Ken

Description:
Stamina: 1,000
Stun: 1,000
Fighting Style: Ansatsuken Karate
Fighter Type: Brawler
Strengths: Excellent footsies game, good mix-ups, moves and mobility
Weaknesses: Weaker projectile and zoning game

Character Videos:
Video #1: Ken vs Abel (DrChaosPHD vs HAV)

Offense Strategy:
You should keep the fight just out of mid-range and look for opportunities for a quick dash in or Marseilles Rolls to get up close for a burst of offense. Shotos have a distinct defensive advantage thanks to their Shoryuken but you can exploit that. Bait it out by blocking after a Step Kick or dash-in and punish it. Doing this once or twice will keep Ken doubtful about using his Shoryuken to counter without meter to FADC. You need to outguess Ken more than he outguesses you and your higher damage output and stamina gives you more chances to guess wrong than he does.

Defense Strategy:
Ken has better pokes with crouching MK and an easy way to pressure with forward MK.
Abel under pressure needs to find away to distance himself from Ken to reset the match. Marseilles Roll, especially the EX version, is a good way to push out against jump happy Kens. Standing LK does a good job at stopping Ken's forward MK. Ken is usually never fireball happy but if he is, punish him for it with a Marseilles Roll or Soulless.

Notes:
- You can counter poke Ken's forward MK by using standing LK, Step Kick and focus attacks after absorbing the hit.
- Ken's aerial EX Tatsumaki at the right range is a very fast and ambiguous cross-up which can even hit you when crouching.
- Ken can kara using his forward MK which gives his moves elongated distance. Typically this is used to extend the range of Ken's throws. Be ready to tech even if he pushes you out a fair distance during his block string.
- Ken's LP Shoryuken recovers deceptively fast for a reversal special. Be careful of punishing it if it whiffs, most Ken's will bait a punish and follow up with another Shoryuken.
- Ken's Ultra 2 whiffs if you crouch and pushes you along with him so you can easily counter it afterwards. Also, the ultra hits both in front AND behind so be careful if you do some how end up behind him.