News - Avoiding The Puddle

The podcast is back and we brought back two of our most popular guests, Bronson and Slips. Some of the topics covered include Seasons Beatings, general impressions of TTT2, tier discussion, and much more. As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to leave them in the comments.

It's been a while but we're back with another podcast. This time around, MYK and I have Rip on the show to discuss the current and future status of arcades in America, as well as some thoughts on TTT2. I'm pretty sure this is the most worked up I've ever gotten on a podcast since this topic is very important to me. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy it. 

Evo has come and gone and both MYK and I are once again filled with emptiness. In this episode of the podcast we cover our experience at Evo as well as Comic Con. We discuss the tournament and our impressions of TTT2 among many other topics. Hope you enjoy it. 

As many of you might already know, I've taken an interest in the new Mortal Kombat. Unfortunately, it seems like the game is struggling on a competitive level so I thought I would put together a last minute podcast before Evo to discuss several different aspects of Mortal Kombat 9. I'm very happy to welcome on my good friends Art Sanchez and LI Joe who are two very reputable top level MK players who also have had great success with multiple other fighting games. Some of the topics we cover include the strength of EC vs WC, our gripes with the game, thoughts on patching as well as well as several other topics. I hope you guys enjoy it. 

If you have any suggestions feel free to leave comments or contact us at aris@avoidingthepuddle.com.

On this impromptu episode of ATP, I have Rip from LevelUpYourGame.com on the podcast as a guest co-host to talk about TTT2, and the bad news regarding it's availability in American arcades. Later we have Mr.Wizard on the podcast to talk about Evolution 2011 and Namco's presence at the tournament. 

If you have any suggestions feel free to leave comments or contact us at aris@avoidingthepuddle.com.

We're back with another podcast and this time we have New York's Blood Hawk on as a guest. Blood Hawk and I cover topics like the motivation to travel to tournaments while not being sponsored, the Gosu New York streams, commentating, and of coarse TTT2. Before that, MYK and I talk about the ethics of having top players balance fighting games while still being able to enter tournaments, and our thoughts on TTT2.

If you have any suggestions feel free to leave comments or contact us at aris@avoidingthepuddle.com.

Before I get into the details of this episode I just wanted to apologise for the sound quality. I just got a new computer and I have no idea what I'm doing. Now on to the fun stuff. This was a last minute episode pulled together to discuss the playable build of SFxT with MarkMan. He got plenty of hands on time with the game so make sure you tune in and get the inside scoop. 

If you have any suggestions feel free to leave comments or contact us at aris@avoidingthepuddle.com.

In this episode I catch up with LingMassacre. I highly recommend listening to the discussion towards the end of the interview with him because we get into some interesting philosophical topics. But before that, MYK and I discuss how the new trend of comeback mechanics in fighting games may be resulting in an angrier fighting game player. Is trash talk combined with X-Factor a recipe for disaster?

In this episode I catch up with the West Coast's king of style, QDogg. Q and I touch on subjects such as the villains of the Tekken community, TTT2, and his thoughts on the evolution of Yoshimitsu as a character. Before that, MYK and I discuss some of the TTT2 footage shown at AOU as well as our thoughts on MVC3. Enjoy.

This time around I caught up with STL’s Slips and Shin to discuss their opinions of the current Tekken community compared to the days of Tag as well as many other topics. Before that, MYK and I discuss MLG’s decision to exclude Tekken from their 2011 season and the EVO line up of games this year. Hope you enjoy it.

In this episode we welcome our guest ldMaxi and discuss many aspects of the Korean Tekken scene as well as his contribution to the Tekken scene world wide. Before that, MYK and I discuss how age and reflexes relate to success for competitive players plus much more.

If you have any suggestions for future guests or anything related to the podcast feel free to leave a comment or contact me at aris@avoidingthepuddle.com.

To say that this is a special episode of Avoiding The Puddle is a huge understatement. I’m honored to welcome on the director of the Tekken series, Katsuhiro Harada, member of the Tekken design team, Michael Murray and a special surprise guest, new Director of the Soul Calibur series, Daishi Odashima. Big thanks to these guys for coming on the podcast.

If you have any suggestions of questions either leave them in our comments section or send them to Aris@avoidingthepuddle.com.

We're back again and this time we interview the legendary Tekken 4 Nina, Tomhilfiger. Tom gives a history lesson on how competitive Tekken started in America and how it changed after the Koreans began attending American tournaments. He also gives his "old man's" perspective of how Tekken has evolved over the years plus much more.

Before that, MYK and I discuss the latest TTT2 trailer as well as talk about the announcement of the new Soul Calibur game. As always, feel free to leave questions or suggestions in the comments section or contact me at Aris@avoidingthepuddle.com.

This episode of the podcast features one of the best fighting game players in the US, Mr. Naps AKA Emphy. Naps is an expert player in multiple fighting games such as 3S, SSF4 and Tekken 6. He is without a doubt the best Bryan player in the Western World.

Before we get to our interview with Naps, MYK and I cover topics such as tournament confidence and what the actual meaning of "being good" is. Give it a listen and see what you think. If you have any suggestions for guests, the podcast or the web site in general, please send those to Aris@avoidingthepuddle.com.

For anyone that has watched the stream of the finale for MLG Dallas, then you should know that ATL_Hoa came out of no where and dominated with Jack-6. In this episode, we were able to get ATL_Hoa aka Anakin to come on and talk about his MLG Dallas experience. Before we talk with the unknown American hero, Aris and MYK sit down and shoot the sh*t. They recap the MLG Dallas event in depth, the new TAG2 footage, and more!

Also be sure to subscribe to Avoiding the Puddle’s youtube channel here.



The long awaited Bronson Tran episode, two time Tekken National Champ, and also one of the original Tekken players in the US is finally on the show.  He was a hard man to track down, but Aris was able to finally catch up with him and bring you guys an episode full of smack talk and interesting Julia/Bruce strategies, such as never landing juggles.  Before we get to the Bronson segment, MYK and Aris recap MLG DC, and answers some of your questions!

Also be sure to subscribe to Avoiding the Puddle’s youtube channel here.



This past weekend was quite eventful with WCG Finals 2010 happening right here in Los Angeles; players from all over the world came for the final event. Aris and MYK were fortunate enough to be able to get some games in, footage, etc. In this episode Aris and MYK briefly go over MYK’s new sponsor over at BLGaming.com, the WCG weekend, an elaborate discussion on how the tier list works in Tekken, and more!

Also be sure to subscribe to Avoiding the Puddle’s youtube channel here.



Its been a while since the last episode, but without further a do we bring to you the SBO recap episode, episode 8! No guest on this episode, but Aris has recently returned from his trip to Japan for SBO/TGS over the weekend. Aris talks about his SBO10 experience, along with a bunch of other topics with MYK, and with one of the biggest announcements in the Tekken scene as-of-late, Tekken Tag Tournament 2!

Also be sure to subscribe to Avoiding the Puddle’s youtube channel here.



Today we have a very special unannounced guest on the show, a Tekken Tag legend, JOP! One of the craziest/out of control interviews to date, so you guys are in for quite a treat, but before that Aris and MYK covers some interesting topics. In the first half, Aris and MYK talk about the new Mortal Kombat, playing different fighting games to help your main game, and more!



Unfortunately there isn’t a guest for this episode of Avoiding the Puddle, but nevertheless we bring to you another entertaining episode. We cover such topics as SBO Qualifiers, importance of balance in a fighting game, and more!



The Feng special episode! Today we bring onto the show, Geesemaster one of the only reputable Feng players in the US. Aris shoots the shit and gets down to business, and covers many many very technical aspects to the Feng character. Though before that, Aris and MYK cover some specific topics such as the newly announced Street Fighter X Tekken, Harada/Murray’s interview, and the tournament tip for this episode is on “sandbagging” and many forms that in comes in.



The Evo recap episode! On this episode Aris and MYK recap some Evo moments, talk about the corporate approach to fighting games, and elaborate a bit on some ways to help break throws. In the later half, JustFrameJames and Rip both come onto the show; the two top Socal Law players discuss about some character specific strategies and their Evo experiences.



Welcome back to yet another great episode of “Avoiding the Puddle!” Aris and MYK kick it off with a review of the Hori Premium VLX real arcade stick, then they break down tournament nerves in three categories. After this segment special guest Mr.Wizard from shoryuken.com and evo2k.com comes onto to the show to give us a special announcement about Tekken at Evolution 2010, the biggest fighting game tournament in America! After the announcement, Markman from sdtekken.com comes onto the show to give us some special insight of all the hands-on experience he has in the world of making the widely popular Madcatz Tournament Edition Fight Sticks and more!

In this episode Aris and MYK talk about some very important key points such as tournament commentary, the trial and performance stage of a fighting game, breakdown of fundamentals, and more. Then we bring on our guest all-the-way over from the UK, Mr. Ryan Hart! Ryan Hart brings us his insights on several different fighting games that he plays, and also gives us his opinion about Kazuya in Tekken 6:BR.

Wassup everyone, after a long hiatus IAMTEKKEN is back with a brand new podcast series to reboot itself: Avoiding the Puddle! Avoiding the Puddle, features two familiar players from the previous MYK’s Tekken Time, the host MYK and popular guest Aris. In the first section of the episode MYK and Aris breaks down the new format, and in the second section we’ll be interviewing a guest, and in this episode we do just that with NYC’s very own FightingGM!