Jump cancel

What it is not

It is not canceling a jump in order to perform a move via a cancel. This is also called “jump cancel” by many, both involving the same mechanics, but it is a different technique.

What it is

A jump cancel is a system in which you can cancel an attack with a jump.

These generally can only happen when you’re allowed to, when specific normal moves and launching moves hit; by inputting a jump, the recovery motion is ignored, being replaced by that jump.

After that, one can do things like tying it into an air combo, or moving on to a rushdown.

In Street Fighter III (for one), there are cases where it is only possible to cancel with a high jump.

 

Jump cancels are often found in combo games. The first ones, however, were found in the original World Heroes.

Further reading

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Based off the article on the kakuge.com wiki, edited on or before 5 January 2009.
Unofficial translation published by BRPXQZME / Alfie Parthum 1 February 2009. No unauthorized redistribution permitted.