Tatsuki Machida

[Wo|flax]

He did considerably increase his TR and things; I like to think TEB was just mental because he's had 2 basically clean whole competitions in a row, and the pressure got to him here, and the lowering the BV in SA seemed to be on purpose, because he's smart and knows he didn't need it. I guess like that, this is probably a smart decision to take things one step at a time, up the TR first, then up the jump layout. For example, getting more points than Javi for a less risky 3A.

Still, it seems weird to me that if it's stamina, he's leaving the 3A till after the 3Lo, which I guess can understand if he has trouble with the Lo rotation/just the nature of the jump. And why plan a Flip combo in the second half if he has edge problem on it? (he got ! in SA in addition to e TEB) The new rules really whammed his BV on that because he had UR also. Is it possible to do say, 3Lzcombo, maybe he finds combinations hard when tired? I guess the plan A is 3A3T though. With lower BV compared to the other two, he does have extra pressure to be clean

 

[ioanna]

TEB was definitely mental, he skated a clean FS in the official practice.

He also had a flip combo in the second half last season and he doesn't really have an edge problem. Other than Skate America 2013 (where he got an e), his edge was correct in all the other competitions. I'd say nerves are also responsible for the wrong flip edge, the combo probably gets him anxious at times.

 

[Sandpiper]

I think leaving the second axel that late doesn't make sense. It's really impressive when he hits it... but I'd rather see him hit an axel, no matter when he hits it, rather than seeing him miss one. It makes a little sense under 6.0, when you want to impress the judges with a tricky element at the very end (see: Kwan, Candeloro). But under COP, as long as it's past the halfway point, you get the same bonus. And though I hate the "OMG, halfway point arrived, jump, jump, jump!" layout, I'd rather see that done cleanly over something more interesting but done wrong.

Then again, I'm sure his team is looking over the protocols in great detail, and will come up with a good plan.

A bit worried to hear he's practicing 4Lz and 4-4. I think we've had enough injuries for one season...

 

[unico]

Retired skater Kensuke Nakaniwa (who is now a technical specialist) wrote a lengthy article about Tatsuki and what happened at TEB. It sounds very informative - especially from a technical point of view, but I could only understand very few details.
http://www.athlete-journal.com/figureskate/kensukenakaniwa20141126.html

Rough translation, basically just talks about the aforementioned stamina problems + zayak　issues:

The Strength of Tatsuki Machida, Qualifier for 3 Consecutive Grand Prix Finals

At the Eric Trophee Bompard, Machida Tatsuki captured the silver medal. Although unable to follow his victory at Skate America, he was able to guarantee his 3rd consecutive trip to the Grand Prix Final.

In his 2nd place short program, he was able to brilliantly land the ever-important quad and 3A but he made a mistake on his final 3Lz. Looking back, Machida-senshu said it was because of "insufficient stamina" and I felt the same. It seemed like he was lacking in speed so he became unable to move his legs properly. This could only be a problem of insufficient stamina. Denis Ten (Kazakhstan) was first after the short program and he was essentially perfect, so with that kind of athlete here, just one single miss could heavily impact placement. Despite the difficulties it is paramount that one perform without misses at every competition.

In the free program, he was impacted by the rules. Machida-senshu includes two 4Ts in his program; the first he fell on and the second one was popped into a 3T. But even more so his planned schedule collapsed. In one free program, one is only allowed to repeat two different jumps so perhaps in his head he was thinking that he could not jump another 3T so he changed his planned 3A+3T into a 3A+2T. **Speaking after seeing the results, because he didn't include any other 3T afterwards, he could have included a 3A+3T here. Using a 3T here, from his 5th element onwards he would have to use only a 2T in all his combinations to increase his score.**

Athletes hate jumping too much because one could lose points for jumping more than planned. In trying to avoid such problems Machida-senshu ended up being short of one combination jumping pass. There was also mistakes that we didn't see him make at Skate America. On his 10th element, the 3F, he made severe errors and furthermore, was only managed to add a 1T for the combination. After the 4T, he was still able to put together a relatively cohesive performance but he still missed many small opportunities to gain points. His score was 20 points lower than in Skate America. Although the fall on the 4T is certainly partially to blame for his lower TES, his combinations, lack of a 3-3, and his heavy errors on the 3F are all small details that add up.

Normally, athletes don't train under the assumption that they will make mistakes, they train so as to not make any mistakes. Although I think there are pros and cons to this, as with the case of Machida-senshu, I felt like it is important for athletes to also train for situations like these.

** Not to sure, really shoddy translation LOL
Very rough translation and hopefully nothing is extremely wrong : The article isn't too specific about anything anyway, but feel free to correct mistakes

 

[Sandpiper]

Rough translation, basically just talks about the aforementioned stamina problems + zayak　issues:

** Not to sure, really shoddy translation LOL
Very rough translation and hopefully nothing is extremely wrong : The article isn't too specific about anything anyway, but feel free to correct mistakes

Thank you for a translation. As if we needed more confirmation that the Zayak rule--as it currently stands--is stupid. Seriously, ISU--if he does 3A-3T when he's not supposed to, why can't you just downgrade the -3T to -2T? Why invalidate the whole combination? Watching Machida's skate, it was obvious he was trying so hard not to Zayak, and he left so many points on the table. And then there's poor Menshov who did Zayak, and lost himself a medal. These rules don't do Machida, Menshov, or anyone any good.

 

[leolion11]

Thank you for a translation. As if we needed more confirmation that the Zayak rule--as it currently stands--is stupid. Seriously, ISU--if he does 3A-3T when he's not supposed to, why can't you just downgrade the -3T to -2T? Why invalidate the whole combination? Watching Machida's skate, it was obvious he was trying so hard not to Zayak, and he left so many points on the table. And then there's poor Menshov who did Zayak, and lost himself a medal. These rules don't do Machida, Menshov, or anyone any good.

ITA. The rule seems even worse when someone with a really good skate (apart from the zayaking) loses a medal to another skater who skated worse because of the stupid rule

 

[ioanna]

Thank you for the translation shingalas! Rough or not it doesn't matter, it made sense in the end. I echo Sandpiper's pov and I agree his skating seemed cautious at times (probably from too much calculating in his head) even if he gave his best to stay connected with the music.

I'm also not sure why he put the second 3A that late in the program (it was the 6th element last season in the FS, now it's the 9th) and while it's pretty impressive, it doesn't do him any favors. It seems, however, that both at SA and TEB the doubling was intentional and he has no problems landing it in practice so we don't know for sure if he is able to do it or not - we can only see when he finally performs it.

 

[ioanna]

I just saw TV Asahi's promotional poster for the Grand Prix Final
https://www.facebook.com/tvasahifigure

It's nice to see Tatsuki a front-runner, in a place that used to be Mao or Dai's for so many years. It's been a long road.

From what I've seen, the same TV Asahi will broadcast a mini documentary that will feature Tatsuki and his coach Onishi at the end of the week (I won't guarantee this since I'm not sure I understood everything correctly) but I expect lots of reports in the following 2 weeks regardless.

 

[Maria Victoria]

I just saw TV Asahi's promotional poster for the Grand Prix Final
https://www.facebook.com/tvasahifigure

It's nice to see Tatsuki a front-runner, in a place that used to be Mao or Dai's for so many years. It's been a long road.

I agree and well-deserved!

I have read a post where I learned that Tatsuki, along with Takahito and Dice Murakami, collectively known as 3M, were thought to succeed Daisuke, Nobunari, et al. In this season with all of them winning gold at the GPS and Tatsuki and Takahito going to the GPF, it seems that expectation is now being fulfilled.

...
From what I've seen, the same TV Asahi will broadcast a mini documentary that will feature Tatsuki and his coach Onishi at the end of the week (I won't guarantee this since I'm not sure I understood everything correctly) but I expect lots of reports in the following 2 weeks regardless.

Oh I am very interested to see that documentary. Tatsuki picked his coach Onishi to be the one to go with him to Sochi.

 

[ioanna]

Tatsuki, Takahito and Dice have all delivered incredible programs this GP season at Skate America, Skate Canada and NHK Trophy respectively. Had it not been the unfortunate accident at Cup Of China I am sure Yuzuru would have joined them but I believe he will come back to his real potential (who knows, maybe just in time for the final).

As I watched Riona Kato sitting next to Anthony Liu in the kiss and cry at NHK I was reminded by the close relationship he and Tatsuki shared, and how Tatsuki mentioned he considered Anthony to be something like a father figure or maybe older brother to him. No doubt Liu managed to mold Tatsuki into the skater he is today and I am still grateful for his important contributions.

At the same time I can't help wishing Phillip Mills (who is also Tatsuki's coach now) can travel to Barcelona to support him because they share a special bond and one can notice that just by observing their body language - sometimes they seem to understand each other only by gestures and Tatsuki holds Phillip in high regard. I think the success he had both at Worlds and Skate America was partly due to the fact that Phillip was there with him.

 

[Wo|flax]

TEB was definitely mental, he skated a clean FS in the official practice.

He also had a flip combo in the second half last season and he doesn't really have an edge problem. Other than Skate America 2013 (where he got an e), his edge was correct in all the other competitions. I'd say nerves are also responsible for the wrong flip edge, the combo probably gets him anxious at times.

I remember thinking sometime last season that it was cool he had both ltz and flip, as well as pretty good 3a and 4t. Two in a row worries me is all

 

[ioanna]

I remember thinking sometime last season that it was cool he had both ltz and flip, as well as pretty good 3a and 4t. Two in a row worries me is all

Yeah it worried me too. But his 3F-2T-2Lo combo was very consistent last season and he's still nailing it in practice now so I can only hope it's only a mental thing.

 

[Maria Victoria]

Tatsuki, Takahito and Dice have all delivered incredible programs this GP season at Skate America, Skate Canada and NHK Trophy respectively. Had it not been the unfortunate accident at Cup Of China I am sure Yuzuru would have joined them but I believe he will come back to his real potential (who knows, maybe just in time for the final).

As I watched Riona Kato sitting next to Anthony Liu in the kiss and cry at NHK I was reminded by the close relationship he and Tatsuki shared, and how Tatsuki mentioned he considered Anthony to be something like a father figure or maybe older brother to him. No doubt Liu managed to mold Tatsuki into the skater he is today and I am still grateful for his important contributions.

At the same time I can't help wishing Phillip Mills (who is also Tatsuki's coach now) can travel to Barcelona to support him because they share a special bond and one can notice that just by observing their body language - sometimes they seem to understand each other only by gestures and Tatsuki holds Phillip in high regard. I think the success he had both at Worlds and Skate America was partly due to the fact that Phillip was there with him.

Yes, I credit Anthony for the consistency in Tatsuki's jumps and Phillip Mills for enhancing the balletic quality of Tatsuki's skating. If you look at Phillip's website, the recent updates are all about Tatsuki. This article on the homepage makes mention of the professional ties between Phillip and Anthony.

 

[ioanna]

Yes, I credit Anthony for the consistency in Tatsuki's jumps and Phillip Mills for enhancing the balletic quality of Tatsuki's skating. If you look at Phillip's website, the recent updates are all about Tatsuki. This article on the homepage makes mention of the professional ties between Phillip and Anthony.

Thank you for pointing out the article, very interesting read. No doubt Anthony is proud of how Tatsuki is doing and I agree, together they found a way to implement the quads in his programs and Tatsuki discovered the secret to the perfect take off position. His quads have become consistent in a very short amount of time and he rarely misses them. Even the one he fell on at TEB was most likely do to slight hesitation in the landing because it had its usual height and it was fully rotated. He probably didn't expect the fall and he struggled through the rest of the program.

Nice to see Phillip is keeping his official website updated with Tatsuki news, I really hope he accompanies him and coach Onishi to the final.

 

[Maria Victoria]

Thank you for pointing out the article, very interesting read. No doubt Anthony is proud of how Tatsuki is doing and I agree, together they found a way to implement the quads in his programs and Tatsuki discovered the secret to the perfect take off position. His quads have become consistent in a very short amount of time and he rarely misses them. Even the one he fell on at TEB was most likely do to slight hesitation in the landing because it had its usual height and it was fully rotated. He probably didn't expect the fall and he struggled through the rest of the program.

Nice to see Phillip is keeping his official website updated with Tatsuki news, I really hope he accompanies him and coach Onishi to the final.

I hope so too. If we see Phillip there, as you noted, chances are Tatsuki will do well. I also like seeing their heartfelt hugs.

 

[iceberg]

I love their heartfelt hugs and I too am sure there is a special bond between them whatever it is, very lovely. Could it be that Philip is Tatsuki's security blanket. If so I wish he's there everytime Tatsuki competes! My eyes are so hungry again to see Tatsuki's grandest programs!!

 

[Maria Victoria]

I love their heartfelt hugs and I too am sure there is a special bond between them whatever it is, very lovely. Could it be that Philip is Tatsuki's security blanket. If so I wish he's there everytime Tatsuki competes! My eyes are so hungry again to see Tatsuki's grandest programs!!

Now that is an interesting thought! I also think Tatsuki may have extra motivation to show before his choreographer in live action how he was able to bring to life and do justice to his choreography.

On Phillip Mills' part, he apparently sees Tatsuki as a muse (the male equivalent) and was quoted as saying that Tatsuki is "so inspirational" to him because of Tatsuki's "purity of movement" as mentioned in an earlier post. I've read Tatsuki went to him to choreograph "Firebird" after Tatsuki saw Ashley Wagner's "Black Swan."

Like you, I am also looking forward to Tatsuki performing his programs to perfection in the GPF. I just hope he doesn't get lost going to the churches in Barcelona (Sagrada Familia comes to mind) on the days of competition.

 

[ioanna]

I just hope he doesn't get lost going to the churches in Barcelona (Sagrada Familia comes to mind) on the days of competition.

This made me giggle but it's so true I hope he learned his lesson and will be focusing on his training.

And I think you're right about Tatsuki wanting to do justice to Phillip's choreography and he has yet to do that with Symphony no 9. I sincerely hope it will happen in Barcelona. After placing 6th and 4th at the previous two GPFs he should keep climbing the ladder and place higher this season. Last season's GPF would have been much better if he just trusted himself, but nevertheless I was impressed by the incredible FS he did after placing last in the SP with a very flawed program. This GPF can go two ways: he makes the same error he did last year and underestimates his strength and talent, or he skates with the mindset of a champion, just like he did in the FS at Saitama when he was under immense pressure fighting strong competitors, skating for the first time at a World Championship and on home ice. We should also keep in mind his performance at the 2013 Nationals, a competition that was probably much tougher than Worlds.

I remember a quote of his after he made the podium at the 2012 Skate America with Taka Kozuka and Yuzuru. He said he was honored to be sharing the podium with them and he said he was nowhere near an equal rival to them, but promised he would work hard to become one. I'd say he managed to achieve that in a very short amount of time.

 

[Maria Victoria]

I remember a quote of his after he made the podium at the 2012 Skate America with Taka Kozuka and Yuzuru. He said he was honored to be sharing the podium with them and he said he was nowhere near an equal rival to them, but promised he would work hard to become one. I'd say he managed to achieve that in a very short amount of time.

Gosh he said that? :shocked: And then two years later, after last Worlds, he was quoted as saying he will "crush" Yuzuru! You're right, it was a short turnaround, and what is striking, "so inspirational" , is that he did it at 24, considered by some as middle age by competitive skating standards in singles competition. Timshel indeed!

And I think you're right about Tatsuki wanting to do justice to Phillip's choreography and he has yet to do that with Symphony no 9. I sincerely hope it will happen in Barcelona. After placing 6th and 4th at the previous two GPFs he should keep climbing the ladder and place higher this season. Last season's GPF would have been much better if he just trusted himself, but nevertheless I was impressed by the incredible FS he did after placing last in the SP with a very flawed program. This GPF can go two ways: he makes the same error he did last year and underestimates his strength and talent, or he skates with the mindset of a champion, just like he did in the FS at Saitama when he was under immense pressure fighting strong competitors, skating for the first time at a World Championship and on home ice. We should also keep in mind his performance at the 2013 Nationals, a competition that was probably much tougher than Worlds.

I agree with you that Tatsuki can bomb or be brilliant at the GPF depending on his mindset. What is going for him is that he already has the experience of performing well under pressure as he did in last Worlds and Japan Nationals so he knows he can do it. Animo, Tatsuki!

 

[ioanna]

Gosh he said that? :shocked: And then two years later, after last Worlds, he was quoted as saying he will "crush" Yuzuru! You're right, it was a short turnaround, and what is striking, "so inspirational" , is that he did it at 24, considered by some as middle age by competitive skating standards in singles competition. Timshel indeed!

He said that and other things like "I never speak to Daisuke Takahashi unless he speaks to me first" That is the real Tatsuki, who always had a low opinion of himself, who never thought he was good enough to win over others. Unfortunately after years and years of skating with that mindset, those kind of thoughts are still bothering him ("I let bad thoughts control me", he was quoted as saying at TEB) and that is why we still don't know what's going to happen at the GPF.