Ryu

Statistics:
Stamina: 1,000
Stun: 1,000
Fighting Style: Ansatsuken Karate
Fighter Type: Versatile
Strengths: Efficient projectile and reversals, wide variety of moves to tackle different situations
Weakness: Not excellent in any particular area, minimal mix-up potential

Character Videos:
Video Study #1: Vern (ABE) vs. LKH (RYU) [Vanilla match]
Video #1: Ryu vs Abel (Daigo vs Pikagoma)

Offense Strategy:
You want Ryu to get complacent in his defense; a good Ryu will know that his footsies are better and will try to be on the offensive with his pokes. You have various ways to get in from there; dashes/rolls or when you have meter EX CoD, EX Wheel Kick. Pressure strings and tick throws work but are more risky here as he can Shoryuken into ultra if he guesses right. You can keep him honest by baiting out Shoryuken. The up close game is pretty tight but should be a bit more in your favour.

Defense Strategy:
Ryu's offense lies in his practical and efficient moves to zone you. Hadokens are a great tool for him to do this and he can continuously pressure from mid-range thanks to his projectiles. Ryu also outpokes Abel between Hadoken and crouching MK. A good range to counter this is to maintain position just outside Ryu's mid-range. Step Kick or standing LK can be used to counter and sneak in an offense.

Ryu's mix-ups are quite simplistic but effective if used right. A blocked Solar Plexus on wake up puts Ryu on positive frames, letting him follow-up with a whole bunch of options. If Ryu comes in close to pressure, blocking is your best option. There will be chances for you to get away especially once he has pushed you back a fair bit.

Notes:
- Soulless can go through Ryu's Hadouken at any range (hits the tips of his fingers at max range).
- Watch out for the air Tatsumaki cross-overs. It's hard to spot but it can only be done from a certain range so its good to know that it's there.
- Any version Change of Direction is unsafe; Ryu can Shoryuken on reversal timing to hit you out of it.
- Ryu's best poke is his crouching MK canceled to a Hadoken. Step Kick can outpoke this move at the maximum range.
- Ryu is on positive frames if you block the third hit of a HK Tatsumaki. You can crouch to avoid the Tatsumaki hits.
- Ryu has a trick where he baits Soulless with his Hadoken and FADCs backwards to safely block it. Be aware of this possibly occurring when he has two meters in stock.