When I first picked up Sakura, I was doing as many 1 frame links as I possibly could. I have the execution for it but now I just do 2 frame links instead to be more consistent.
lk tatsu, cl.st.hp - 2 frame link
lk tatsu, st.lp/st.lk - 2 frame link (st.lk has more reach than st.lp though)
standard punisher = cl.st.hp xx lk tatsu, st.lk xx dp/ex tatsu
focus crumple = lk tatsu, cl.st.hp xx lk tatsu, st.lk xx dp/ex tatsu
if my combo connects from a safe jump or jump in = j.hp/hk, st.mk xx lk tatsu, cl.st.hp xx lk tatsu, st.lk xx dp/ex tatsu
You can use st.lp, cr.mk xx dp as a combo ender like Chris G does for slightly extra damage than the st.lk ender but it may whiff because st.lp doesn’t have as far reach as st.lk. Also using st.lp, cr.mk or st.lk ender doesn’t do as much damage as a cr.hp ender does but the damage trade off isn’t that big of a deal and is well worth it, imo.
Something that has tremendously increased my skill is learning how to be a solid player. I stopped using online tactics (didn’t realize I was using them before, such as random EX tatsus), increased my footsies, and learned the both offensive and defensive options of both players on screen. I aim to be safe nearly all times, even on the offensive; and when I go for a gamble, it’s a calculated risk with the risk being in my favor. I highly recommend reading Skatan’s blog, especially his two articles “The In’s and Out’s of Defense”. http://truthface.blog.com/
Some examples of how I applied what Skatan wrote about is being aware of the uses of delayed crouch techs. I assume everyone is delay crouch teching so I always end my blocked attacks in a true block string that pushes me out of the opponents attack range. I then look at my opponent’s reaction/pattern and try to exploit them. If I finish my block string, I may walk backwards or just crouch block and see if they push a button. I may do 2 cr.lk’s and walk backwards or crouch block and see if they push a button. If I do a frame trap/delayed frame trap and they don’t push a button, I know I can throw them. Now I pose a threat and my observations of their patterns can be exploited by counter poking into dp, delayed frame traps, and baiting reversals. Not only did this help with offensive, but it also helps a lot defensively since you are always clear on your opponents options as well as your own. This goes hand in hand with footsies that I talk about next.
And even though this is posted everywhere, I highly recommend taking your time and slowly reading and implementing everything in Maj’s Guide to footsies. Don’t move on to the next chapter until you mastered the last one. Naturally you’re gonna want to speed through it and read everything but you honestly wont absorb much information like that. You will see what I mean by this when you practice Chapter 1. It’s so basic, but its the foundation of footsies and when I went back to my game-play and focused on it; my fundamentals increased a lot as well as my win percentage. http://sonichurricane.com/?page_id=1702
And example of how I used Chapter 1 in my game-play was spacing myself at a distance where I can pose a threat on wake-up with a throw (so they have to guess between blocking and teching) while being outside my opponents attack range. This creates a mind game with the opponent and makes them respect me, even though this is a game of rock-paper-scissors; if added with match-up knowledge, you are eliminating one of their options and are making yourself a respectable threat.
Essentially trying to play solid really increased my skill level, I was able to get over the 3K PP barrier in less than 2 months and I’m aiming for 4K now. I haven’t been playing fighting games long (just over 2 years) and I always wanted the “secret answers” to improving my game-play. This is what I have done to get better and I feel like this is the “secret answer” to improving. Start learning character matchups and get dat dere playing experience under your belt and always aim to improve from your mistakes. When I lose, I always have something to improve on such as going for the safe option instead of taking an unneeded risk. I look at my opponents meter and think about what they’re likely to do in a certain situation especially if they have enough meter to make a reversal safe. I also recommend reading through Juicebox’s Guide to Improving in Street Fighter; it really helps showcase things that you need to change or adapt to in order to play solid. This is just one of the chapters in the guide, be sure to read all of them.