Yuzuru Hanyu: 2014-15 Season

[Geo1]

If I'm understanding this correctly, you want to show why qualitative data is important when quantitative data isn't enough, yes? In that case, I would go with RJ 1.0. Not only is it an incredible performance on its own, but it's also a perfect example of what you want to teach, in my opinion. Because just looking at the numerical data for RJ 1.0 at Nice (i.e. 3rd place overall, 173.99 points) doesn't tell you much. In fact, someone more unfamiliar with figure skating, who compares 173.99 with current FS world records, might think something like "oh, he must have been decent, but not brilliant" even though Yuzuru was actually very brilliant in that performance. But if instead someone is shown the qualitative aspect of RJ 1.0 (i.e. the actual performance), then they understand. On the other hand, as Pamina mentioned earlier, your students' tastes also matter, and if you think most or all of them would be more touched by PW, then use that as your example instead.

I agree with Owl and Terrapin. Romeo and Juliet I has to be seen to be appreciated. You can't really tell anything by the scoring. On the other hand, PW's scores tell you that the performance has to be great.

You should show the 2012 Nice WC RJ1 for your teaching purposes and PW just for fun to show off Yuzu's performance!

 

[gsyzf]

I would choose RJ 1.0. Because Sochi's performance was a world record which was technically flawless, you can easily understand why the numbers "match" the performance somehow. However RJ 1.0 wasn't flawless, and I always thought this fall was maybe what made it so special in my eyes. It was a roller-coaster of emotions, with so much raw passion and abandon, you feel almost as exhausted as him at the end. It has this unique quality that provokes an intense emotion in you that connects you to the skater. And I know I've watched it a thousand times and never got tired of it. Although it wasn't deemed the best skate of the night that night, it won people's heart because it went beyond the numbers. This kind of emotion isn't something you can measure with numbers.
Sochi's performance was great, entertaining, seductive even, but it didn't reach this point where the skater almost bares his soul on the stage. Of course you can't really compare them because the style is very different and even the level of skating feels much more mature in PW. And yet I think no other performance will come even close to RJ 1.0. in Nice. As British Eurosport guys put it: "One of the best routine in the history of figure skating".

Terrapin said it pretty well. PW is a world record. That program shows that quantitative data is enough. When Yuzuru performed RJ1.0 in Nice, he was a relatively unknown skater and he wasn't flawless but he brought the house down. The audiences watching that performance live were very moved by Yuzuru's performance even though the score doesn't suggest it's the best performance. (The taste of the audience also matters. Maybe the French audiences really like this kind of romantic program. Your students are quite young. So they might like the cool PW more than the romantic RJ1.0. If they like PW more, you would need to find a PW performance that Yuzuru performed well, but didn't score well. I don't think there is any. He broke the world record multiple times with PW.)

 

[Pamigena]

Yes, ahkeekee. Basically I'd like them to feel for Yuzu's every movement and fall for him, being touched by his performance, and then contrasting this with the scores in a table he's got. Thank you.

Just out of curiosity, how did that same lecture work with an EX program then? They usually don't get too many scores there :think:

 

[margarethuililin]

I'd say it depends on your students which one you should choose. Different strokes for different folks. How were the reactions to Fields of Gold? Do you feel like that worked or that you should go with something more upbeat? I guess you know your students better than we do the performances you chose are both great, but for different reasons. So I'd say, if you think you can "get" your students by showing them an emotional skate to a romantic theme, then you'd be better off with RJ-1. PW is more of a "wow, how cool was that?" performance, but for many that can work just as well, maybe even better both are great, but very different IMHO

From personal experience: I've shown some clips to friends (most of them thought I'd lost my mind when I got into FS, but some at least pretended to care) and most of the time the PW performance from Sochi was the one they liked best (within the limits of "I still don't get it. It's figure skating.")

Thank you Pamina. I know how you felt when your friends don't quite get it.

 

[margarethuililin]

I would choose R&J for this matter.

Thank you Hanmgse.

 

[margarethuililin]

If I'm understanding this correctly, you want to show why qualitative data is important when quantitative data isn't enough, yes? In that case, I would go with RJ 1.0. Not only is it an incredible performance on its own, but it's also a perfect example of what you want to teach, in my opinion. Because just looking at the numerical data for RJ 1.0 at Nice (i.e. 3rd place overall, 173.99 points) doesn't tell you much. In fact, someone more unfamiliar with figure skating, who compares 173.99 with current FS world records, might think something like "oh, he must have been decent, but not brilliant" even though Yuzuru was actually very brilliant in that performance. But if instead someone is shown the qualitative aspect of RJ 1.0 (i.e. the actual performance), then they understand. On the other hand, as Pamina mentioned earlier, your students' tastes also matter, and if you think most or all of them would be more touched by PW, then use that as your example instead.

Thank you owl. I can't say that I understand my students' taste in art performance very well. I am more like their mother in terms of age. That's why it's so hard to pick.

Maybe I should ask my kids.

 

[margarethuililin]

I would choose RJ 1.0. Because Sochi's performance was a world record which was technically flawless, you can easily understand why the numbers "match" the performance somehow. However RJ 1.0 wasn't flawless, and I always thought this fall was maybe what made it so special in my eyes. It was a roller-coaster of emotions, with so much raw passion and abandon, you feel almost as exhausted as him at the end. It has this unique quality that provokes an intense emotion in you that connects you to the skater. And I know I've watched it a thousand times and never got tired of it. Although it wasn't deemed the best skate of the night that night, it won people's heart because it went beyond the numbers. This kind of emotion isn't something you can measure with numbers.
Sochi's performance was great, entertaining, seductive even, but it didn't reach this point where the skater almost bares his soul on the stage. Of course you can't really compare them because the style is very different and even the level of skating feels much more mature in PW. And yet I think no other performance will come even close to RJ 1.0. in Nice. As British Eurosport guys put it: "One of the best routine in the history of figure skating".

Thank you Terrapin. RJ 1.0 is just too moving not to get back to.

 

[Sorrento]

Just out of curiosity, how did that same lecture work with an EX program then? They usually don't get too many scores there :think:

I thought about it too. You can't compare the EX to the competition one. For that matter I might choose an EX of a top athlete at his/ her exellency*. Because Field of gold was a performance of a master, Michelle Kwan at that stage of her career was a queen of the sport whereas Yuzuru with RJ1 was a youngster who only stepped into the big scene, it was a moving and daring performance but did it mark his excellence, did it bring more maturity and meaning behind the technical score? I doubt that.
margarethuililin, you are trying to compare incomparable. And the fact that you doubt your choice is very obvious. When you teach (as well as when you sell) you can expect others to doubt your viewpoints and ask lots of questions. Think which of the programs is most special for you- as you will have to defend your choice and prove that it was the right one.

* to me this kind of quality is in Stephane Lambiel's EX Ne Me Quitte Pas, it had 2-3 jumps and yet that program was so deep, it created such an impact on the audience, I remember watching it's premiere and the rink went silent for half a minute after it finished. Same goes to his Un Giorno Per Noi and that program was a masterpiece, when I tried to show that to my colleagues- all of them went wow about it.

 

[cruzceleste]

Best of the season poll http://madavor.polldaddy.com/s/what-were-your-favorite-programs-last-season

Best free and short and best choreographer.

 

[margarethuililin]

I agree with Owl and Terrapin. Romeo and Juliet I has to be seen to be appreciated. You can't really tell anything by the scoring. On the other hand, PW's scores tell you that the performance has to be great.

You should show the 2012 Nice WC RJ1 for your teaching purposes and PW just for fun to show off Yuzu's performance!

Thank you Geo1 for your suggestion.

 

[margarethuililin]

Terrapin said it pretty well. PW is a world record. That program shows that quantitative data is enough. When Yuzuru performed RJ1.0 in Nice, he was a relatively unknown skater and he wasn't flawless but he brought the house down. The audiences watching that performance live were very moved by Yuzuru's performance even though the score doesn't suggest it's the best performance. (The taste of the audience also matters. Maybe the French audiences really like this kind of romantic program. Your students are quite young. So they might like the cool PW more than the romantic RJ1.0. If they like PW more, you would need to find a PW performance that Yuzuru performed well, but didn't score well. I don't think there is any. He broke the world record multiple times with PW.)

Thank you gsyzf. I agree with you.

 

[margarethuililin]

Just out of curiosity, how did that same lecture work with an EX program then? They usually don't get too many scores there :think:

I just showed them the table filled with MK's competition records and told them a little bit about why she was in tears yet still managed to smile at the end of her EX.

 

[margarethuililin]

I thought about it too. You can't compare the EX to the competition one. For that matter I might choose an EX of a top athlete at his/ her exellency*. Because Field of gold was a performance of a master, Michelle Kwan at that stage of her career was a queen of the sport whereas Yuzuru with RJ1 was a youngster who only stepped into the big scene, it was a moving and daring performance but did it mark his excellence, did it bring more maturity and meaning behind the technical score? I doubt that.
margarethuililin, you are trying to compare incomparable. And the fact that you doubt your choice is very obvious. When you teach (as well as when you sell) you can expect others to doubt your viewpoints and ask lots of questions. Think which of the programs is most special for you- as you will have to defend your choice and prove that it was the right one.

* to me this kind of quality is in Stephane Lambiel's EX Ne Me Quitte Pas, it had 2-3 jumps and yet that program was so deep, it created such an impact on the audience, I remember watching it's premiere and the rink went silent for half a minute after it finished. Same goes to his Un Giorno Per Noi and that program was a masterpiece, when I tried to show that to my colleagues- all of them went wow about it.

Thanks Sorrento. I am not comparing these programs. The lecture was not related to FS at all. To show my students the program clips is a way to gain their attention and hopefully start to focus on how qualitative research should be conducted in the following 2 hours. I adore both MK and Yuzu very much. Went to see MK's performance when she was still a teen .

 

[dia]

Hi everyone!

I am planning on showing Yuzu's competition program clips in a research methodology course I am teaching (at college sophomore level) in order to demonstrate why sometimes quantitative data (as in the scoring system) are not enough, and why non-numerical data should also be included in research reports. I used to show Michelle Kwan's EX, Fields of Gold for the same lecture theme, but now that I have discovered Yuzu's talent, I simply have to show my students Yuzu's incredible performance.

The hard thing is that, there are way too many clips to show......(and I will still need to lecture), therefore......

I'd like to ask for your vote on one of the two great programs:

1. The RJ 1.0 that won Yuzu his world senior medal at Nice
2. The record-breaking PW that won Yuzu his gold at Sochi

Please vote and maybe say something about why you pick the one.
(I've been unable to decide on which one to show for more than a year. The theme is planned to be taught in less than a week.)

Thank you very much!

I vote for the RJ 1.0 from Nice

 

[kiches]

After multiple hours and attempts, I present the improved composite image of Yuzu's 4S from WTT.

 

[oriquey]

After multiple hours and attempts, I present the improved composite image of Yuzu's 4S from WTT.

Thanks for sharing the image, kiches. His 4sal is amazing. It has so much height and ice coverage

 

[margarethuililin]

I vote for the RJ 1.0 from Nice

Thank you dia.

 

[ahkeekee]

Thanks for sharing the image, kiches. His 4sal is amazing. It has so much height and ice coverage

Yea! I really love his quads, they're so majestic and beautiful!

That composite image really shows how HUGE his quad sal is!! And thanks kiches for sharing and welcome! !

 

[alia jackson]

Sharing a translation of Mr.Kimura Takuya (a famous Japanese TV star) interview during a radio programme “What’s up SMAP!” Tokyo FM on 1st May about WTT 2015.

Translation by Sophie Moroi and Angelica Yuzu from FB group . Translation starts from about 9:20 in the video.


*****
[Questions from a listener: “How did you feel about watching the figure-skate competitions live at the venue? Did you stay only for men’s performances?]

[Takuya Kimura]
Yes, it was indeed my first time watching figure skating competitions live at the venue. When we were shooting the TV drama about ice-hockey [several years ago], some figure-skaters such as Ms. Fumie Suguri or Ms. Miki Ando were training in the early morning at the Yokohama Prince’s ice-rink. After their training was done, we used the same ice-rink and shot the scenes of ice-hockey or training. So, I had the occasion of watching the figure-skaters’ training. But I never had a chance to watch a real competition, where the venue was fully packed with audience, the music was played so loudly, and many skaters tried to exert all their hard training for one action.
How can I say… Of course the kinds of ice are totally different but for me who once had the occasion of being on the ice even a little bit, it was absolutely thrilling, indeed…
You know, the skaters lightly and gracefully move to their starting position of their performance and their skate-shoes stop, making the sound “shhhgghh”. That sound of the skate-shoes scraping the ice, THAT is my favourite.　When I was doing ice-hockey, I felt the same way about the sound of blades scraping the ice. Now that I had the chance to see the figure-skating live at the venue, it has made me wanting to watch it again.

So, I was asked if I only watched the men’s single competitions. No, I was able to watch ladies as well as men. Oh, that was absolutely exciting!
Yeah, it would depend upon each person and be largely influenced by the kinds of performances, but I was about to fall in love. Oh, that girl, she was extraordinary. From Russia, I think. A 16-year-old skater. She was the only one who performed flamenco to guitar sounds. She was absolutely fantastic. I believe she will become extremely successful in the near future. [t/n Elena Radionova]

In addition, I think I was personally moved particularly because we are in the middle of shooting the TV drama called “I’m Home”. I have a “daughter” called “Subaru” with my “ex-wife” called “Kaoru” in the TV drama. Subaru’s face and the smile of Ms. Kanako Murakami looked very similar. Of course, I was fully aware that it was Ms. Murakami. But when she appeared on the ice, the music started, she successfully landed jumps and finished her performance with no mistakes, I just couldn’t help but stand up and gave her a standing ovation. I still clearly remember how touched I was.

And of course, Mr. Hanyu’s performance.
I am not sure how to describe, but I had the occasion to meet very quickly with Mr. Hanyu and with Ms. Murakami at the backstage.
With regards to Mr. Hanyu, how could his personality be SO perfect! What on earth was that? What kind of upbringing could possibly nurture such an impeccable human? It was unbelievable.
I would guess he must be quite strict with himself. Because he is probably strict with himself; his deeds and behaviour when he meets other people are so wonderful. Really, he was a complete person, to the point of amazement.

Yes, so, I would love to go and watch the competitions live again, if there is a chance. It’s definitely better to watch them at the venue. Watching them on TV is OK and easier, but live is very exciting. I highly recommend it.

END

 

[Hanmgse]

Thanks for sharing Alia ^^ it's always interesting to hear opinions about the sport from people who are not familiar with it.