ice-9's Lion Dojo
(Version C)

Essential Okizeme

Okizeme is the art of applying pressure to a grounded opponent. Lion has an extremely strong okizeme game and a good Lion player is one who knows how to keep his opponent on the ground. This article will cover the most important aspects of Lion's okizeme game.

Quick Rolling and Tech Rising

Generally, when Lion knocks an opponent and the opponent QR/TRs, Lion can resort to a basic nitaku game of f+K+G and a throw. f+K+G is especially effective against QR since it is a circular middle attack that can hit an opponent early in a QR, an opponent dodge throw escaping, an opponent crouching, or an opponent attempting to recover with an attack. The only thing a well timed f+K+G doesn't beat is a QR recovered block standing, by which then Lion should try to throw. Actually, I lied, as the f+K+G won't beat an opponent that doesn't QR/TR and just lies on the ground. At that point, go for the pounce. Lion's pounce is good enough in that you can afford to wait a fraction of a second to see if the opponent will QR/TR; delayed this way, a pounce could even end up as a counter hit against an attempted rising kick.

Rising Kicks

Generally, you should be concerned about two types of rising kicks: low and high. Lion has an excellent weapon to deal with each.

Against the low rising attack, you can use Lion's u+K,K. This is a good option since even if the opponent does not choose to do a rising attack, and if he does not dodge towards Lion's back, the u+K will be blocked and you are still uncounterable (or the u+K will hit anyway if the opponent crouches). The u+K is also a good choice since it can actually interrupt an opponent's rising attack for a counter hit. The timing isn't the easiest thing in the world, and you should use the u+K mainly to hop over low kicks, but the added bonus is that if by some chance the u+K's hit window coincides with the rising kick, you can score the counter damage.

Against the high rising attack, you can use Lion's b+P+K, charged. To successfully dodge under the high rising attack, you may need to be at least half a step away from the opponent. Once the rising kick whiffs, let go of the b+P+K for lots of damage. Like the u+K, the b+P+K also has the ability to interrupt rising kicks. Of course, if the opponent does not rise with a kick, the opponent would need to recognize that dodge is needed to escape the incoming b+P+K.

Using these two moves should cover the majority of rising kick guessing games that you have to face.

Catch Throw

Lion's catch throw is a fantastic move to use in okizeme guessing games, especially right after you knock an opponent down. The catch throw can usually catch opponents out of a QR/TR and will snuff many "small" attacks like a standing punch, but if they choose to stay on the ground, the catch throw will whiff harmlessly and Lion still has time to go for an u+K/b+P+K nitaku guessing game.

b,f+K+G

Lion's pounce is quick and far reaching, but it is with b,f+K+G, d+K that makes it truly dangerous. In many situations where a pounce is guaranteed, Lion could often opt for a b,f+K+G. So, for example, after a D,f+P+G, Lion could attempt the following:

> pounce
> b,f+K+G > pounce
> b,f+K+G, d+K > pounce

A grounded opponent can always QR/TR from a b,f+K+G, d+K, but the timing is strict enough that the opponent has to be paying attention. Lion can thus often get away with getting the additional damage. What really makes this work is that the b,f+K+G and d+K leaves Lion's back turned to the opponent, and so when Lion attempts a pounce, if the opponent QR/TRs, Lion will merely hop-P away.

Usually opponents will learn to QR/TR after a b,f+K+G--at this point, instead of wasting an okizeme opportunity with a pounce attempt, turn toward to face the opponent with G and you get a nitaku guessing game of elbow/throw. (If the opponent ended up not QR/TRing anyway, you still have the option of a small down attack or a pounce attempt).

Lion has many more okizeme (and uramawari) options, but the ones outlined here in this article are the most important. Make sure you incorporate what is here first before attempting more sophisticated strategies.

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ice-9; published June 09, 2002; last updated June 09, 2002