The elusive Street Fighter superstar Daigo Umehara is back, and has dipped into the giant pile of questions sent in by Unity fans to answer some more.  There's some great stuff in here, including Daigo's advice on how to practice, the way he categorizes opponents, stylish versus cut-throat play, and much more. 

The closer you look at what's being said here, the more you'll be able to realize how smart it really is--his comments can improve both beginning players, and I could name a lot of tournament pros that could massively power-up by taking some of these ideas to heart as well. 

If you haven't been keeping your eye on Daigo's actual play, you're missing out!  iplaywinner posted some *really* impressive recent matches against fellow uber-player Mago recently, and they are a thing of beauty.  Also if you missed Part 1 of Daigo's answers, check that out here. 

Now onto the questions, posted by you, picked by Daigo!

-What is the best way to practice?  How do you practice?  

I recommend a three-step-method. First, as I said earlier, you first should practice and master all the fundamental skills you need to win. Next, you practice your defense moves in order to protect yourself. After you master how to restrict opponents' moves, then finally, you move on to the stage where you develop your own offence method and style and practice your way of attacking opponents. 
 
-Does emotion play a part in your matches (either your emotion, or the emotions of your opponent?)
 
It is very big. How to control my emotion not only at big tournaments but even on regular practice matches, I think, is one of the most important elements. In particular, at big tournaments, I pay full attention to how I can be in a good mental state or not to be in a bad emotional state to play my game. I don't really try to evoke emotion in the other players. I focus on my gameplay. How I could bring out my best mental condition and best gameplay is what I consider most important. 
 
-Do you believe in luck?

Overall, I don't really believe in it. I believe in dedication and hard work. If I can meet my own standard and satisfy myself in preparing for a tournament, I can deliver good gameplay. Anything that happens during a game, including “lucky” incidents is reflection of my hard work.  That's how I try to see (lol). It's because being strong doesn't mean you can always win. There are a whole lot of factors that determine a victory in fighting games.
 
-Is stylish play as important as strength and winning?  Should you ever sacrifice one for the other?

A gameplay I consider cool and I admire is not about any particular style, but a dedicated and earnest play. This is also true for my own play. When I am able to fully concentrate on my play. to read the other's move perfectly, and to bravely follow my intuitions despite risks involved, it turns out to be the gameplay that is recognized by my others. That intuition and the ability to be able follow that instinct is, I believe, my style and my strength. In that regard, style and strength can coexist in one's gameplay.
 
-What does it mean to be a "strong" player, to you?  What do strong players have in common?

First of all, you have to accept and adopt yourself to characteristics or rules that run in each game. Players do have a desire that drives them to do things in their own way, but they have to able to control the ego, and familiarize themselves with the game rules first. Having understood the game traits, you will know what might or might not work. Only then, you can apply your own play style and personality. Flexibility, the ability to adapt oneself to characteristics of a game, is what I see in every strong player.
 
 
-What are your thoughts about female SF players?
 
What is good about fighting games is that everyone regardless of differences in physical abilities can play and enjoy the game on the same ground level. Women players, too, can fight against male players on equal terms and beat them based on their skills despite differences in physical strength. Gender doesn't matter in fighting games, and I do welcome women players out there. As long as “fighters” enjoy the game and have a good spirit to showcase the best of them, I welcome their participation. 
 
-You said you could quickly categorize play style of your opponent.  What types of categories do you have?

I start with breaking them into two large categories. One is the type loyal to theories. The other is the type that is loyal to his intuitions. From there, I further break them into smaller groupings; for instance, aggressive or passive, high-risk & high-return, or low-risk & low-return. I analyze a player against those categories and figure out his play style.

-What kind of thing scares you in SF?  Has there even been a player that consistently scares you?

No, I have never had anything that scared me. If there has been, I might have turned out to be a little more humble (lol). 

-Do you apply your understanding of SF to real world situations?  If yes, please offer some examples.

When you reach a certain level as a fighting game player, in order to climb higher from there, you must be able to analyze each action and event, “why?” I've contemplated how to win so long as I've been playing fighting games, it has become my second nature to ponder every moment on every action I take, “is this right?” before I do. I can't tell if this is good or bad, but the effect it has on my day-to-day life is…, it probably requires me more time to digest information and take a next action since I have to stop and think every time (lol).