To achieve greatness at Tenchu: Kurenai you will soon need to master the controls. This game is all about not being seen and to so do requires much skill. Stealth is very important if you are ever to become a true Grandmaster or Master of Assassins.

The basic controls for Tenchu: Kurenai are as follows (with some key moves highlighted yellow).

Moving
Advance								Run forward
Retreat								Turn and run backwards
Left turn								Turn and run left
Right turn								Turn and run right
Strafe forward	R2	+						Step forward
Strafe backward	R2	+						Step backward
Strafe left	R2	+						Step left
Strafe right	R2	+						Step right
Quick strafe forward	R2	+		+				Quick step forward
Quick strafe backward	R2	+		+				Quick step backward
Quick strafe left	R2	+		+				Quick step left
Quick strafe right	R2	+		+				Quick step right
Note: In Tenchu: Kurenai the controls are analogue, so all character movement are done with the L3 stick. You can alter the camera angle with the R3 stick.
Jumping
Jump								Jump straight up
Forward jump		+						Jump forward
Backward jump		+						Turns around and jumps
Jump left		+						Turns to left and jumps
Jump right		+						Turns to right and jumps
Double Jump								Jump forward powerfully
Moonsault jump	R2	+						Jump forward and reverse direction
Ricochet Jump								Flip off wall (need to be next to a wall)
Stealth Mode (crouching)
Crouch	R1							Crouch, don’t stand close to a wall
Advance	R1	+						Advance while crouching
Retreat	R1	+						Retreat while crouching
Move left	R1	+						Move left while crouching
Move right	R1	+						Move right while crouching
Turn left	R1	+		+				Turn left while crouching
Turn right	R1	+		+				Turn right while crouching
Stealth Mode (walls)
Press against wall	R1							Stand with your back to the wall
Move forward	R1	+						Move forward against a wall
Move backwards	R1	+						Move backwards against a wall
Move left	R1	+						Move left against a wall
Move right	R1	+						Move right against a wall
Note: For the following to work you must be close to a wall. Also note you can change the camera angle using the R3 button.
Stealth Mode (rolling)
Forward roll	R1	+		+				Roll forward
Backward roll	R1	+		+				Roll backwards
Left roll	R1	+		+				Roll to the left
Right roll	R1	+		+				Roll to the right
Quick reverse	R1	+						Roll through 180?
Hanging
Move left		while hanging						Move left while hanging
Move right		while hanging						Move right while hanging
Climb		while hanging						Stops hanging and climbs
Drop		while hanging						Stops hanging and drops
Note: By jumping, hooking or grappling the ninja can hang on to an edge.
Blocking
Defend								Blocks enemy attacks from the front
Attacks
Forward slash								Ninja slashes forward
Slash left		+						Turn and slash to the left
Slash right		+						Turn and slash to the right
Crouching attack	R1	+						Slash while crouching
Jump attack		while jumping						Slash while jumping
360? attack		+						Spin 360? and slash
Dash attack								Forward lunging slash
Flip attack	R2	+		+				Slash whilst flipping
Throw enemy								Use when enemy blocks or is inattentively
Note: Multiple use of the square button results in a combo, used in conjuction with the L3 stick produces even more attacks. Below are some possible combos you can use.
Standard combo								Standard 3-hit combo
3-Hit combo & kick					+			3-Hit combo & kick
Attack & leg sweep			+					Attack & leg sweep
Swimming
Forward								Swim forward
Backwards								Turn and swim backwards
Swim left								Swim to the left left
Swim turn								Swim to the right
Enter water silently	R1	+	direction					Crouch to enter water silently
Water Phantom	R1							Stay close under the water surface
Items
Pick up item/weapon	Directional buttons							Walk close to item/weapon
Aim crimson blade*		+	directional buttons					Target sight is displayed
Throw crimson blade*		(release)						Blade thrown at target sight
Aim grappling hook		+	directional buttons					Target sight is displayed
Throw grappling hook		(release)						Grappling rope thrown at target sight
Select item								Cycles through items
Select grappling hook								Shortcut to grappling hook
Select healing potion								Shortcut to healing potion
Use item								Selected item is used
Open map	SELECT							Shows level map permanently
Close map	SELECT							Closes level map
*Crimson blades are also known as shuriken
Other
Look around	L1 + Directional buttons							Ninja looks around
Subtle Movements	R3 with R1/R2							Use for subtle character movements
Enter passage	R1 +							Enter secret passage
Control Camera	R3 analogue stick							Alters camera angle
Cancel SK Animation								Cancels animation
Detonate sticky bomb	Press down R3							Detonates thrown sticky bomb
Pause	START							Pauses the game. Displays restart options.