How do you properly tech a throw?
I'm no beginner but i still get tossed around like a bitch sometimes. I'll admit that i don't completely understand the technique for teching throws. Sometimes I just mash crouching lp+lk and I get a tech, sometimes I get a low short, sometimes I get tossed.
I know you're suppose to tech a couple frames late, but how can one do this? My reaction time is not that great, especially during a block string where the throw can come at any time.
Is mashing the wrong way to do it?
Responses (5 total)
There's also a tech throw option select in which if you are crouch blocking (down, back) and hit lp+lk as your opponent goes for a throw, you will tech it. It has a few frames of leniency but not many so you can do it a bit late. If you're opponent doesn't go for a throw and continues a block string, then you will continue to block. If your opponent does nothing or jumps up/away then you'll throw out a cr.short. A whiffed cr. short leaves you less open for an attack, unlike a whiffed throw attempt. But try to mix up your defense by also throwing in a few back dashes so you're shorts don't get punished.
For me personally, throw teching has always been more anticipation than reaction. When people say you can tech late, you have to remember that they are exaggerating a little. While there is a small window to respond (I can't remember the exact frames offhand) usually when I suceed in teching throws, it's because I'm not concentrating on the throws themselves, but actually throwing in a situation where throwing is possible.
So since your saying you don't have godlike reflexes, instead try reading your opponent's actions and going for the throw when possible. If you do that you will probably tech more throws and maybe land some over them in the process.
Having come from a 3rd Strike background, I had to learn it without any sort of option select, which definitely helps a lot. My general rule of thumb is whether or not I feel like it would be a good time to grab. There is a certain distance your opponent will get from you during block strings where they are still safe from most attacks, but once they get in your face it's typically because a grab is coming. If you're feeling the pressure building from your opponent and they're just getting closer and closer, use your instincts and feel the grab coming.
Also, not sure if this was part of your question, but the actual throw tech command is simply throwing when your opponent throws (LP+LK).
You don't necessarily have to tech a couple of frames late; by it's very nature, a tech throw is a reaction to an opponent trying to throw you, so the tech must always be performed after the opponent's throw action. The window in which you have to react to the opponent's attempt to throw you is three frames.
I believe the best option here is to use an option select, specifically, the crouch-tech.
Because of input priority in Street Fighter 4, you can crouch while performing a throw action, and the game engine will decide the best outcome given the situation:
- If you are caught in a block string, you will continue to block
- If the opponent fails to execute the block string, then your low short (i.e. cr.LK) will come out
- If the opponent goes in for a throw, you will tech-throw
lordofultima has a great video on option selects, and he specifically points out the crouch tech up front, at 0:18:
Gootecks also goes into this in one of his podcasts, as well as explains it in the post on his site about top 10 Street Fighter 4 resolutions for 2009 (it's resolution #1).
You have to be careful though, as opponents will adapt to this. When they see that you are crouch-teching, they might actually bait you by doing nothing (causing a cr.LK to come out) at which point, they would counter with a move which will punish; Ryu, Ken and Sagat can uppercut, Rufus can do an EX Messiah Kick, etc, etc.
Sorta like what the first guy said, my suggestion would be to watch your opponent and try to go for a throw when it looks as if they could throw you, for example after Ken's Tatsu some people will try to go for a grab, especially if it's blocked...although there are better ways to punish that, it's just an example...
Just when you feel pressure, try to feel like you are in your opponents shoes and if you feel like it's a good opportunity to get grabbed, try to tech it, relying solely on reflexes is rough so maybe go into training mode and try to figure out when it's best to grab someone and then use that knowledge against people and to tech their throws ^_^ hope this helps
