what does "checking" mean?

H

Hoyugateh

New member
Im not even sure this is the right word, but i hear on commentary and videos something at least similar to it. All the time someone says something like "your opponent can check you in that spot", when talking about setups and situations.

Ive seen people use this term even on IRL fights. Sorry... im not american, can someone please explain? What does it mean??
 
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Ok, let's say I'm playing as Ermac and someone's getting a bit aggressive on me and they try to dash in on me, I can throw out a Force Push to "check" them. It's a way to keep them in line. You're making sure they have to respect your options. I'm sure there's a more technical way to explain it, but that's how I always think about it.
 
3mag5num7 said:
Ok, let's say I'm playing as Ermac and someone's getting a bit aggressive on me and they try to dash in on me, I can throw out a Force Push to "check" them. It's a way to keep them in line. You're making sure they have to respect your options. I'm sure there's a more technical way to explain it, but that's how I always think about it.
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More or less as a great white shark biting just a little a sea lion's paw while swimming in the water, in order to see how it reacts ..... hehe

XD
 
Dedamn666 said:
sounds like yet more shit terms to confuse us and throw around when we loose
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How so? As I've seen it, this move has zero potential to blame losses on. It's just a way to describe an occurance, you can't claim you lost because you got "checked".
 
3mag5num7 said:
Ok, let's say I'm playing as Ermac and someone's getting a bit aggressive on me and they try to dash in on me, I can throw out a Force Push to "check" them. It's a way to keep them in line. You're making sure they have to respect your options. I'm sure there's a more technical way to explain it, but that's how I always think about it.
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Thanks man.

But im still not sure if i understand it right.
The way you explained is too broad. I mean, by that i pretty much could "check" someone any time doing anything. Is that it?

This is what i could make out of what you were trying to explain with the ermac example:
"An attempt to perform a particular move that you think it will counter what your opponent is doing or trying to do."

Or would it be more like:
"An attempt to perform a particular move to see if that is a viable way to break in your opponents guard."

Maybe both are wrong ? lol
 
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Checking is doing something to prevent and limit an opponent's options at a specific time.

Example:

If you are Kung Lao and your opponent is Liu Kang.... if Liu Kang does his 3hit low string, you block it, and you believe he might go for it again, you could CHECK him by throwing out a spin or low jab.

This check will prevent him from doing any other option besides block or jump away.

Harder Example:

If you're Johnny Cage..... you do a move on your opponent that gives advantage on block(like his F32), they block it like you thought they would, then you throw out a low jab to CHECK your opponent in case they try to attack you back even though you have advantage.

Sure, after they block the low jab the opponent will be at the advantage though because having your opponent block a low jab leaves you at the disadvantage. But if you scare them into thinking you might do a low jab(Johnny's fastest move) they might look out for it and keep blocking. Since you know they are going to keep blocking you could throw out ANOTHER move that has frame advantage on block(like another F32).
Doing F32 then doing a F32 right after COULD be interrupted by the opponent's low jab because the startup on F32 isn't that fast, but this is why you should CHECK your opponent when possible in case they try to be clever and interrupt you while you have the advantage.



============================================

PS: Don't think these terms were just made recently for Mortal Kombat. They're been around for years and years and apply to every single fighting game that's ever been made.
 
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NothingRhymesWithCircus said:
Checking is doing something to prevent and limit an opponent's options at a specific time.

Example:

If you are Kung Lao and your opponent is Liu Kang.... if Liu Kang does his 3hit low string, you block it, and you believe he might go for it again, you could CHECK him throwing out a spin or low jab.

This check will prevent him from doing any other option besides block or jump away.

Harder Example:

If you're Johnny Cage..... you do a move on your opponent that gives advantage on block(like his F32), they block it like you thought they would, then you throw out a low jab to CHECK your opponent in case they try to attack you back even though you have advantage.

Sure, after they block the low jab the opponent will be at the advantage though because having your opponent block a low jab leaves you at the disadvantage. But if you scare them into thinking you might do a low jab(Johnny's fastest move) they might look out for it and keep blocking. Since you know they are going to keep blocking you could throw out ANOTHER move that has frame advantage on block(like another F32).
Doing F32 then doing a F32 right after COULD be interrupted by the opponent's low jab because the startup on F32 isn't that fast, but this is why you should CHECK your opponent when possible in case they try to be clever and interrupt you while you have the advantage.



============================================

PS: Don't think these terms were just made recently for Mortal Kombat. They're been around for years and years and apply to every single fighting game that's ever been made.
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Once more, Circus comes in to save the day haha. Great explanation.
 
3mag5num7 said:
That I was unaware of. I don't know a whole lot of technical jargon for armed fighting. What would your checking hand be used for?
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well for competitive purposes its for blocking in a way, so your opponent does not get a clean blow on you
but i if you really were armed in a fight you could use it for kind of what checking means in mortal kombat to have a hand at a ready position near your opponent that can parry, grab, block, mostly just to maniplulate your opponent which in a way can impede him or give you an advantage
if necessary to attack but if your opponent has a weapon may not be a viable option.
 
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Piemancer said:
well for competitive purposes its for blocking in a way, so your opponent does not get a clean blow on you
but i if you really were armed in a fight you could use it for kind of what checking means in mortal kombat to have a hand at a ready position near your opponent that can parry, grab, block, mostly just to maniplulate your opponent which in a way can impede him or give you an advantage
if necessary to attack but if your opponent has a weapon may not be a viable option.
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Very cool. Thanks =)
 
First of all, I think it is kind of funny that people watch fighting game tournaments, but to each his own.

Second, if you watch sports, the term "checking" means something very similar...except in hockey, of course.
 
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