Minami Step Analysis of Doom!

What is your favorite step? Even though you don't like Akira and nor play as him, you probably have heard about the Minami step which made Minami Akira one of most famous Akira players in Japan.

(Actually, the name Minami had been famous way before Minami Akira due to the Kage player in a bit different passion. Oh, well)

What I realized while studying the step was the step alone doesn't improve your Akira skill as much as you want. In order to the step to be effective, you will need solid understanding of the game, a good fuzzy guarding skill, and most importantly, lots of practices.
(well, what doesn't need practices?)

Now, making the intro short, I will start the analysis.

1. Basic.

As the basics of Minami steps, you need these 2
steps.

(hold)

, then neutral

The essence of the step comes from these two, and applications of those is the reason why his step looks and works different from the others players'.

[Hold]

, neutal is used to get closer to opponents when opponents have advantages.

Here, normally other Akira players use

to cancle the step, but it leaves Akira just standing there.

On the other hand, Minami does

[hold]

then neutral. It actually has some meanings in it.

First of all, the motion looks unusual. If it is done right,
in the opponents point of view, it seems like Akira is cancling crouch dashes twice. But, Akira doesn't come as close to the opponent as when two crouch dashes are cancled. The opponent gets suprised.

In the situation above,

is what Minami does.

The purpose of the step is makeing opponents confused and not know what to do for a short period of time. Moreover, if opponents try to use standing

for poking, due to the timing of the step, the punch will whiff, and Akira will be standing right afterward. If opponents try to do low attacks, there is a timing Akira can easily block it. (If you try out the step, you will be able to see it)

When Akira uses this, opponents will have hard time
doing fuzzy guard while going back. In order to deal with the step, the opponent has to use mid attacks quickly. Therefore, it works well against the players who play defensively. The mid attacks opponents do can be guarded with experience. (You need some fuzzy guard skill here , and Minami guards it well.)

is good in a close and mid distiance. This one is like a sword with two sides.
If you do it in a wrong situation, you can get hit while going backward. This step helps you to retreat about 0.5 inches. If you get used to doing it and use it properly, in a close distance, you can provoke your opponent's elbows and make it whiff.

2. More in depth.

Minami wonders around the ring but attacks well while
doesn't get hit much. Does Minami uses step all the time? The answer is no. Minami doesn't use the steps in a very close distance. These are the situations, when Minami doesn't use the steps much.

-Disadvataged situations.
Rather than using his step, In a mid distance( the distace where

s can reach.), Minami does fuzzy guard very quickly to get out of situation. He rarely
uses the opposite nitaku in disadvantaged situations, and if he sees opponents coming toward him, he uses fast attacks such as standing

to interupt attacks.

and then, when he sees an opening, he retreats with

[neutral] or

.

After that, when he gets suitable distance or the opponent's adavantage has gone, he uses his steps to make the game in his pace.

3. Utilization.

If the basic two steps are mastered, you can apply it in a real battle. You need to practice it to be able to use it apporopriately. Not to mention. recognizing opponents pattern and the space is very important.

: In a mid distance, when opponents are more focusing on defense than offense.
Things you can do after the step: Throw or standing

to get initiative.

: while crouch forward dashing, retreat a bit to see what your opponent does.

(n)

: Throw when your opponent got froze.

(n)

: Variation of throw

: when the opponent try to poke or somethig.

: To keep more pressure on the opponent

: crouch dash forward while backdashing.

: to retreate long distance.

: Going back and forth.

: Keep retreating defensively.

: Dashing forward

:Forward dashing into a backdash

4. Application.
Here is the real battle applications.

In an elbow distance:

(n)

In the distance which DE can reach the opponent
:

(quickly)(n)

In a disadvantaged situation. (When you are being attacked by an elbow or something)
:Quick fuzzy guarding. When Minami sees the opponent coming toward him, he uses a fast attack(mainly punches) to interupt.

And then, when there is an opening, retreat by using

(n) or

In a mid range with adavantage,

(SDE)

Coming toward the opponent with slight advantages.

(DE)
-> It will make the attack a bit delayed for creating of confusion.

In a close or mid range with an uncertain situation.

(n)

-> Minami hardly use a low punch if there is a mid range distance between him and opponent.

In a long distance, when both playes use step to find an opening.

(n)

-> While spacing, Minami uses

which is safe and sabakies low punch.

In a mid range with slight advanges.

(n).

Fuzzy guard

Get more safe while doing steps With the fuzzy guard at the end, and move freely afterward.

: Use of defensive

. (I.e against Shun)

: simply showing off

: again simply for showing off. He does it after rounds.

5.After notes.
:Even though, I am posting this for the purpose of sharing infor with VFDC members, this doesn't mean
I can do all the steps. I think my left hand may need a repair for this.

Even though it wouldn't be myself, but It would be still great to see people on this site master the step and use it freely at gatherings since now infors are out here. I encourage you to try this steps out since eventhough you don't get all of them, it is still useful in many ways.

Thank you Hakbumo Akira for providing information, and if you have comments or question, feel free to post here or PM me.

Posted by maddy on 25/08/2003

Edited by Myke on 16/04/2005