Ryu (Street Fighter)

Ryu
Series	Street Fighter
Age	58
Birthday	July 21, 1964
Sex	Male
Species	Human
Height	5'9"/175 cm
Weight	203 lbs/92 kg
Alignment	Neutral Good Chaotic Evil (Evil Ryu)

Ryu, is the poster boy for Capcom's Street Fighter series and its main protagonist.

1 2 “ My name is Ryu, and the ultimate power has awakened within me! „ ~ Ryu as Evil Ryu “ Range... Speed... Priority... Know and master all of your attacks! „ ~ Ryu

History

At a young age, Ryu was an orphan and left with no memory of his parents. However, Gouken, who is an elderly man yet a muscular built man, found Ryu ant age 6 and raised him in which Gouken becomes Ryu's adoptive father. 

Throughout most of his life, Ryu lived at his Dojo and trained by Gouken,a alongside his sparring partner Ken Masters. Ryu left the dojo at the age of 23 and has continually wandered across the globe always seeking to prove himself and always wanting to meet new people and fight them.

Powers & Abilities

• Hadouken ("Surge Fist" or "Wave Motion Fist"): A Chi-based wave of energy that travels towards the opponent. The EX version of this projectile is bigger and stronger. It can also be projected as a beam.
  • Shinku Hadouken ("Vacuum/True Void Surge Fist"): A super-charged Hadoken that, when executed, can hit the opponent multiple times and destroy other projectiles launched by the opponent.
  • Denjin Hadouken ("Electric Blade Surge Fist"): This technique can only be used when Ryu activates his Denjin Renki, infusing Shinku Hadoken is imbued with the power of electricity. It has more destructive power and if blocked will break through the opponent's defense, leaving them temporarily open to attacks.
  • Metsu Hadoken ("Destroying Surge Fist"): Using the energy of the Satsui no Hado, Ryu charges an extra-powerful Hadoken. This move can also use energy of Mu no Ken, when he used it during his fight against Seth.
  • Shakunetsu Hadoken ("Scorching Heat Surge Fist"): A Hadoken which is imbued with the power of fire.
• Shoryuken ("Rising Dragon Fist"): A strong jumping uppercut. The EX version consists in a first punch in the midsection, followed by a stronger jumping uppercut.
  • Shin Shoryuken ("True Rising Dragon Fist"): A perfect and notably strong version of the Shoryuken. This move starts by hitting the enemy in the midsection of the upper body then it follows a strong uppercut to the chin and in end, the move finishes with a very strong Shoryuken.
  • Metsu Shoryuken ("Destroying Rising Dragon Fist"): An especially strong and violent variant of the Shoryuken. Ryu first delivers a gut punch, causing the opponent to stagger in pain, then follows up with a jumping uppercut, striking their jaw before sending them flying.
• Tatsumaki Senpukyaku ("Tornado Whirlwind Leg"): Ryu jumps and performs a powerful spinning kick. The EX version consists in Ryu spinning faster on itself without moving, hitting the opponent multiple times. This move can also be performed while in the air, to strike the opponent while descending.
  • Shinku Tatsumaki Senpukyaku ("Vacuum/True Void Tornado Whirlwind Legged Beast"): Ryu performs a stationary Tatsumaki that has a vacuum effect, as its name indicates, and can hit the opponent multiple times.
• Joudan Sokutogeri ("High-Level Foot Edge Kick"): A powerful forward-stepping side kick that sends the enemy flying. The EX version is more powerful, and can cause the enemy to bounce on a wall, giving Ryu the chance to hit them again.
• Hanagashi ("Leaf Flowing"): Ryu assumes a guarding pose that cancels out an opponent's attack.
  • Tesshin ("Piercing Heart"): A strong punch that Ryu can deliver immediately the Hanagashi if it doesn't block any attack.
  • Isshin ("One Mind") If Ryu successfully blocks an incoming attack, he can reply with a powerful punch, knocking down the opponent.

• Shoulder Throw: Ryu grabs his opponent and pulls them over his shoulder, causing them to land on their back. Ryu can also perform this move in the air.
• Somersault Throw: Ryu grabs his opponent, and falls in backwards roll, planting a foot on the opponent and applying pressure, causing them to flip back and crash on ground.
• Collarbone Breaker: Ryu draws his fist back over his shoulder and thrusts it forward and down, hitting the opponent's collarbone.
• Solar Plexus Strike: Ryu slides forward and hits the opponent in the stomach with a body blow punch that hits twice.
• Axe Kick: Ryu delivers an upward kick, then brings his foot down, hitting the opponent a second time with the heel.
• Jodan Nirengaki: Ryu punches his opponent and follows up with a kick, causing them to spin in midair.
• Jodan Sanengeki: Ryu punches his opponent twice and follows up with a kick that opponent launches them.
• Focus Attack/Kaze no Kobushi ("Fist of the Wind"): A heavy move that grants Ryu an augmented defense during the execution and, if it lands, causes the opponent to crumple.
• Hashogeki ("Wave Palm Attack"): After blocking an attack, Ryu unleashes a Hadoken-like palm attack, where the fireball doesn't leave the hands.
• Fumikomi Jodan Kagizuki ("Step-in High-Level Hook Thrust"): Ryu quickly dashes backwards to dodge an incoming attack and replies with a powerful hook that strikes the opponent before they are able to react, knocking them down.
• Mind's Eye: Ryu assumes a defensive stance and if timed correctly with the enemy's attack, the attack will be blocked and recover faster than his adversary. This allows for a window for counterattacking.
• Thrust Strike: Ryu steps forward and assumes a guarded stance to deflect an attack, and then he delivers a heavy punch. If Ryu blocks an attack during the guarded stance, the heavy punch will be followed by an elbow strike.
• Denjin Renki ("Electric Blade Refined Spirit"): When activated, it "electrifies" Ryu's hands and special moves. The Hadoken gains damage and stun, and also becomes charge-able; when fully charged, it will gain guard crushing properties, and leave a blocking opponent defenseless for several seconds. The Shoryuken gains increased damage and stun.
• Kakko Fubatsu ("Resolute & Steadfast"): Ryu covers his fists with energy and gains access to an amplified version of the Isshin. Upon blocking an attack, Ryu will perform the Isshin, which will make the opponent crumple, allowing Ryu to follow-up with an attack.

Alternate Forms

Evil Ryu

Evil Ryu is a transformation that occurs if Ryu's desire to win a battle becomes so great that he would even commit murder, and allows the evil power known only as the Satsui no Hado to take him over. While in this form, Ryu is much more powerful, and can even pull off special techniques like Akuma's Raging Demon, but at the expense of retaining his humanity. The only way to snap Ryu out of this state is supposedly to beat him in a fight, which is much easier said than done considering Ryu's skills and powers are greatly amplified as Evil Ryu. Ryu often finds himself having to control his dark side, especially in the middle of a fight, which is very difficult to do.

• Messatsu Gou Hadou
• Tatsumaki Zankukyaku
• Ryusokyaku: An overhead axe kick.
• Ashura Senku: After glowing red, Evil Ryu glides across the battlefield while being temporarily invulnerable, which in practice makes this move akin to teleporting.
• Messatsu-Goshoryu: A series of three consecutive Shoryukens. If the final hit connects, Evil Ryu harnesses more of the Satsui no Hado’s power to slam the opponent’s head into the ground.
• Shun Goku Satsu: Also known as the Raging Demon, this is the Satsui no Hado’s ultimate and most dangerous technique. After warping towards his opponent, Evil Ryu grabs them and proceeds to launch 16 strikes that not only cripples their body, but their soul as well. This is due to the Satsui no Hado using the victim’s own sins against them; as Akuma puts it, the more sins they have committed, the more powerful the move is overall.

Power of Nothingness

When Ryu suppresses his evil thoughts and feelings, he enters an alternate state of mind called the Power of Nothingness("Mu no Ken"). In this form, all of his attacks become much more powerful and he becomes more aware of what happens in the Universe. It is just as, if not more powerful than Evil Ryu, and allows him to separate his soul from his body to protect from attacks that could destroy it otherwise, like the Raging Demon. However, the form has a time limit, and cannot last for lengthy periods of time. On top of that, separating himself from these emotions requites concentration that can be difficult to find in a fight.

• Hado Kakusei ("Surge Awakening"): A powered up mode which is reminiscent of the Power of Nothingness. While it does slight minor damage to the user, Ryu strength and speed greatly increase for a limited time.
  • Shin Hadoken ("True Surge Fist"): An upgraded version of the Shinku Hadoken.
  • Shin Tatsumaki Senpukyaku ("True Tornado Whirlwind Leg"): An upgraded version of the Shinku Tatsumaki Senpukyaku.

Shin Ryu

By fully mastering both the light and dark within him, Ryu's enters a special state where the power of Satsui no Hadō and Mu no Ken join together and make Ryu a nearly unbeatable force.

Feats

Strength

• Lifted a boulder with Oro on top with it, who weighs 71 kg, twice.
• His Hadoken can shatter solid stone.
• Punched Ken Masters through a wooden door.
• At his peak, comparable to Akuma who sunk an island with a punch (6 megatons) and shattered Uluru’s Rock.
• Threw off a group of thugs with a Tatsumaki Senpukyaku.
• Created a crater with a single punch.
• The Tatsumaki Senpukyaku was able to send the 408-pound Rufus flying hundreds of feet into Zangief.
• Matched Akuma’s Raging Demon as Evil Ryu.
• Destroyed a skyscraper with a single Hadoken.

Speed

• Dodged point-blank bullets with little effort while trying to save someone.
• Dodged Sagat’s strikes.
• Reacted to an ambush and quickly takes out three guys.
• Dodged Ken’s kick.
• Faster than Eagle who moved in tandem with Bison’s satellite laser. (Mach 1669)
• Blocked all of Rufus’s strikes at once.

Durability

• Survived being impaled
• Took hits from Balrog, who can one-shot an elephant.
• Tanked Blanka’s Rolling Tackle.
• Got bitten in the shoulder by Blanka.
• Tanked Dhalsim’s Yoga Fire with little to no effect.
• Survived an assault by Oro.
• Took a beating from Cody. Cody is strong enough to throw or at least knock down the 584-pound Abigail.
• Face got smashed onto the ground by Akuma
• Survived the destruction of Akuma's island
• Smashed into a pagoda by Urien
• Tanked a building-sized explosion.
• Survived being on the receiving end of a Spinning Piledriver from Zangief.
• Tanked a Gigaton Punch from Balrog which is strong enough to dent the side of a van.
• Superior durability to Birdie and Balrog who survived the explosion of Bison’s base. (186 kilotons)

Skill

• Strives to be the best he can be.
• Suppressed the Satsui No Hado.
• Defeated the likes of Rashid, Charlie Nash, and Sagat.
• Defeated M. Bison, bringing down Shadoloo in the precess, by using the Power of Nothingness
• Has fought and matched Akuma numerous times (though he often loses these fights while the ones he does win are a result of Akuma holding back) and even beaten him when he became Shin Ryu (while Akuma transformed into Oni).
• Defeated Necalli, a soul-eating Aztec warrior.
• Defeated Twelve, who could copy the appearances and fighting styles of other fighters.
• Fought Gen to a draw.
• Defeated Sagat's ex-student, Adon.
• Defeated a Satsui no Hado empowered Sakura.
• Defeated Seth, the genetically-enhanced S.I.N. super soldier.
• Defeated the martial arts movie star, Fei-Long.
• Defeated a bio-engineered warrior that not even Chun-Li, Ken and Birdie could defeat.
• Fought to a stand still against the Wolverine... wait, What?

Weaknesses

• Spotty Win-Loss Record: Ryu may be the face of Street Fighter itself, but his actual win-loss record within the series is spotty when compared to other major fighting game protagonists. He’s tasted defeat against the likes of M.Bison, Oro, Ken, Sagat, Akuma and Necalli in previous games, although most of those losses have been avenged as of late given his more prominent role in the story.
• Lack of True Control: While he has access to two incredible sources of power, he has yet to actually display true control over either the Satsui no Hado or the Power of Nothingness in the same way Akuma and Gouken have in the games’ canon; this may explain why as Evil Ryu, he is often portrayed as a ruthless berserker with no rational thought save for killing whereas Akuma isn’t depicted similarly, regardless of what level of power he is using.
• Shun Goku Satsu: Even the Shun Goku Satsu itself has failed at being the dreaded one-hit kill it has long been touted as. For example, individuals who have no souls remain relatively unaffected; Gen and Gouken had survived by emptying their bodies of their souls in time, while Seth lacks a soul to begin with. It’s also worth pointing out that Ryu himself has rarely connected with the move in almost every major canon he has been in. Evil Ryu had his attempt at a Raging Demon blocked by Shin Akuma’s own in his Alpha 3 final battle, and in the Street Fighter Alpha manga, Guy had used his superior speed and training in fighting multiple foes to parry every single hit of it before handily beating Ryu.

Fun Facts

• In Street Fighter: The Ultimate Battle (1994), his unofficial full name is Ryu Hoshi; but in Adventure Quiz: Capcom World 2 (1992), his original full name was revealed to be Ryu Takegami, though this has never been referenced in any other media and it is unlikely Capcom considers this his full name officially.
• In most promotional art, his eyebrow can be seen through his headband.
• Although initially easily subjected to M. Bison's will, Ryu is one of only two people to deal him a defeat in one on one direct combat (the other being Charlie Nash).
• Ryu references the original Street Fighter game in one of his win quotes in Capcom vs. SNK 2 ("What strength! I won't forget that there are many like you all over the world!").
• Ryu is one of three characters whose stage doesn't have an audience until the Alpha series (along with Akuma and Evil Ryu.
• Ryu cut off the sleeves of his dōgi to better throw punches, and because he remembered how inconvenient it was when he was grabbed there.
• Ryu's 6th color in Street Fighter IV bears a resemblance to his attire in the Alpha series.
• In the original Street Fighter, there's unused audio in the game files for a "Fire Kick", along with unused graphics that suggest Ryu and Ken were planned to have a fourth special move. Had it been implemented, it would have been a standard jump kick with fire covering the user's foot, similar to the Senpukyaku or Tenmakujinkyaku.
• According to Yoshinori Ono, Ryu suffers from arachnophobia (fear of spiders), a subject matter emphasized in his introduction quote against Spider-Man in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and its updated version.
• In Street Fighter: Resurrection (2016), Ryu's date of birth is listed as "Unknown" when his official birthdate is July 21, 1964.
• His premium school costume in Street Fighter Vhas a minor resemblance to Daigo's outfit from his wild form in the Rival Schools series.
• Ryu has the most character connections out of the playable characters, making allies and enemies than any fighter which makes Ryu the most well known from allies and enemies alike.
• The end of the story A Shadow Falls possibly marks the first time chronologically in the games that Ryu is not seen with his red headband since he first got it.
• Ryu’s Power Ranger form from Power Rangers Legacy Wars, Ryu Ranger, is similar in name to Ryo’s Ranger form from Gosei Sentai Dairanger. The Ranger costume design is a mashup of the White Ranger, parts of Ryu’s regular outfit, the Green Ranger, and Red Hawk (who also goes under the name Ryu) from Choujin Sentai Jetman.
• Ryu often trains near remote waterfalls. He doesn't seem to know why so many people visit when he's there.
• Ryu can speak in many languages. The first phrases he learns in any country are: "Looking for a match?" and "Where can I get something to eat?"