One of the most important things to win in Tekken is knowing how to counter your opponent. The game isn’t always about attacking, sometimes you also need to know when to block and parry. But if you keep blocking, chances are your opponent will eventually catch you. That’s why it’s crucial that you know how to break throws in Tekken 8.

Of course, if you’re new to fighting games or haven’t played in a while, breaking throws can feel a little daunting. But once you know the basics and have the perfect practice routine, you’ll be able to master breaking throws in no time, no matter who you’re fighting. Below is everything that should help you out.

To break throws you need to press Left Punch (1), Right Punch (2) or both (1+2) depending on the incoming throw. Now don’t just press any random button input, you need to check your opponent’s hands and match the button inputs accordingly. So if your opponent’s throw starts with their left hand. You need to press the left punch button to escape it. These are just the basics of how throw breaks work, and may not sound very useful, so let me explain.

As an absolute beginner, you can duck for a while to avoid throws. However, this strategy is not really good for several reasons. First, it will only get you so far, because as you reach higher ranks, opponents can hop-kick you. But secondly, it can make learning throw breaks harder, because you are used to ducking. So only use them in emergencies and avoid it as much as possible.