What place for judo in the new Street Fighter?

Street Fighter is a series of 1 vs 1 fighting games developed by the Japanese company Capcom. First released in 1987, it is one of the most popular fighting franchises of all time.

While early versions of the game were available on arcade systems, the latest instalments are now widely available on a range of consoles. Good news for fans, the sixth installment of the game will be released on June 2, 2023.

Let's find out how judo fits into this must-have game series.

Get ready for the return of the ever-popular Zangief and Cammy in Street Fighter 6, as well as the exuberant newcomer Lily. Bear, Bird and Bee complete the list of 18 playable characters set to launch on June 2, 2023! pic.twitter.com/vDXqnnnQLY

- Capcom France (@capcom_france) February 24, 2023

No holds barred?

In some versions of Street Fighter II, the "infinite combo" technique allowed players to perform a series of moves without the opponent being able to hit back. This technique was considered a bug and was fixed in later versions of the game, which is probably why it doesn't feature in Privacy Hub's list of the best glitches of all time, alongside the huge-handed players in FIFA 14 and the characters spinning through the air in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

In the various Street Fighter games, characters can perform grabs to hold down their opponent and inflict damage. These moves are similar to ground controls used in judo such as kesa-gatame and juji-gatame.

Some characters can also perform counterattacks, in which they use their opponent's strength to throw them to the ground or away from them. These moves are similar to the counterattacks used in judo matches, such as uchi mata sukashi.

What's next?

Street Fighter 6 will be the new playground for the world's best virtual fighters as they compete throughout the year on the new Capcom Pro Tour. #StreetFighter6 @StreetFighter @Yoshi_OnoChin @capcom_france #SF6 @CapcomFighters https://t.co/EXIm93YIIu pic.twitter.com/I1598GaP32

- Geek Generation (@Geek_Gen_France) February 23, 2023

As for Street Fighter 6, the next instalment soon to be released, there is no need to worry about the judokas. According to PXLBBQ, the Guild fighter is one of the first veteran characters to continue the Street Fighter adventure.

Judo Throw, who has made his way through every game since Street Fighter 2, will be making his return in the new version. You'll be able to use it to get Guile out of a tight spot and inflict a lot of damage.

While this is the only announced feature directly related to judo, here are some ideas that could make judo more present in future versions of the game.

Since the game's characters are all more or less based on real people, the developers could introduce newcomers inspired by Yoshihiro Akiyama or Jigoro Kano, two iconic figures in the discipline, with unique techniques.

The addition of judo holds to the existing characters would also add an original dimension to the game. For example, Jamie, a new character in the sixth installment, will have his own martial arts style, based on Zui Quan, whose movements are inspired by those of a drunken person, as explained by Citizenpost.

Street Fighter 5 has sold over six million copies, but the sixth installment is expected to beat its predecessor to the punch. Indeed, the release of this game, which was scheduled to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, has been pushed back by almost two years. Gamers have surely already pre-ordered the CD to take advantage of the benefits that come with early purchase.