The Tatsumaki (竜巻, “Dragon Twister” or?, "Tornado"), commonly referred to as Hurricane Kick, is a special attack in the Street Fighter series used by Ryu, Ken, and other Street Fighter characters that use the same style such as Akuma. It is one of the most iconic attacks in the franchise, alongside the Hadoken and Shoryuken.
| All characters and appearances |  + 
|
|---|---|
| Street Fighter 6 (Modern) |
 + 
|
Description
Unleash a series of roundhouse kicks while moving forward. A useful attack for knocking the opponents away.Street Fighter 6
The practitioner jumps and, while in the air, rotates their legs, kicking the opponent 1~3 times depending on button pressed. It is usually performed by moving the joystick or D-pad a quarter circle backwards the opponent from the down position, then pressing a kick button. The Tatsumaki, in some games, will lift the user high enough to fly over projectiles, such as the Hadoken, Sonic Boom, Soul Spark and Yoga Fire.
Different types of Tatsumaki
Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
Users: Ryu, Ken, Akuma, Evil Ryu, Violent Ken, Gouken, Ace
Debut: Street Fighter
The Tatsumaki Senpukyaku (竜巻旋風脚, Tatsumaki Senpūkyaku?, "Tornado Whirlwind Leg"), also known as Hurricane Kick, is a special move that is usable by Ryu and Ken in Street Fighter. In its first two appearances, it hit up to three times. In later games, starting with Street Fighter II': Champion Edition, Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpukyaku, though spinning much, usually only strikes the foe once, harshly, while Ken's has more hits and is more combo-able. Both of their "evil" counterparts use it as well in their games. In Street Fighter IV, this attack has Armor Breaking properties and can also become an EX special move. Ryu's Shinku Tatsumaki Senpukyaku Super Combo becomes his EX variant, while Ken retains a normal Tatsumaki Senpukyaku flight pattern, albeit with more damage and better properties. Gouken can use it only as his airborne Tatsumaki.
In other games, Ryu also has a variation called the Senpukyaku that acts as a command normal, which is just a spinning kick done in the same fashion, but only for a single hopping back-spin kick.
In Street Fighter V Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpuyaku functions the same (as does the EX version) but Ken's has undergone a significant revamp. All versions of his Tatsumaki Senpukyaku attacks now knock down and, when he uses the hard variation, he first launches his opponent with his knee then performs an arcing Tatsumaki Senpukyaku as opposed to one that travels parallel to the ground. Ken's EX Tatsumaki Senpukyaku travels diagonally upwards, similar to how it is performed in the Marvel vs. Capcom series. The airborne Tatsumaki is mostly the same for Ken but his EX variant is closer to a dive kick wherein he travels downwards at a diagonal angle as opposed to following his jump arc.
In Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, Ryu's Tatsumaki now has two unique variations in midair; a forwards one done with a quarter-circle forward motion + kick command, or the classic one with the traditional quarter-circle backward command that carries his momentum like before.
Ryu
- Tatsumaki
- Shinku Tatsumaki
- Bofu Tatsumaki
- Shin Tatsumaki
Ken
- Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
- Shippu Jinraikyaku
- Kuzuryu Reppa (a combination of both his Shoryuken and Tatsumaki variations)
- Guren Senpukyaku
- Guren Enjinkyaku
- Quick Dash Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
Tatsumaki Zankukyaku
Unleash a series of roundhouse kicks while moving forward. Useful in combos as well as for sending opponents flying away.Street Fighter 6
Users: Akuma, Cyber Akuma, Oni
Debut: Super Street Fighter II Turbo
The Tatsumaki Zankukyaku (竜巻斬空脚, Tatsumaki Zankūkyaku?, "Tornado Slashing Air Leg"), also known as Hurricane Scythe Kick, is Akuma's version of the Tatsumaki Senpukyaku. Though his movement is similar to Ryu and Ken, in some games lightning may be created by his feet during his Tatsumaki. Like most of his techniques, it is much stronger and faster than Ryu and Ken's. It can hit multiple times, and is considerably faster and somewhat harder to control than Ryu and Ken's. It can combo well into his other moves, and it can be used in the air.
The traits of the move itself are a mix of Ryu and Ken's; it has the power of Ryu's and the multi-hitting property of Ken's. In the Marvel vs. Capcom series, the attack takes on lightning properties and hits five times, while in Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix, Akuma's version of the move is shown to produce a poisonous gas, as Ryu's moves are already enhanced with electricity in this game. Cyber Akuma, the boss counterpart of the regular Akuma in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, has a stronger variant dubbed Thunder Shock Zanku Kyaku. Oni's version of the Tatsumaki Zankukyaku is more damaging but slower than Akuma's. In Street Fighter IV, Akuma only hits once, but still allows for combos, such as the staple LK Tatsumaki Zankukyaku -> HP Goshoryuken. The EX variant is similar to Ryu's (spinning in place). In Street Fighter V, Gouki's Tatsu functions very similar to Ken's V variations. In addition, Akuma can link an EX Tatsumaki Zankukyaku at the end of an EX Hyakkishu for no additional meter.
Akuma also possesses the Messatsu Gorasen, a Super Art version of this move. In Super Street Fighter IV, Akuma receives what is probably the most lethal of all Tatsumaki techniques, the Demon Armageddon. In other games, he too also possesses the command normal Senpukyaku in his moveset.
- Senpukyaku
- Tatsumaki Zankukyaku
- Thunder Shock Zankuu Kyaku
- Messatsu-Gourasen
- Demon Armageddon
Dankukyaku
User: Dan
Debut: Street Fighter Alpha
Dan uses a parody of Ryo Sakazaki's Hien Shippu Kyaku (飛燕疾風脚, Hien Shippū Kyaku?, "Flying Swallow Hurricane Leg"). as his version of the Tatsumaki called Dankukyaku (断空脚, Dankuukyaku?, "Severing Air Leg"). He leaps in the air and performs up to three aerial kicks consecutively, depending on the kick button pressed.
Shunpukyaku
User: Sakura, Dark Sakura
Debut: Street Fighter Alpha 2
The Shunpukyaku (春風脚, Shunpūkyaku?, "Spring Breeze Leg"), also known as Twirling Gale Kick, is Sakura's own version of Ryu and Ken's own Tatsumaki Senpukyaku. Instead of floating in the air, Sakura's variation allows her to uprise and then float back down while spinning.
Tornado
User: Sean
Debut: Street Fighter III: New Generation
Sean is another fighter that also uses a variant of this move, called Tornado (トルネード, Torunēdo?). It looks similar to Ryu and Ken's Tatsumaki Senpukyaku, but uses both legs, thus making it more similar to Dan's version and also resembling Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpukyaku from the Street Fighter EX series.
Tatsumaki Gorasen
User: Gouken
Debut: Street Fighter IV
The Tatsumaki Gorasen (竜巻剛螺旋, Tatsumaki Gōrasen?, "Tornado Strong Spiral") is Gouken's version of the Tatsumaki, based off Akuma's Messatsu-Gourasen Super Art from Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. However, instead of spinning in place or moving across the screen, the Tatsumaki Gorasen moves upwards, bringing the opponent with it. Once Gouken reaches the top of the screen, he finishes with a powerful final kick which sends the opponent flying across the screen while Gouken slowly descends to earth. This attack can be executed in mid-air, in which it becomes the Tatsumaki Senpukyaku.
Street Fighter EX series
User: Ryu, Ken, Kairi, Akuma, Evil Ryu, Cycloid Beta
Debut: Street Fighter EX
| Appearance | Function | Character | Input |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street Fighter EX | Special Attack | Various | + (can be performed up to 3 or 4 times)
|
| Street Fighter EX Plus | Special Attack | Cycloid Beta |  +
|
| Street Fighter EX2 Street Fighter EX3 |
Special Attack | Ryu Kairi |
+ , + (up to 3 times)
|
The Tatsumaki received a different variation in the Street Fighter EX series. It was changed into a multi-input attack (similar to the Rekkaken) and is also different in appearance. It is a series of two (or three, depending on the character and game) turning aerial kicks, followed by a turning axe kick in midair that knocks the opponent away. The kick button used also determines the angle, with the LK version going diagonally up, and the HK version going straight forward. Meanwhile, the Senpukyaku command normal is more akin to a hopping back-spin kick as opposed to a move that is a Tatsumaki motion-wise.
In the original Street Fighter EX and its updates, Ryu and Kairi perform three kicks in total, and Ken, Akuma and Evil Ryu do four. Kairi's version is named Moryo Kasen (魍魎渦旋, Moryou Kasen?, "Spirit Goblin Vortex Whirl). Cycloid Beta has an unique variation, in that its kicks are performed automatically (without having to repeat the input), the number of kicks is decided by the kick button used (one with LK, two with MK and three with HK) and he always goes forward when doing them, regardless of the button pressed. It should be noted that the Shinku Tatsumaki Senpukyaku and Sakura's Shunpukyaku remain the same as in other games.
From Street Fighter EX2 onwards, the command for the Tatsumaki was simplified (the player can now hold back and press kick repeatedly after the first input, instead of doing the entire motion every time). Ryu and Kairi now perform four kicks. Ken was also given the original version of the Tatsumaki. In Street Fighter EX3, Evil Ryu and Ace have the original Tatsumaki as well.
In Fighting EX Layer, Kairi's Moryu Kasen now resembling Ken's original version of the Tatsumaki that can hit his opponent four times.
Super/Ultra Versions
Trivia
- Throughout the series, the way the Tatsumaki technique is performed has changed. Assuming the player is facing rightwards:
- In the original Street Fighter, the player would spin to the left (or towards the background) and kick with the right leg via an inward kicking motion.
- Since Street Fighter II - The World Warrior, the player would spin to the right (or towards the foreground) and kick with the right leg via a back-spin kick motion, until...
- Street Fighter III: New Generation, where the player would spin to the left and kick with the left leg instead with the same aforementioned back-spin motion. From that point, most Tatsumaki techniques in every main series games and crossovers would be performed in that way.
- Street Fighter V has Ryu's and Ken's Tatsumaki more or less the same way as it was from Street Fighter III onwards. Akuma, on the other hand, has gone back to using his right leg and spinning to the right (clock-wise).
- In a chapter of the game Project X Zone, Ryu, Ken, and other members of their small group were presumed dead but managed to survive mysteriously due to the Kuuchuu Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyak, most likely as a gag nod to the airborne-carrying momentum the techniques provide. Ken also mentions the Guren Senpuu Kyaku, although he notes he can't use that in midair.
- Gouken's air version of the Tatsumaki becomes the Airborne Tatsumaki Senpukyaku, and not Tatsumaki Gorasen. Also, instead of flying in an arc like Ryu, Ken and Akuma's Tatsumaki in the Street Fighter IV series, it flies straight forward like the Tatsumaki from the Street Fighter II series.
- In Street Fighter: The Movie, the Tatsumaki Senpukyaku was called by its commonly-informal name "Hurricane Kick."
- When voices are set to English in Street Fighter IV, Ryu, Ken and Akuma's voice actors (Kyle Hebert, Reuben Langdon and Dave Mallow respectively) do not say the name of the move (Or "Tatsumaki Zankukyaku in Akuma's case) when performing it (although Ryu will still shout "Shinku Tatsumaki!" when performing the EX version of it), instead belting out a generic battle shout. It was in Marvel Vs Capcom 3 where Ryu's English dub VA shouts the move's name as well as the hyper combo variant and in Street Fighter X Tekken, all three characters' English dub VAs now shout the name of the move when performing it.
- In Street Fighter V the phrase will be shortened or spoken fully depending on which version of the attack is used (so for light versions only "Tatsumaki!" will be said, medium "Tatsumaki Senpu!", and for hard the entire "Tatsumaki Senpukyaku!" phrase). Both voice actors will use the full phrase.
- Akuma's heavy version of the Tatsumaki Zankukyaku in Street Fighter V has a passing resemblance to what seems to be the prototype of all Hurricane Kick used by his master Goutetsu during the opening scene from the 2005 animated film Street Fighter Alpha: Generations. With both versions culminated in a final spinning kick that slams downward onto the opponent, [1]
References in Popular Culture
- See: Tatsumaki/Pop Culture.
Gallery
Sprites
- See Tatsumaki/Sprites.
Artworks
Screenshots
Gif Animations
Ryu
Ken
Akuma
Sakura
Seth
Attack Frames
Akuma
Similar moves
- Bushin Senpukyaku
- Spinning Bird Kick (operates similarly but with the user upside-down)
- Kurekijin (Kage's substitute for a Tatsumaki)
| Violent Ken's Move List | |
|---|---|
| Unique Attacks | Inazuma Kick• Kurubushi Kick |
| Special Attacks | Hadoken • Shoryuken • Tatsumaki Senpukyaku • Rasetsu Kyaku• Roundhouse Kick |
| Super Combos | Shinbu Messatsu• Shinryuken • Kuzuryu Reppa |
| Exceeds | Shinbu Messatsu |