Of all of the fighters on the market, none are as difficult to master as the Tekken franchise. Where most games like Mortal Kombat operate as 2D fighters, Tekken operates in a 3D space, adding a whole new dimension to combat that can sometimes be hard to keep track of when fighting more skilled opponents. However, just because the learning curve is higher, that doesn't mean there aren't ways to gain the upper hand.
To understand the techniques of Tekken, it's important to look at chess. Though there aren't combo strings in chess, the game is, in fact, a battle. Like Tekken, an opponent will make a move in chess, as the player hopes their own defensive strategies protect the king until the move is over. Tekken follows this same logic. Rather than multiple defensive strategies though, the only movement needed is the block.
In Tekken, it's instinctual to button mash and hope for the best. But blocking makes the player nearly untouchable and opens up a window to understand the opponent. As the rival completes their "turn," there is a small opportunity for the player to land their own hits and combos before the opponent defends as well. This is the best way to control the flow of battle and understand how other players fight.
Once the dance of blocking and attacking has been mastered, anticipation becomes the next step. In chess, master players will study their rivals and anticipate their moves before one is made to hopefully use that against them. The same can be done in Tekken. For example, when playing as the wing-chun master, Leroy Smith, players can counter incoming attacks and leave the opponent open for a combo. When anticipating an opponent's attack, decisions like countering can make a difference between victory and defeat.
Anticipation is best applied once a player fully understands their favorite character and the other diverse fighters on the roster. Those who learn how each fighter moves will never be surprised and can counter almost any assault. Mastering the characters also opens up a player to more challenges.
One of the biggest gambits in Tekken is breaking a block while the opponent is in the middle of a combo. But, successfully interrupting a combo will offer great benefit, and will help to secure an early victory. Tekken is 50% fighting, and 50% a battle of wits as two fighters size each other up before making a move. To succeed, it's important to practice and master the fundamentals of defense and anticipation. That way, there will be no room for surprises when the time comes for tournaments with higher stakes.