Senpukyaku

Whirlwind Kick as it appears in Street Fighter 6.

"A kick with long reach. Useful as a counter to an opponent's sweeps."

—Street Fighter 6

The Senpukyaku (旋風脚, Senpuukyaku^?, "Whirlwind Leg") is a unique attack used by Ryu, Akuma and Evil Ryu, first appearing in Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams. In Street Fighter EX Plus, Cycloid Beta can also use it. In Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, this move goes by the name of Hisenkyaku (飛旋脚, Hisenkyaku^?, "Flying Leg"). It also returns in Street Fighter 6 under the name Whirlwind Kick.

Yun and Yang also possess a move with the same name in all of their appearances, though it is completely different, based on a real-life move in Chinese martial arts.

Input

Appearance	Function	Input
Street Fighter Alpha series Street Fighter EX series Marvel vs. Capcom series Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition	Unique Attack	+
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds	Unique Attack	+
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Super Smash Bros. Ultimate	Back Aerial	+
Tekken 7: Fated Retribution	Unique Attack	+
Street Fighter 6 (Classic)	Unique Attack	+
Street Fighter 6 (Modern)	Unique Attack	+

Description

Sprites of Ryu performing a Senpukyaku from Street Fighter II: The World Warrior.

Both are executed by moving forward and pressing medium kick.

Ryu and Akuma

The user leaps forward in an arc with an outward spin kick aimed at the opponent's head, in a similar motion to a Tatsumaki and is also used mostly for their vertical jumping HK/heavy kick animations (also for Ken). It is most likely the precursor to the said Tatsumaki series of techniques as it is very similar in motion, though without the "ki tornado" that allows the user to repeatedly soar through the air with successive spins.

Most notably, Akuma's version will hit on slightly later frames with a lower hitbox due to how his jumping arc is handled differently compared to Ryu's. In the Street Fighter EX games, the user instead hops with a back spin kick forward while slanted a bit back.

In its appearance as one of Akuma's unique attacks in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Akuma flies more straight in the air as opposed to in an arc.

In its appearance in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, a reversed version of this move is used as Ryu's back aerial, which references the version of it that is executed during a vertical jump in the original Street Fighter games as a jumping medium kick or heavy kick, depending on the title.

This move returns in Street Fighter 6, where it is executed by pressing forward and Heavy Kick (or pressing forward and Heavy Attack for Modern Control). Ryu performs a short turn heel kick, moving toward his opponent.

Evil Ryu

Visual-wise, Evil Ryu's "Senpukyaku" is strongly resembles Ryu's variation from the Street Fighter EX series. Mechanic-wise, though in-game is called Senbukyaku. It is a much better command normal in comparison as it not only possesses all the traits the normal Senpukyaku has, it is also one of the few moves that can kara cancel into the Shun Goku Satsu.

Yun and Yang

The user leaps at an arc and performs an inward swinging-turn kick that hits overhead. This version of the technique is themed after the inward-turn-kick of the same name in Chinese martial arts, which in Chinese pinyin is known as "Xuanfengjiao" (as "Senpuukyaku" is the move's name in Japanese on'yomi). It is also known as a 540 kick.

Tactics

The leap allows the move to go over most low attacks (as a staple "low crushing" tool), as well as being a primary tool for both Ryu and Akuma to leap at opponents to close the distance with a quick-recovering attack to stuff pokes with (or to use as a solid meaty on the foe's getup animation). The Lee brothers' Senpukyaku also makes for a solid mix-up tool due to hitting overhead and when combined with their respective Genei Jin/Seiei Enbu for added pressure.

However, both different versions are plagued with slow start-up, which makes them very easy to beat out when not spaced properly against faster pokes, which also makes them risky tools to use in neutral.

Evil Ryu's Senpukyaku gains a massive notoriety in Super Street Fighter IV. In high-level play, the player can 'mask' the lengthy input command of the Shun Goku Satsu and its obviously telegraphed animations by rapidly buffering the input during the spinning portion of the Senpukyaku, executing the move right before the kick connects (as the Raging Demon is a command grab move, it will missed if the opponent is in any state other than neutral i.e. hitstun, blockstun or airborne). If done correctly, the opponent will be left with only two choices: either they do not block the Senpukyaku and take damage, or they block the attack and risk eating the point-blank Shun Goku Satsu instead, with virtually no time to react or jump away.

In Street Fighter 6, Whirlwind Kick is a solid midrange tool that moves Ryu toward the opponent as he attacks. While it has a 16-frame startup, this move can cancelled into an OD Airborne Tatsumaki. Despite being -4 on block, it has a bit of pushback to make it difficult for his opponent to punish.

Other Appareances

• The attack is also mentioned in the official profile of BelleStarmon, a Digimon based on Belle Starr, a notorious American outlaw.
• The original 540 kick version is also utilized by Leroy Smith from the Tekken series via Tekken 7 and 8, being a practitioner of Wing Chun.

Gallery

Evil Ryu using Senpukyaku in Ultra Street Fighter IV.

Akuma using Senpukyaku in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

Akuma using Hisenkyaku in Tekken 7: Fated Retribution.

Ryu using Whirlwind Kick in Street Fighter 6.

Trivia

• In some of its appearances, the animation of this move is similar to Guile's and Nash's Jumping Sobat.