MenaRD Reveals Wild Training Regime for Daigo First-to-10 Match

MenaRD prepared for his historic First-to-10 exhibition against Daigo Umehara by having his own personal coaches teach rival Akuma players in Japan exactly how to defeat his Blanka.

The Anti-Mena Training Regimen and Defeating Daigo Umehara

During an appearance on Brian_F's Trash Talk podcast on July 27, 2026, two-time Capcom Cup champion MenaRD provided an inside look at the extreme preparation that led to his First-to-10 victory over Daigo Umehara. Following Tokido's high-profile Kemonomichi showcase, MenaRD wanted to test himself in a dedicated long-set format against the legendary Japanese competitor.

To recreate the pressure of playing against a prepared opponent, MenaRD flew his long-time sparring partners and analytical team to Tokyo. He brought in CrossoverRD, Luiman, and Roy with a direct instruction: train every top Akuma player in Japan on how to exploit MenaRD's habits. For a full month, MenaRD ran upwards of seven First-to-10 sets daily while his own team called out his weaknesses to his training partners.

"I was grabbing these three guys and I was telling them 'Coach the Akuma players, you guys know how to beat me, tell them how to beat me.'" — MenaRD, Two-Time Capcom Cup Champion

Despite not dropping a single training set during his month-long bootcamp, MenaRD admitted that Umehara exceeded all expectations during the actual 10-6 match. Umehara took an early lead before MenaRD adjusted his parry timings to nullify Akuma's fireball game. MenaRD noted that while the victory validated his preparation, the experience re-ignited his passion for high-level Street Fighter 6 competition.

Transitioning to Zeta Division and Critiquing the Street Fighter 6 Meta

MenaRD's First-to-10 against Umehara coincides with a permanent shift in his competitive career. The Dominican champion relocated to Tokyo to represent Zeta Division in Street Fighter League Japan. Joining a roster that features Momochi, Higuchi, and Yamaguchi, MenaRD explained that the Japanese scene offers an unmatched training ecosystem. In Tokyo, top players can arrange high-level offline sparring sessions daily rather than struggling through online netplay.

His relocation comes alongside strong opinions regarding the current state of Street Fighter 6. While praising the title as a general entertainment product, MenaRD expressed frustration with competitive volatility. Short tournament sets, potent throw loops, and drive rush overheads create scenarios where lower-ranked competitors can eliminate top-tier talent through high-variance offense.

MenaRD urged tournament organizers and Capcom to standardize First-to-3 match structures across all bracket stages. He also proposed system balance adjustments to make blocking more viable. Specific suggestions included reducing drive gauge depletion on block, making drive reversal safe, and nerfing throw loops across the entire roster.

Building a Legacy Across International Borders

By moving to Japan and joining Zeta Division, MenaRD aims to bridge the gap between Western and Japanese fighting game communities. He emphasized that making content and competitive insights accessible across language barriers will help the global Fighting Game Community grow.

As Street Fighter 6 enters its next competitive phase, MenaRD remains focused on pushing character boundaries. His willingness to master complex top-tier picks like Blanka and Zangief, paired with unprecedented training methodologies, keeps him at the forefront of global fighting game esports.

Source: Brian_F