New York City, NY – School is finally back in session for local students attending The Arc Elementary. But like many schools across the nation, the controversial Shoryuken motion that many teachers consider to be antiquated, will no longer be part of the curriculum this year.
The Shoryuken or “Dragon Punch” motion is typically used to perform special moves, and consists of a fluid forward, down, down-forward input. Lately, this motion that was once a fighting game staple has been seen increasingly less often in new games, as it’s often replaced by easier motions like pressing down twice or even no motion at all. Because of this, the Shoryuken motion is quickly becoming a relic of the genre’s past like focus attacks, or playing as the X-Men.
While many parents see the change as progressive and long over-due, others aren’t so sure and still see value in teaching and practicing the bygone input.
“The Shoryuken motion is part of our history,” said local parent Lorena Cantrell. “While kids may not need it to play newer games like Dragon Ball FighterZ or BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, it’s still important to be able to look back. Without knowing the Shoryuken motion, how will they understand tech passed down to them from older relatives or interpret important historical texts like the Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Brady Guide?”
However, many argue that while learning to consistently perform the Shoryuken requires significant time, simply understanding it would only take the average adult an hour or so. Because of this, people can still learn the Shoryuken if it becomes necessary for them. This frees up valuable time for schools to teach kids more important things like math, writing, and mashing on wake-up.
