question/vent about rankings

(i'm a newbie so cut me some slack =)

I'm stuck at first Dan and have been for a long time. The computer will throw everything from 10th Kyu to 10th Dan at me and i will kick its ass almost every time, but first Dans beat me more often than not and i can't figure out why. Is it just some psychological hang-up or does VF4 increase the difficulty on same-rank matches? It seems it is always one step ahead of me, as if when i input my move it automatically triggers a counter, regardless of how often i switch up my offensive/defensive moves.

I play almost exclusively as Aoi and i think i have a pretty clear understanding of which moves to use on whom (and in what circumstances, et cetera). Lion (damm low attacks) and Wolf (stupid throws) give me trouble once in a while, but for the most part everyone is a push over. (Vanessa used to be my nemesis but then i discovered reversals and *poof, she was no more)

But i swear i lose 2/3 of my games to first Dans and win AT LEAST 9/10 of my others (my streaks usually last about 10-15 matches).

I love this game but the Kumite ranking system is starting to give me the heebie jeebies

ps. oh yeah this is on PS2 if that matters at all

 

To advance in ranks, only battles against enemies of the same level as you count.
Because of this, the game makes matches with people of the same rank a little more difficult.
I'd recommend just using a simple pattern in these important matches, and playing the rest the same way you'd play vs. others.

 

To advance in ranks, only battles against enemies of the same level as you count.

Oh yeah, and an exception: you can advance from 10 dan to Hero if you beat a Hero-ranked opponent. Once you're Hero, you must still beat ten 10 dans to advance further though

 

Im not fully sure on how the ranking system works, but i believe that in the uk pal version u only have to beat five same ranked opponents instead of ten

im not absoloutley sure if this is true or not,one time i was playing with lion and i seemed to be going up ranks very quickly (3 ranks within the space of an hour and a half) can any of the uk crowd confirm this for me, or anybody for that matter.?????

 

Read the ranking FAQ... in the low (kyu) levels you can advance by fighting anybody, often extremely quickly, in the middle (dan) levels you need to win 5 fights against your same rank, in the higher levels you need to win 10 fights against the same rank.

 

that solves my problem i thought that the pal version may have been dumbed down a little

 

I think you have to beat at least 10 opponents of you current ranking to get a ranking match.

 

uhm, thanks for the tip.