Project 01: Preface

Street Fighter 4 was my introduction to competitive gaming, both online and offline, but its influence extended far beyond the screen. The structure of training and the community it introduced me to had a profoundly positive impact on my mental health, giving me purpose, connection and a clear sense of progress. I began going to the gym to improve the physical skills competitive play demanded, established structured routines and explored the psychology behind fighting games—eventually writing my university thesis on learning and the concept of yomi.

Returning to Street Fighter 6 feels like the right starting point for 12 in 12. As I begin a new academic year, train for a marathon and prepare for the Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond Season 2 playoffs, this project offers a familiar framework for rebuilding discipline and maintaining balance. This time, there is an additional challenge: learning to play on an arcade stick, developing the dexterity and muscle memory needed to compete with an entirely new control scheme.