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Ryu SF2-Senpukyaku Sprites

Sprites of Ryu performing a Senpukyaku from Street Fighter II: The World Warrior.

"A kick with long reach. Useful as a counter to an opponent's sweeps."
Street Fighter 6

The Senpukyaku (旋風脚 Senpuukyaku?, "Whirlwind Leg") is a unique attack used by Ryu, Akuma and Evil Ryu. It only appears in the Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter EX and Marvel vs. Capcom series. In Street Fighter EX Plus, Cycloid Beta can also use it. It returns in Street Fighter 6 under the name Whirlwind Kick.

Yun and Yang also possess a move with the same name in all of their appearances, though it is completely different, based on a real-life move in Chinese martial arts.

Input
Appearance Function Input
Most appearances Unique Attack Forward+Medium kick
Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Unique Attack Forward+Hard attack
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Back Aerial Arcade Modifier AirBackward+A button
Street Fighter 6
(Classic)
Unique Attack Arcade-Stick-Right+Arcade-Button-HKick
Street Fighter 6
(Modern)
Unique Attack Arcade-Stick-Right+Modern H

Description[]

Both are executed by moving forward and pressing medium kick.

Ryu and Akuma[]

The user leaps forward in an arc with an outward spin kick aimed at the opponent's head, in a similar motion to a Tatsumaki and is also used mostly for their vertical jumping HK/heavy kick animations (also for Ken). It is most likely the precursor to the said Tatsumaki series of techniques as it is very similar in motion, though without the "ki tornado" that allows the user to repeatedly soar through the air with successive spins.

Most notably, Akuma's version will hit on slightly later frames with a lower hitbox due to how his jumping arc is handled differently compared to Ryu's. In the Street Fighter EX games, the user instead hops with a back spin kick forward while slanted a bit back.

In its appearance as one of Akuma's unique attacks in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Akuma flies more straight in the air as opposed to in an arc.

In its appearance in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, a reversed version of this move is used as Ryu's back aerial, which references the version of it that is executed during a vertical jump in the original Street Fighter games as a jumping medium kick or heavy kick, depending on the title.

Evil Ryu[]

Visual-wise, Evil Ryu's "Senpukyaku" is strongly resembles Ryu's variation from the Street Fighter EX series. Mechanic-wise, though in-game is called Senbukyaku. it is a much better command normal as not only it has all the traits the normal Senpukyaku has, it is also one of the few moves that can kara cancel into the Shun Goku Satsu.

Yun and Yang[]

The user leaps at an arc and performs an inward swinging-turn kick that hits overhead. This version of the technique is themed after the inward-turn-kick of the same name in Chinese martial arts, which in Chinese pinyin is known as "Xuanfengjiao" (as "Senpuukyaku" is the move's name in Japanese on'yomi). It is also known as a 540 kick.

Tactics[]

The leap allows the move to go over most low attacks (as a staple "low crushing" tool), as well as being a primary tool for both Ryu and Akuma to leap at opponents to close the distance with a quick-recovering attack to stuff pokes with (or to use as a solid meaty on the foe's getup animation). The Lee brothers' Senpukyaku also makes for a solid mixup tool due to hitting overhead and when combined with their respective Genei Jin/Seiei Enbu for added pressure.

However, both different versions are plagued with slow start-up, which makes them very easy to beat out when not spaced properly against faster pokes, which also makes them risky tools to use in neutral.

Evil Ryu's Senpukyaku gains a massive notoriety in Super Street Fighter IV. In high-level play, the player can 'mask' the lengthy input command of the Shun Goku Satsu and its obviously telegraphed animations by rapidly buffering the input during the spinning portion of the Senpukyaku, executing the move right before the kick connects (as the Raging Demon is a command grab move, it will missed if the opponent is in any state other than neutral i.e. hitstun, blockstun or airborne). If done correctly, the opponent will be left with only two choices: either they do not block the Senpukyaku and take damage, or they block the attack and risk eating the point-blank Shun Goku Satsu instead, with virtually no time to react or jump away.

Other Appareances[]

  • The attack is also mentioned in the official profile of BelleStarmon, a Digimon based on Belle Starr, a notorious American outlaw.
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