How do I rewire my brain to stop mashing inputs till I see the animation?

[Thundah]

Title, but I will try to explain a little better.

I do not own a fightstick and only play on PS controllers. Currently PS5 D-Pad.

I mainly played fighting games as a child and was a button masher. Growing up, when dabbling in fighting games, I would know how to combo, but would still only be able to "link" these combos by spamming inputs till I see the animation and then proceed to spam the other input - rinse and repeat.

Does anyone have any tips to rewire my brain to stop doing this entirely and to learn to only press the inputs I need when they are needed?

Also, any tips on charge inputs would be appreciated.

[Miz]

Can't give tips on charge inputs because I absolutely can't do them in this game whatsoever. I keep trying with Guile, Chun-Li and Honda and my boomer-brain just can't get the timing right.

For the rest though, and frankly charge-inputs too, it's all about the practice. It's a bit boring but do the combo trials, practice some bread and butter combos in practice mode and do it until they always come out.

The trick is bringing that over into actual matches where the adrenaline is surging, which is also all about just practice. Doing it over and over and keeping your mental where you can see you actually improve even if it doesn't feel like it.

[OgichiGame]

First, go to the lab. Then, calm down, focus on learning the steps one at a time, really try to get a sense for the timing for each move. Even if you can only do 2 hits of the combo this way that's okay. The goal isn't to mash out your combo, it's about getting control over your hands, and making them do what you want them to do at the moment they need to do it.

You may find that as you get stressed out in a match that you start mashing out inputs again, and that's okay. It's normal. Just try to regain your composure and keep practicing in the lab so you eventually stop mashing altogether. Even when you get stressed in a match.

[Holografix]

think of each combo as a distinct rhythm. that's how you learn. the rhythm is the muscle memory.

[Ratch]

You already have your answer. Just put it in place. Stop mashing. Practice that.

[Selphea]

Try the world tour minigames like hadou pizza and karate.

[kuaikukia]

Doing repetition till your muscle memory getting used to. Second, try always to keep calm on match. This one probably the hardest part and take the longest time to get used. There is no way to teach this except just play the game and don't over thinking it.