Also all characters have varying run speed in 8Way Run, Taki may run the fastest while Astaroth may run the slowest. And depending on the direction of your run the characters will have different run speeds, for example running towards is much faster than running away. Mastering the 8Way Run is one of the many keys to victory in Soul Calibur. Knowing its intricacies can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Of course there is no lack of attention to basic movements in Soul Calibur.
All characters can crouch by holding down and then crouch walk by holding down toward or down away.
The usefulness in crouching is only limited to your imagination. Jumping is done by holding the Guard button and tapping up. Once airborne, characters can execute a variety of attacks. Also many characters have special movements like Mitsurugi's Silent Step or Xianghua's Hou Lee. Check each character's move list and learn how to apply these movements into your overall strategy.