Through fighting games, I learned how to work hard and push myself past the point of “Man, I suck at this, this is no fun,” and I hope that you have a similarly impactful experience. And I want you to know that everyone goes through that I-suck-at-this-it’s-no-fun phase, and it’s the main thing that stops people from continuing to play and really get good. So, let’s talk about a few strategies for dealing with it.
This was exactly what it felt like when I started playing more seriously a few months ago. I would have whole days where I would play dozens of matches and get blown up every time.
It still happens. I have to come to terms on a daily basis with the fact that I have a whole ton of things to learn yet when it comes to Street Fighter—and I have to learn with reflexes that aren’t as sharp as they used to be.
Among the best advice in there, at least for someone like me:
Personally, I’ve never been good at learning a skillset if I don’t feel like I have a strong understanding of how the things I’m practicing day-to-day map towards long-term goals and the big-picture view of Getting Good at Fighting Games. It’s not enough for me to learn a new combo or setup; I need to learn why this combo or setup makes me a better player.
This is the kind of thing that a good teacher usually has; in fighting games, we have to be our own teachers. In order to make the most of our training time, we need to get good at breaking down these games not just in terms of frames and inputs but in terms of concepts like gameplans and footsies and controlling space.
I recommend reading the whole thing.