clap that can hit the opponent or negate single-hit projectiles. In Street Fighter 6, the input for this move is changed to pressing down twice and any punch button (or Light Attack for Modern Control).

Tactics

This move gives E. Honda a tool against zoning characters. While it has a 15-frame startup, it can negate any of his opponent's single-hitting projectiles. Additionally, it can be cancelled into E. Honda's special moves on block and on hit. While it requires a hard read and fast reactions, E. Honda can negate his opponent's fireballs while cancelling into Sumo Headbutt to punish them as they are recovering.

Even though his V-Skill is -6 on block, E. Honda can cancel into his Light Hundred Hand Slap, for a true block string and gives him decent frame advantage. Against a two-hitting projectile, E. Honda can use Neko Damashi to cancel the first hit while cancelling into his EX Sumo Headbutt to power through the second hit and punish his opponent during the recovery frames. This attack does not result in a knockdown, unless if it hits an airborne opponent.

Gallery

Street Fighter V

Neko Damashi as it appears in Street Fighter V

Neko Damashi negating projectiles.

Street Fighter 6

Neko Damashi as it appears in Street Fighter 6

Etymology

Nekodamashi, literally "fooling the cat", is an uncommon technique in sumo wrestling where a wrestler claps his hands in front of his face to surprise their opponent and close their eyes momentarily.

Neko Damashi may be named in reference to a Japanese martial arts folktale, The Cat's Eerie Skill (猫の妙術, Neko no Myojutsu). The tale involves a samurai whose house is invaded by tenacious and viciously skilled rat, and fails to dispatch it despite himself being a samurai, leading him to turn to seeking out skilled mouse and rat hunting cats throughout the neighborhood to kill it, but neither can they. The last and successful elder cat, despite the other cats being well versed in cat martial arts and even ki, is able to merely walk up to the rat, and calmly take it by the mouth outside, and discusses his technique with the samurai and the hunting cats in reflection and study, being to "be yourself" and its connection with the state of mushin.