Hello and first of all, thank you for reading!

Karate Master 2 is an interesting single-player fighter, however due to the developer's indie status and limited English ability this guide should hopefully fill in some of the gaps in understanding the game's "other" moves which extend beyond the most basic of the basic controls.

This guide will explain some of the moves you may accidentally use, or see NPCs perform in the game; which are not explained through the in-game tutorials (although some of the concepts the game informs you of hint to and imply that these moves are in the game).

For ease of reading and use, the guide has been split into four main areas:

• Attacks/"Hidden" moves are unlisted/unexplained basic strikes and kicks in the game that are accessible by, and of themselves
  
• Waza Combinations are specific input combination attacks that will lead to a "Waza" move without having to use the original/listed input for those attacks
  
• Grabs are the grab moves and follow-ups available
  
• Counter moves are moves that can only be done as a counter to your opponent (Self-explanatory)

Each move has been given its own name, a command for how to perform the input (All inputs assume your character is facing right), a screenshot depicting what the attack looks like, and a brief description of the move with some key information regarding the contextual situations where the move may apply.

Thank you to Criansoft for such a wonderful game, scratches a particular itch I've had for years in the best way!

OSU!

Special Thanks to:

• Shawdawg for the Low-High Kick TC
  
• Fongher for the High PK Spinning Roundhouse TC and High-Mid-High/Low TCs

Uppercut (突き上げ/Tsuki-age)
Keyboard: ↑ + I
Controller: ↑ + Ⓨ

The Uppercut is a powerful, short-range punch that will hit your opponent at head level. It is only available in "Bogu" rules tournaments, i.e. when you can hit the head.





It is worthy to note that the Uppercut comes out relatively fast and has very similar reach to the standard straight punch (Jun tsuki), so if you're in close and your opponent's head condition is critical see if you can fire a quick upper into their chin.

K・P Mid-High Target Combo (打ち返し/Uchi-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: J・U
Controller: Ⓐ・Ⓧ

A front-leg kick (Mae Ashi Mae-geri) followed by a lunging rear-hand punch (Gyaku Tsuki). Despite the input needed, the character will use his left leg then his right hand (even though the input is for left leg followed by left hand). A very fast combo that quickly allows you to close distance with your opponent, from kicking distance to punching distance.

P・K High-Mid Target Combo (打ち返し/Uchi-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: J・U
Controller: Ⓧ・Ⓐ

A front-had jab to the chin (Jun Tsuki) followed by a lunging front-leg side-kick (Yoko Geri). Very, very fast with a short recovery time; you can actually chain this TC into itself over and over to push back opponents. Allows you to close distance quickly, however does not travel as far as K・P.

P・K・K High-Mid-Low Target Combo (打ち返し/Uchi-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: J・U・K
Controller: Ⓧ・Ⓐ・Ⓑ

Special thanks to fongher for discovering this TC.
An extention of the front-jab (Jun Tsuki)-lunging side-kick (Yoko Geri). Very, very fast with a short recovery time; bears the same advantages of its preceeding combination but suffers lower recovery - This is not as disadvantageous as it may sound, however, as the low kick can "stun" or stop an opponent in their tracks just long enough for you to recover.

The mere fact that this combo hits all three heights in rapid succession is its main strength.

P・K High-Low Target Combo (打ち返し/Uchi-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: →+U・K
Controller: →+Ⓧ・Ⓑ

A lunging back-hand punch (Gyaku Tsuki) followed by a sharp, low roundhouse to the leg (Gedan Mawashi). This combo hardly moves the character forward, however the low roundhouse is a really powerful move as it can cause critical damage quickly and will knockdown your opponent if they're caught mid-kick.

P・P・K Mid-High-Low Target Combo (打ち返し/Uchi-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: ↓+I・U・K
Controller: ↓+Ⓨ・Ⓧ・Ⓑ

A three-hit combo you have access to, this combo adds a gut-punch setup to the P・K Low TC. Comes out fast, however drains your Ki fairly quickly, otherwise is as useful as its two-hit counterpart.






P・P・K High-High-Low Target Combo (打ち返し/Uchi-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: I・U・K
Controller: Ⓨ・Ⓧ・Ⓑ

An alternative lead-in to the P・K Low TC. Comes out fast, needs to be input in extremely rapid succession, however can cause knockdown on your opponents much easier than normal (Helps you to regenerate some Ki).





Double Mid-Kick Target Combo (蹴り返し/Keri-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: →+J+K・(hold J+K)←
Controller: →+Ⓐ+Ⓑ・(hold Ⓐ+Ⓑ)←

This combo may actually be a weird glitch of the input buffer, but it's a target combo nonetheless. Your character will execute the front-leg side-kick (Yoko-geri), followed immediately by the spinning back-kick (Ushiro-geri). Needless to say, a very strong double-mid combo, however be careful that you don't get counter-attacked since the AI will often hunt for mid-counters.

• As a side note to this TC, it is also possible once you have acquired the "Waza:Ushiro Mawashi Geri" (spinning roundhouse) to simply hold Ⓐ+Ⓑ/J+K which will perform a mid-high TC that can catch the AI off-guard

*Note that all target combos are usable in both "No Face" and "Armored Sparring" rules, however the game will automatically change any of the high attacks to mid-level.

Low-High Kick Target Combo (蹴り返し/Keri-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: ↓+J・K
Controller: ↓+Ⓐ・Ⓑ

Special thanks to Shawdawg for discovering this "Waza" TC.
The low-high kick TC is a damaging mid-range combo, due to the powerful Axe-Kick (Kakato Geri) follow-up. Can quickly cause damage and knockouts and the low-kick is a relatively fast startup, however the combo can often be interrupted due to its lack of forward motion and the relatively slow Axe kick 2nd hit, which leaves you vulnerable to quicker attacks like punches.

P・K Spinning Roundhouse Target Combo (蹴り返し/Keri-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: →+I・J
Controller: →+Ⓨ・Ⓐ

Special thanks to fongher for discovering this "Waza" TC.
The PK Spinning Roundhouse (Ushiro Mawashi Geri) combo is a particularly damaging combo that hits high twice in a row. This combo moves you slightly forward and has a deceivingly long range, but is mainly useful for its ability to set-up baiting opponents into eating the Ushiro Mawashi.
It is also important not to 'mash out' this combo: You must time pressing the kick button only after the punch has fully extended.

P・K・P High-Mid-High Target Combo (打ち返し/Uchi-gaeshi)*
Keyboard: J・U・I
Controller: Ⓧ・Ⓐ・Ⓨ

Special thanks to fongher for discovering this "Waza" TC.
A "Waza" variant follow-up to the Tsuki-Yoko High-Mid combination. Like its predecessor (and also thanks to the speed of the spinning back-fist) this TC is very, very fast with a short recovery time. It also mildly addresses the short-coming of the 2-hit version with the forward distance that the back-fist travels.


Overall, a useful TC that can deal high damage thanks to the speed and unpredictability of the spinning-back fist (Mawashi-Tsuki).

*Note that all target combos are usable in both "No Face" and "Armored Sparring" rules, however the game will automatically change any of the high attacks to mid-level.

Grab (架け手/Kake-te)
↓↘→

The basic grab will stop your opponent from moving for a few brief seconds, but does no damage without a follow-up. Grabs cannot be teched (there is no way to break off a grab).





Grab Knee (膝蹴り/Hiza-geri)
Keyboard: ↓↘→ + J OR ↓↘→ + K
Controller: ↓↘→ + Ⓐ OR ↓↘→ + Ⓑ

The grab knee is a mid-level attack that knocks back your opponent a small distance. It is available in both rule formats (No face/Protective gear).

Some NPCs have their own variant of the hiza where they can hit you twice in rapid succession. As of yet I have found no way to perform this version of the move.

Grab Chop (手刀打ち/Shutou-uchi)
Keyboard: ↓↘→ + U OR ↓↘→ + I
Controller: ↓↘→ + Ⓧ OR ↓↘→ + Ⓨ

The grab chop is a head-level attack that will momentarily stun your opponent while leaving them in place. It is not available in "No Face" rules.






Switch sides(体捌き/Tai-sabaki)
↓↘→ ★ →

If you find yourself cornered, or simply want to take a breather to restore Ki, you can grab your partner and perform this move to circle around with your opponent, switching to the opposite side of the screen.

Low Kick Absorption Counter (手終打ち/Te-tsui-uchi)
Keyboard: When hit by a low kick U OR I
Controller: When hit by a low kick Ⓧ OR Ⓨ

The absorption counter is a move that you may see if you indiscriminately mash while in the thick of an exchange of blows. If your opponent hits you with a low kick and immediately after you hit punch, your character will strike out with both arms and knock them back a small distance.



The low absorption is surprisingly effective at staving off your opponents for a brief moment, allowing you enough time to back off or attack again.

High Kick Absorption Counter (関節蹴り/Kansetsu-geri)
Keyboard: When hit by a high kick J OR K
Controller: When hit by a high kick Ⓐ OR Ⓑ

This form of the absorption counter will only occur if you hit a kick button immediately after being kicked in the face (ouch), if done correctly your character will move forward a small distance and perform what looks like a kick to the shin.




In all the times I've been able to use this move, it fails to connect nearly all of the time, making it practically useless, unfortunately.