I've been having some troubles against Shang and I think it' s because of this. After a ground skull, blocked, up close, I try to poke, but I get hit by Shang's attack instead. However it immediately turns into a combo. According to the above quote from Somberness I should be able, if I try to poke after a blocked ground skull and get hit by Shang's d3, to block the follow up f4. However when I try to poke Shang after a blocked ground skull Shang beats my poke with a combo starter. Anyone recognize this?
I'm a bit confused because if I keep blocking after an upskull I'm giving Shang the chance to just do another string into upskull and repeat endlessly. What am I doing wrong?
Are you playing online or offline?
If offline, simply jump into training mode, pick Shang and finish every string in ground skull, that way you'll feel WHEN does Shang recovery. Now get a second controller and check when do YOU recover.
Remember we're doing some theory fighting, where there's no room for input errors or delay at all, usually differs to reality.
In paper:
Shang F4, GS is at +2 so if Shang D1s or D3s then it's uninterruptable, but only if he does it ASAP and you may only block (blocked Shang D1 is -12, so punish accordingly).
Possible real outcome1:
Shang F4, Gs, is at +2 but "waits" (unconsciously) two or three frames. He then tries to D1 (or D3) and Shang gets hit.
Possible real outcome 2:
Shang F4, Gs is at +2 and D3s inmediately. You're blocking so he's at negative frames. From here on there's a bajillion possibilities, he may block, try to poke again or F4, while you can poke back (he's at -3 or something so there's no room for punishment) or try to go for blockstrings (which is what I'd suggest).
Remember to always block low against Shang. It lowers your hitbox (let's you interrupt strings) and you can fuzzyguard his 3 overheads. It eliminates all of his poking possibilities because D1 is punishable and D3 will lead YOU to go for YOUR blockstrings:
1,2,1 - Last 1 is the overhead.
B+1, 2,1,4 - The 1 is an overhead.
B+2 - 20f overhead.
For string interruption and such, check "Shang strings are GODLIKE" thread.