Soul Calibur move numbers?

Question

When talking about Soul Calibur people always say like do 88k+1, 2, 3, a+b or something. I get what the letters mean but what does the numbers mean?

Answer 1

789

456

123

The numbers signify directions, as if on your numpad on your keyboard (assuming your character is facing left).  8 = up, 1 = down and away, 2 = down, 3 = down and towards.