Coming from Virtua Fighter creator Yu Suzuki, it's only natural that the fights in Shenmue wouldn't be thrown together. The Move Scroll in Ryo's inventory gives a run-down of the combos he can pull off during "free battle" fights.
These moves are divided up into three types, the same way as in the game - Hand Moves, Leg Moves and Throw Moves.
General Notes
Ryo's moves get more powerful the more you perform them, so when you have free time in the game, it's a good idea practice your favourites. The best place to train is the car park beside the You GAME Arcade in Dobuita, but you can also practice in Sakuragaoka park if it's empty, and the Hazuki Dojo (although it seems to be picky sometimes).
Unfortunately, you can't train throws without an opponent, so it's best to use the "Training" option before you go to sleep to make sure they improve if you plan on using them.
What moves you want to use will depend on your style as much as anything, but against multiple opponents I've always found the roundhouse kicks much easier - you can take out a couple of guys at once with something like the Brutal Tiger. Some throw moves will let you use one enemy to knock others down, but that's more reliant on the angle you're at than any intended use in the move itself.
Moves
Hand Moves
- Tiger Knuckle: X
- Pit Blow: Forward, X (Learned from Fuku-san in the Hazuki Dojo)
- Twist Knuckle: Back, X
- Elbow Assault: Forward, Forward, X
- Upper Knuckle: Back, Back, X
- Sleeve Strike: Forward, Back, X
- Rain Thrust: Back, Forward, X
- Twin Blades: Back, Forward, Forward, X (Scroll in Hazuki Residence)
- Rising Flash: Forward, Back, Back, X (Scroll from Bunkado Antiques: 500¥)
- Double Blow: Forward, X+A (Learned from Yamagishi-san in Suzume Park)
Leg Moves
- Crescent Kick: A
- Trample Kick: Forward, A
- Swalllow Dive: Back, A
- Tornado Kick: Forward, Forward, A
- Surplice Slash: Back, Back, A
- Thunder Kick: Forward, Back, A
- Hold Against Leg: Back, Forward, A
- Mud Spider: Back, Forward, Forward, A (Scroll from Bunkado Antiques: 1000¥)
- Crawl Cyclone: Forward, Back, Back, A (Scroll from Bunkado Antiques: 1000¥)
Throw Moves
- Overthrow: B (in front of opponent)
- Darkside Hazuki: B (left or right of opponent)
- Back Twist Drop: B (behind opponent)
- Sweep Throw: Forward, B (in front of opponent)
- Vortex Throw: Back, B (in front of opponent)
- Mist Reaper: Forward, Forward, B (in front of opponent)
- Demon Drop: Back, Back, B (in front of opponent)
- Shoulder Buster: Forward, Back, B (in front of opponent)
- Tengu Drop: Back, Forward, B (in front of opponent)
- Tiger Storm: Back, Forward, Forward, B, B (in front of opponent)
- Arm Break Fire: Forward, Back, Back, B (in front of opponent)