Fresca

Yuzu please skate to shamisen or koto music next!! I'm so touched by his words and his philosophy towards skating. Everything he said is true. In good art, technique is not at the expense of artistry but for the sake of artistry. Developing technique means adding to the vocabulary of what your body can do so you can tell more stories with it. As Yuzu said, it is about using his body's capabilities from good technique to express what he wants artistically. It is about using technically difficult elements as tools for expression rather than doing them for their own sake. You can have good technique without good artistry but you cannot have good artistry without good technique. Thank you Yuzu for putting into proper context how you want to achieve your next crazy tech upgrade.

Yuzu in denial. From here. "Yuzu after Javi retires."

Here. Look at his happy awake face when they are about to eat cake. Have you ever seen him so awake for an interview? Also included: Yuzu's love of shortcake. And here. You must really want to eat cake if you are desperate enough to have it kneeling on a tiled sticky floor where staff are stacking the dirty dishes. Plushenko has already done 4-3-3 so I think along with the 4A, he wants 4-1-4 or 4-4 It makes sense if they are cutting out a jumping pass. Now that he has his 2 gold medals, he can get all the "firsts" in competition

He's going to be satisfied for 1 month...Competitors like him - Plushenko, Michael Jordan, Muhammed Ali - they always come back until their bodies tell them to stop even if the spirit is willing. I remember during Michael Jordan's retirement speech when he left basketball for the 3rd time that he was leaving because he felt "at peace with the game of basketball". Yuzu definitely doesn't feel that way about figure skating.

He seems to have a very straightforward approach to life. Focus on the priorities and don't pay much attention to the less important things. Skating Sleep Cake Video games Other food Well-tailored suits . . . . . . . . Everything else... Very amusing. And puppy-like.

He can do a 4.5 twist already so like Yuzu he wants to challenge the next 0.5 revolution. Funnily enough, I recall an interview with Kohei and Kenzo where Kohei said the Yuzu/ Shoma relationship is like him and Kenzo and Kenzo agreed. Then Kohei said he was cheering for Yuzu to get his next gold medal while Kenzo said he was cheering for Shoma. Some indirect feelings of rivalry?? Mama Hanyu, thank you for giving your best beloved boy the good genes for such an aesthetically pleasing, well-proportioned and well-featured face.

Yuzu's really working his very nice butt in that pic I approve

Glorious This is the best he has ever done this EX.

He should tell Zhenya that with a big squishy hug. Won't change the color of her medal but I'm sure it would give her some consolation.

Me too. I even believe Max's report of 30% success rate on 4A. I'm also sure he's landed all those crazy 1Lo combos in practice: 3A-1Lo-4S, 4S-1Lo-4S, 4T-1Lo-4T. Not so sure about 4T-4T and 4S-4T... His ankle too...if he didn't have thighs, abs and glutes of steel, his joints would be buckling and he'd be splatting all over the ice.

Yes, the POTO one from 2014 GPF is definitely memorable It was the beginning of his victory lap to cap a successful program that showed he was back. Everyone has their favorites! Mine is the R&J 2 one because I thought DW used it so effectively as a choreographic element. I'm a big sucker for choreography that uses changes in levels (in dance, level is the height at which a movement occurs) that make sense with the program and the music. The step sequence occurs at the climax of the program and DW choreographed the changes in levels to go with the percussion to make the movement as dramatic as the music. The Ina Bauer at the crescendo is the first level change (from upright to a back bend) with the entry and exit to the percussion. DW then continues this theme of changes in levels to add variety/drama for the rest of the step sequence and even into the final spin and ending pose with Yuzu taking a knee to the ice.

If he does an encore, I might be all by my lonesome but I don't care I want a revenge step sequence for Sochi from R&J2! His most underrated step sequence IMO. He was always too tired by this point to do it justice. He has a lot of other amazing ones but I don't think he has any that make as much use of his articulation in the upper body as this one. It starts with a rushing entry done to the drum roll into his layback Ina Bauer right at the crescendo of the music. I think choreographically this must be my favorite Ina Bauer from any of his programs. Then look how much variety in his positions DW choreographed for him not just in his arms and legs but in the rise and fall, contraction and expansion in his upper body, all to match the music. The choreography has him upright during the higher notes and lower to the ice or bent over during the lower notes with emphasis on positions done to the bass drum. And everything is executed with Yuzu's signature sensitivity to the music. There's so much texture in the weight of his movements. He floats along the ice when the percussion is light and shimmery then adds firmness or richness like his body is moving through molasses when the percussion is heavy. A very unlikely encore but hope springs eternal! I won't be disappointed by anything he gives us anyway! I'm just happy he's skating! They are sooooo pretty!!! The Korean media must be having a field day with these two

Oh thank god! Thank you Yuzu for being sensible! As I've mentioned before, his 4Lz is a risky jump with a smaller margin for error because of how late he opens it up compared to his other jumps. Hence, his probability for injury with this jump is higher than others I would say. He can land them beautifully but if there's something even slightly wrong with the jump, he'll need to save it close to the ice which will put strain on that ankle. Furthermore, Yuzu please stop jumping quads when you are sick! All the good technique in the world won't save you if you jump quads in high risk situations such as when you are sick/tired and you are not in good enough physical condition to land jumps properly.

Thanks! Glad to be back! This place is so much fun and it's even better celebrating Yuzu's 2nd OGM! After the months of waiting, we're treated not just to the gold medal and Yuzu's happy face but an avalanche of videos, pictures, interviews and features with Yuzu. The news of the seriousness of the injury is a sad shock but at least he successfully finished that 4 year long journey that started after Sochi wanting redemption for his1st medal. The greedy part of me that wants to see more of Yuzu is eagerly anticipating news whether he will attend the Gala or not and whether he will attend Worlds. The first priority should be medical treatment but the Gala may be the last time that he gets to enjoy the company of his fellow competitive skaters. Who knows how long he'll be out of competition? If he does attend the Gala, I don't care what exhibition program we get. I'll be happy with anything. But I wouldn't be surprised if Romeo 1 or Romeo 2 makes an appearance... At the very least I'm sure he and Shoma will be invited again to the Emperor's Garden Party (with medals on hand - Yuzu won't forget it again) and will need to go through the media circus that awaits them when they get back to Japan. Looking forward to more Yuzu in the spotlight.

I know...my favorite Pooh quote I've always known he's the perfect bear for Yuzu.

Pooh to Yuzu: “If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you.”

I think he may have already seen it. I've been suspicious ever since this TV interview came out where they showed Yuzu a simulation of him doing the 4A (starts around 9:01). Look at that face...it's a face that knows too much... I know it's not been officially confirmed but I really do think Yuzu has been jumping and landing 4A already. Miki said she's seen it. Max Ambesi said he's been jumping it and landing it perhaps 30% of the time. Why would he mention such a percentage if he hadn't seen it already or have a reliable TCC source? This is the guy who knows Yuzu and has been following him so closely that he knew in the 4CC FP that Yuzu's first backup plan was to tack on 1Lo4S to his 2S pop. I know Yuzu and Brian have denied it but this is the same sneaky TCC team that said "4Lz? Whut 4Lz?" before his layout upgrade was made public and then said "Injury? What injury? 4T, 4S, 4Lo all good!" going into the Olympics. Love them I do but they are lying liars who lie...

Hi! I stopped posting for a while because RL got too busy but I had to come back for the Olympics! So happy for Yuzu and what he's accomplished despite all the setbacks he's had! No matter what others say, the fact is when it mattered the most, he rose to the occasion in the worst of circumstances, injured ankle and all, and others crumpled. It was Yuzu who had to climb the furthest to win against healthier competitors who had the luxury of practice and previous competitions and he still went above them. I'm so sorry about his ankle. I hope its not as serious as it seems and he takes the time off to properly heal it before coming back. He should skip Worlds if he needs to. If he chooses to go to get Japan 3 spots for 2019 Worlds in Saitama while still having ankle problems, then the goal should be to finish top 7 which he can do with a very simplified layout (who am I kidding...) Maybe in the long run, this ankle injury will teach him not to take unnecessary risks. Who practices 4Lz when it's a new jump with a 39-40 degree fever??? I can't tell you how scary his 4Lz is to me...he opens it up later than his other quads because of delayed and slightly slower rotation. This gives him less time in the air to fix any alignment issues in the jump. Any alignment issues need to be fixed by adjusting his alignment once he's landed already which can cause strain to the ankles/knees. Even if his alignment is correct, because he opens up later, he lands lower and needs deeper knees to land the jump properly. The deeper the knees, the harder it is on the thighs and butt to land the jump. For you dancers, think about doing a classic pirouette from 5th vs a pirouette from a deep lunge in open 4th a la Balanchine. It's a lot harder... Shoma saves his jumps with his deep knees all the time but its easier for him because he's short with short legs. Yuzu is much taller with long legs so it's more difficult for him than Shoma to land his jumps lower. I don't think he should be practicing 4Lz until he comes back to peak condition. The jump is risky enough as it is.

Us ballet dancers...we love Yuzu You should ask her what she thinks of his fingers, turnout and jump landings if you want to hear her say more nice things

He changed the choreography again. That's a totally different exit from his spread eagle out of the 4Lo. He turns using the toepick of the left foot to keep it stationary while carving a circle with the other. I love his upper body movement here too with the torso and right arm bent back in high release. Yuzu please keep this along with the open arm twizzles and the arm extension on the note on the 3T! I don't know if these little changes and flourishes are tweaks he's consciously trying out or if he's spontaneously playing around with the program but I hope he rewatches everything and keeps a few of them.

I need to try all this.... Ah I see what you mean...that is a lovely ambition though and I hope that passion and commitment will bring you what you want! I was actually thinking he could be not Scheherezade but the Golden Slave... sparkly gold illusion mesh!! Yes me too! My ideal male Black Swan would be something like a *slightly* more flashy and sexually overt version of Rothbart as played by Gomes. Ah Alina Cojocaru ...I saw her a few years ago as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake with Ivan Vasiliev and she was exquisite...stole the show from him I must say and to do that to a dancer like Vasiliev is no mean feat.

Hmm...I don't know...Riding crop or no riding crop, I don't think Yuzu is quite ready to start licking up ladies' arms or pushing them down and writhing with them on the floor (I don't think I'm ready for that either! ). Adam Cooper's Black Swan (you may have seen him before as he plays Billy the ballet dancer in the last scene of Billy Elliot) is a savage barely contained by his smartly polished exterior. That would be upping it plenty from LGC. I'd love to see Yuzu do a tribute to Baryshnikov or Nijinsky. My preference would be Baryshnikov as Plushenko already did Nijinsky but I'll take either! Yes! Javi is jazz. Javi's best programs are all different shades of jazz from Chaplin to Elvis. Jazz started with the informal social and rhythmic dances of the South like lindy hop, swing and tap and then morphed into what we know it as today when choreographers started combining it with ballet and modern dance and took it to the stage for musicals and movies. On Patrick, personally I would not really characterize his movement as balletic. I think he has a lovely flowing lower body but rather stiff upper body and port de bras. His elbows and fingers are not soft and he looks like he holds tension in the upper body especially in his shoulders and ribcage (his ribcage is too pulled up). He would be better at lifting female dancers than Yuzu though.

Thanks so much! This is fascinating!! Are there stylistic differences/preferences to each method a la Balanchine with the open fingers and bent wrists and exaggerated lines? For choreographers, is it not better that you are exposed to different training methods? Illusion mesh makes it possible!!! I want to see Yuzu do Scheherezade! I'd like to believe that too!! I also noticed the clunky feet What I'd give to see his current toe point. I'm curious in general to see how good his feet are. Maybe he doesn't have very flexible/articulate feet which could contribute to the hard landings and not so deep edges?? Yes that bit really confuzzled me too. His flexibility isn't great but he could have lost it with age which is most likely as he also did gymnastics. He gave us something like that already and it's called...Vertigo...But seriously, I'd love to see Yuzu do Black Swan too There are 2 male versions of "Black Swan" that I have seen. The first is the Gomes version of Rothbart in ABT's Swan Lake where he portrays the character as a suave, charming, mysterious outsider that catches the attention of the ladies at court but it's too cool and composed for what I think a male Black Swan should be. Then there's the Black Swan in the Matthew Bourne adaptation of Swan Lake which I think is too sexually aggressive (who carries a riding crop to a party?? ). I can't think of another character that would be portrayed similarly. You only see such "aggressiveness" in ballet villains and I think in ballet there are slim pickings for villains (the Rat King??? ).

Yes, I agree. I recall a commentator mentioned exactly that - that 3A from a back counter is the hardest entrance to 3A possible but that is what Yuzu always does so it is normal for him. His 4Lo spread eagle sandwich also doesn't get the love it deserves and nobody but him does quads in SE sandwiches.

What I particularly criminal is that taking the quality of the jumps themselves out of the equation, they gave equal or higher GOE to skaters who have longer jump setup and do not have as difficult transitions in and out of their jumps as Yuzu. And that happened all season long no matter the competition.