Yuzuru Hanyu: 2014-15 Season

[cheerknithanson]

Um, its still kinda hard for me to recognize certain jumps and Ive been watching for 2 years! Easy way to get a general idea is that the Toe Loop, Flip and Lutz all are toe pick assisted jumps, so youll see the skate pick into the ice. Salchow and loop are edge assisted jumps so, no pick into the ice, the best way i can describe is kinda like a sharp turn into the ice. And the axel is the easiest to tell, it looks like you are kicking/jumping into the air.

Im not sure about the costume parts, but it looks like everything is strechy material, even the pants to some extent since it gets a nice body fit, unless you wear a shirt like Yuzu's PW

Same. Like I KNOW what the differences are in the jumps. Like if it's and edge or toe take-off, if you start on the inside or outside edge, if it's a forward or backwards take-off, and if you land on the same foot or opposite foot. But ACTUALLY SEEING IT, they all look the same cause I don't focus on the feet too much.

 

[Lindacrow]

Same. Like I KNOW what the differences are in the jumps. Like if it's and edge or toe take-off, if you start on the inside or outside edge, if it's a forward or backwards take-off, and if you land on the same foot or opposite foot. But ACTUALLY SEEING IT, they all look the same cause I don't focus on the feet too much.

Haha me too! Most of the time, if I know a program, I just tend to memorize a jump layout.
It also doesn't help the viewer, when the skaters set up the jump so fast!

 

[xibsuarz]

Um, its still kinda hard for me to recognize certain jumps and Ive been watching for 2 years! Easy way to get a general idea is that the Toe Loop, Flip and Lutz all are toe pick assisted jumps, so youll see the skate pick into the ice. Salchow and loop are edge assisted jumps so, no pick into the ice, the best way i can describe is kinda like a sharp turn into the ice. And the axel is the easiest to tell, it looks like you are kicking/jumping into the air.

Im not sure about the costume parts, but it looks like everything is strechy material, even the pants to some extent since it gets a nice body fit, unless you wear a shirt like Yuzu's PW

To compliment what Lindacrow just said, I tell the Toe Loop apart because of the kind of half turn that the skater does when preparing for the jump, and is the only toe pick assisted jump that used the left toe pick (normally, but some skaters like Ashley rotate clockwise and not counter clockwise so they use the opposite. But Yuzu does rotate counter clockwise). The flip and Lutz are very similar and hard to tell apart Since the difference is the edge, they both use the right toe pick as impulse. I'm not that good in telling those apart but I've kind of noticed that most skaters have a longer preparation time for the Lutz, while the preparation glide for the Flip can be almost none. So if I see the skaters prepare the jump for some time (even if it's a little while, like the best jumpers like Yuzuru do), I see it as a Lutz. Of course some skaters prepare the flip for a longer time than the Lutz (I think Denis does).

I tell the Salchow and the Loop apart because of the position of the legs before take off. In the Loop, the legs are kind of crossed over one another, while in the Salchow, they are kind of slightly pushed apart from the knee down, so the legs don't overlap. Aside from that, the skater almost looks like he's seated when prepared the Loop, and you don't see that in the Salchow.

There are many useful videos on YT to help us tell figure skating jumps apart, I'm pretty sure there are some that use Yuzuru's jumps as example, a good strategy is to watch the slow motion repetition with the protocol to watch how each jump looks like. hope it helped :agree:

 

[matmuh]

Hi everyone.

Joined here for about one year already. But haven't found a courage to post anything, as I know nothing about this sport. I thought it's strange for me liking something that I really know nothing about. Even the way I first came across Yuzuru is kinda unusual (via an animal-themed variety show which has a member my favorite J-idol group as a regular). Now, one year later, I still scratch my head trying to learn about types of jumps, spins and everything. Is there any key points to recognize jumps? And I'm not officially diagnosed with it but I think I have IHYS.

Oh, another thing I want to ask. Is all part of the costume stretchy? or only some parts, like only the sides, or only the illusion mesh and such?

1st of all, welcome to forum! thats one interesting story to get into figure skating i hope these articles will help you understand the jumps better, they include slowmotion gifs and explanations of each jumps it was hard for me at 1st but the more you watch videos the easier it gets to figure out which jumps it is understanding spins and step sequences (esp levels) are harder to understand though :hopelessness:

 

[Interspectator]

To compliment what Lindacrow just said, I tell the Toe Loop apart because of the kind of half turn that the skater does when preparing for the jump, and is the only toe pick assisted jump that used the left toe pick (normally, but some skaters like Ashley rotate clockwise and not counter clockwise so they use the opposite. But Yuzu does rotate counter clockwise). The flip and Lutz are very similar and hard to tell apart Since the difference is the edge, they both use the right toe pick as impulse. I'm not that good in telling those apart but I've kind of noticed that most skaters have a longer preparation time for the Lutz, while the preparation glide for the Flip can be almost none. So if I see the skaters prepare the jump for some time (even if it's a little while, like the best jumpers like Yuzuru do), I see it as a Lutz. Of course some skaters prepare the flip for a longer time than the Lutz (I think Denis does).

I tell the Salchow and the Loop apart because of the position of the legs before take off. In the Loop, the legs are kind of crossed over one another, while in the Salchow, they are kind of slightly pushed apart from the knee down, so the legs don't overlap. Aside from that, the skater almost look like he's seated when prepared the Loop, and you don't see that in the Salchow.
There are many useful videos on YT to help us tell figure skating jumps apart, I'm pretty sure there are some that use Yuzuru's jumps as example, hope it helped :agree:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbfRRXHqLm8 Here is Michael Weiss who explains each jump and even how to do it.

 

[alvgje]

Wow... thank's for all the notes... Will try to pay attention more to those points. I think I need to rewatch a lot of videos (do I really need reason to rewatch videos? )

what variety show, they mentioned yuzu in it?

There's this show called Tensai Shimura Doubutsuen. Which literally translated into Genius! Shimura Zoo. One of it's segment is the main cast of the show take a walk around Japan with a dog which was abandoned (and also abused I think, from its reaction to people). That particular episode has them visiting Ice Rink Sendai. So, by that time ( early march 2014) it's impossible for any show in Japan to visit Ice Rink Sendai (or even Sendai in general) without mentioning the olympic gold medalist right?

To think that I know Yuzuru because I watch variety show about animal. If someday by any chance I have the opportunity to introduce myself to Yuzuru, is it better for me to flaunt this fact or to hide it?

 

[yhmafan]

Same. Like I KNOW what the differences are in the jumps. Like if it's and edge or toe take-off, if you start on the inside or outside edge, if it's a forward or backwards take-off, and if you land on the same foot or opposite foot. But ACTUALLY SEEING IT, they all look the same cause I don't focus on the feet too much.

yeah, That’s the point!! I too don't focus on the feet when I see their performances as usually I focus on performers faces and upper body's so all jumps look almost the same except for Axels (and possibly Salchows ). I need to watch them in slow motion if I want to recognize the jumps

 

[yhmafan]

Wow... thank's for all the notes... Will try to pay attention more to those points. I think I need to rewatch a lot of videos (do I really need reason to rewatch videos? )





There's this show called Tensai Shimura Doubutsuen. Which literally translated into Genius! Shimura Zoo. One of it's segment is the main cast of the show take a walk around Japan with a dog which was abandoned (and also abused I think, from its reaction to people). That particular episode has them visiting Ice Rink Sendai. So, by that time ( early march 2014) it's impossible for any show in Japan to visit Ice Rink Sendai (or even Sendai in general) without mentioning the olympic gold medalist right?

To think that I know Yuzuru because I watch variety show about animal. If someday by any chance I have the opportunity to introduce myself to Yuzuru, is it better for me to flaunt this fact or to hide it?

Welcome So you are Aiba-kun fan and from Japan, right? (I like Aiba-kun, too) Seems like you are very good at English, I am jealous

Edit : @alvgje Yes, I am and I think I have IHYS too

 

[alvgje]

Learning about jumps is one thing, distracted by the whole performance while watching videos to actually learn about jumps is another thing...
It just bother me that I can't recognize jumps. But.. oh well.. I'll try my best learning them. But if I'm distracted by the performances it's a good day also??

Welcome So you are Aiba-kun fan and from Japan, right? (I like Aiba-kun, too) Seems like you are very good at English, I am jealous

Not really. I like another member of Arashi actually, but my friend who is his fan got me into watching Tensai. And i'm not from Japan, I'm from around the equator, I never see snow before. I sometimes watch via KeyholeTV and other ways. My written english is quite okay. Just don't make me speak.

Hm, I just realise something, ymhafan, are you from Japan? you know about Tensai Shimura Doubutsuen and Aiba-kun.

To think about it, KeyholeTV could also be used to watch most Japanese tv if any of you need it. It just have this annoying habit of disconnecting every now and then.

 

[Morena]

Guys, thanks for Yokozuna's article. It's amazing.
Also I have to say I think that Uchimura and Yuzu have something in common-it's poise, elegance of performance and effortless execution of hard technical elements.

 

[Lindacrow]

Learning about jumps is one thing, distracted by the whole performance while watching videos to actually learn about jumps is another thing...
It just bother me that I can't recognize jumps. But.. oh well.. I'll try my best learning them. But if I'm distracted by the performances it's a good day also??




Not really. I like another member of Arashi actually, but my friend who is his fan got me into watching Tensai. And i'm not from Japan, I'm from around the equator, I never see snow before. I sometimes watch via KeyholeTV and other ways. My written english is quite okay. Just don't make me speak.

Hm, I just realise something, ymhafan, are you from Japan? you know about Tensai Shimura Doubutsuen and Aiba-kun.

To think about it, KeyholeTV could also be used to watch most Japanese tv if any of you need it. It just have this annoying habit of disconnecting every now and then.

OMG! I watched that episode!!! Heres the link for anyone who wants to watch: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1e0x8v_2014-0301-天才-志村どうぶつ園_tv

They talk about him around 30 min! Miyu Honda was even in the episode. They basically talked about how this rink was known for producing Olympic Champions such as Shizuka and Yuzu, and all the little girls with so much talent saying "who will be the future champion?"

 

[alvgje]

OMG! I watched that episode!!! Heres the link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1e0x8v_2014-0301-天才-志村どうぶつ園_tv

They talk about him around 30 min!

YESS!!! it's exactly that episode.... Still... to think that a variety show about animal mention him.....

 

[Lindacrow]

YESS!!! it's exactly that episode.... Still... to think that a variety show about animal mention him.....

He was the buzz for quite awhile, especially since it was really only 2 weeks after he won gold! He still is pretty relevant in variety shows today, regardless of topic!

Oh yeah, sorry I forgot to say welcome!

 

[Nemorml]

I'll do a very simple guide, if you don't want learn all the terms by now, assuming that you have absolutely no idea about the jumps so I won't focus too much on edges, just for flip and lutz. The only things that is needed is being able to identify:

1. A bit of edges for flip and lutz,
2. Recognize a certain 'motion' that is needed for a jump. (loop and salchow)
3. Which leg the skater uses for the take off (to go for the jump) which one he uses to land it
4. You can differentiate by the "assistance" that people talked about, how the skater gets the impulse to launch for the jump using their other leg.

That's it and you're good to go if you only want to differentiate them and nothing more, after that you will learn more at your own peace.

So first, about edges: the skater can be on his inside edge (interior of the blade), flat (evenly balanced on the blade), or outside edge (exterior of the blade) --> here (as a detail, there's also forwad inside, back outside, back inside etc. forward = front of the blade/boot, back = back of the blade/boot)

The jumps:

Triple toe loop: Take off from the right leg, lands on the right leg. You can notice that she "kicks" the ice with the other leg (with her toe) to get the impulse. Thats what toe assistance means.

Triple Salchow: Take off from the left leg, lands on the right leg (you can identify the edges she uses if you want but you don't need to). The easiest way is just recognize the circular motion that the skaters uses to launch. Notice how she doesn't 'kick' the ice with her toe, she uses her edges to launch the jump.

Triple loop: Just one thing - "crossed legs", notice how the skater cross their legs to do it. No toe assistance too, like the salchow.

Triple flip: Take off from the inside edge of the left leg, lands on the right one. Notice the edge of the take off, keep watching the left leg, see how she's on the interior of the blade. It's really important to differentiate from the lutz. When skaters "lip" is because they are setting up for the jump using their leg at the front on the inside edge but right before they do it they change for the outside edge and launch. With toe pick assistance, notice the right leg on the take off and how she kicks the ice with it.

Triple Lutz: Similar to the flip, difference is the edge. Take off from the outside edge of the left foot, lands on the right one. With toe pick assistance too. When skaters 'flutz' is the opposite of the 'lip'. They want to do the lutz, they are setting up for it on the outside edge but right when they are going do do it they change for the inside and end up doing a flip.

Triple axel: Easisest one to differentiate because it's a forward take off, the skaters launch themselves in the air so they end up doing plus half of a rotation so it's 3.5.

Watch this video, up until 0:01 he did half of a rotation, at 0:02 he did 1.5 rotation, at 0:03 2.5, then finally at 0:04 3.5 rotations.

Hopefully this is clear enough! If it isn't please tell me!

 

[Hanmgse]

YESS!!! it's exactly that episode.... Still... to think that a variety show about animal mention him.....

Hey Welcome

 

[ahkeekee]

YESS!!! it's exactly that episode.... Still... to think that a variety show about animal mention him.....

We can't help it since he's such a legendary figure in mens fs in Japan (since there'll forever be only ONE first mens olympic Champion in Japan!!!!!) --> there can only be second olympic champion etc. but the FIRST will forever be yuzu's!!!! Lols...

But it's still funny to see that even a variety show on animals mention about him, and now I really want to see him appear in one of the variety shows (just want to see how crazy he can be on variety shows???)

 

[Pika]

To help a bit on the difference between flip an lutz, as edges are quite difficult to see with the speed, the flutzes, lips etc, look at the entrance (more noticeable when you're mesmerized by the performance ) . As said before, the skaters often take time to prepare the lutz, skating backward (as the perfect example, Gracie Gold has the typical entrance, long left outside edge, the arm pulled far behind) of course here, Yuzu doesn't help us a lot with all his steps and his quick entrance into the lutz
For the flip, skaters often use turn before kicking the ice. Typically three turns as our boy Yuzuru.
Hope this helps

 

[Lindacrow]

We can't help it since he's such a legendary figure in mens fs in Japan (since there'll forever be only ONE first mens olympic Champion in Japan!!!!!) --> there can only be second olympic champion etc. but the FIRST will forever be yuzu's!!!! Lols...

But it's still funny to see that even a variety show on animals mention about him, and now I really want to see him appear in one of the variety shows (just want to see how crazy he can be on variety shows???)

I feel he will be like Takeshi. He will be all quite and respectful until someone asks him to do a jump, and then you know him...he gonna whip out a 3A from a standstill!

 

[ser22]

Favorite Figure Skater of All Time vote!
http://www.thetoptens.com/favorite-figure-skater-of-all-time/

Yuzu now 10th.

 

[ahkeekee]

I'll do a very simple guide, if you don't want learn all the terms by now, assuming that you have absolutely no idea about the jumps so I won't focus too much on edges, just for flip and lutz. The only things that is needed is being able to identify:

1. A bit of edges for flip and lutz,
2. Recognize a certain 'motion' that is needed for a jump. (loop and salchow)
3. Which leg the skater uses for the take off (to go for the jump) which one he uses to land it
4. You can differentiate by the "assistance" that people talked about, how the skater gets the impulse to launch for the jump using their other leg.

That's it and you're good to go if you only want to differentiate them and nothing more, after that you will learn more at your own peace.

So first, about edges: the skater can be on his inside edge (interior of the blade), flat (evenly balanced on the blade), or outside edge (exterior of the blade) --> here (as a detail, there's also forwad inside, back outside, back inside etc. forward = front of the blade/boot, back = back of the blade/boot)

The jumps:

Triple toe loop: Take off from the right leg, lands on the right leg. You can notice that she "kicks" the ice with the other leg (with her toe) to get the impulse. Thats what toe assistance means.

Triple Salchow: Take off from the left leg, lands on the right leg (you can identify the edges she uses if you want but you don't need to). The easiest way is just recognize the circular motion that the skaters uses to launch. Notice how she doesn't 'kick' the ice with her toe, she uses her edges to launch the jump.

Triple loop: Just one thing - "crossed legs", notice how the skater cross their legs to do it. No toe assistance too, like the salchow.

Triple flip: Take off from the inside edge of the left leg, lands on the right one. Notice the edge of the take off, keep watching the left leg, see how she's on the interior of the blade. It's really important to differentiate from the lutz. When skaters "lip" is because they are setting up for the jump using their leg at the front on the inside edge but right before they do it they change for the outside edge and launch. With toe pick assistance, notice the right leg on the take off and how she kicks the ice with it.

Triple Lutz: Similar to the flip, difference is the edge. Take off from the outside edge of the left foot, lands on the right one. With toe pick assistance too. When skaters 'flutz' is the opposite of the 'lip'. They want to do the lutz, they are setting up for it on the outside edge but right when they are going do do it they change for the inside and end up doing a flip.

Triple axel: Easisest one to differentiate because it's a forward take off, the skaters launch themselves in the air so they end up doing plus half of a rotation so it's 3.5.

Watch this video, up until 0:01 he did half of a rotation, at 0:02 he did 1.5 rotation, at 0:03 2.5, then finally at 0:04 3.5 rotations.

Hopefully this is clear enough! If it isn't please tell me!

Yes! This is very clear! I have to note it down and practice identifying and differentiating them during the summer using Yuzu's videos! (partly to cure my IHYS!) Lols!

Thanks a lot for your info! They're very useful!