Yuzuru Hanyu: 2016-17 Season

[xibsuarz]

B-b-but 3 different quads in 1 program is something really cool and allows for higher BV.... Perhaps he could drop it in SP but leave it in LP, he'd practice is much less so maybe he'd be OK. On the other hand, I'm thinking that intensive training 2 quad loops (one for SP and one for LP) may be no less dangerous than training 4Ts.

*knocks on the wood*

I would absolutely love to see him go for 3 different quads in the FS, and in terms of zayaking it would be much more safer. Hoping for his foot to be in good shape for that!

 

[gsyzf]

Well I guess it may be scenario to drop 4T completely to replace with 4Lo if this put's less stress on his leg, so I would guess he would be doing 4lo and 4S in SP, and 4lo+2x4S in LP

Doing more 4t increases the risk of getting a recurring injury. But doing more 4Lo and 4S also increases the risk of hip injury. It doesn't make him less injury prone. He may do fewer 4t temporarily, e.g. not do them in smaller competitions like senior b's and GPs. But doing3 types of quads including 4t increases the LP BV quite significantly, so I don't think he will replace 4t with 4lo in the LP permanently. Replacing 4t with 4Lo in the SP increases the BV, so that's more likely to happen in the SP.

 

[seimei]

Long time no see Although he is out of summer ice shows, but there are many news.
First, very pleased to see yuzu's recent photo and relieved to see him on ice. Always miss his bright smile.
I also ordered his autobiography 2, but I don't understand japanese fully not using translator. So my friend who can understand japanese translated some parts for me.
It's really cruel to know his injury details since his senior career, especially before every worlds.. I finally understand some this thread posters who describe that parts as a horror movie..
I always have thought injury is inevitable to quads jumpers, but yuzu's case is too much... he has beautiful body shape and gifted jumps, but maybe he's not gifted healty athlete...
After reading that parts, I'm even more appreciated his performances and blood/sweat. And I wish his happiness as a human besides skate.
I also read his first book some years ago. The impression is quite different between two books. It is a matter of course considering time change, his position, experience and updowns.
But yuzu is yuzu, final parts are always progressive and determined. I really like his way of thinking that take the bull by the horns ( I searched this expression at dictionary haha)

And his gp spots are what I expected. I had a feeling he'll go SC. Maybe around mid August, do we have a information about his programs? so curious and exciting.
Anyway, thank you for all information. Best wishes to yuzu and everyone this thread.

 

[Spiral]

Yuzuru has been practicing the 4Lo for ~2 years, so not sure what you mean? He has been working towards a "3 different quad" FP for awhile.

Well, I usually wouldn't know what he's working on in practice. I haven't seen him do it in competition, so when I read here that he has it now, I assumed that he'd just learned it and was astonished that he could do it so quickly. So thanks for clarifying this. If he'd been working on it for about two years, it would make much more sense. Still, it's great to know that he's in such a good overall shape now (even if he can't do quad toe-loops yet), and that he's mananged to fully master the quad loop now (and shortly after returning to ice after recovering from an injury into the bargain).

 

[Lys]

Well, I usually wouldn't know what he's working on in practice. I haven't seen him do it in competition, so when I read here that he has it now, I assumed that he'd just learned it and was astonished that he could do it so quickly. So thanks for clarifying this. If he'd been working on it for about two years, it would make much more sense. Still, it's great to know that he's in such a good overall shape now (even if he can't do quad toe-loops yet), and that he's mananged to fully master the quad loop now (and shortly after returning to ice after recovering from an injury into the bargain).

He's been landing it in official galas since post-Oly season and he has shown it in various summer/winter ice-shows over the years (a small collection here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Y2L6E6DDI )

According his latest autobiography, he considered long and hard to put 4Lo in both his programs in Boston since his consistency on 4Lo was better than on his 4T in the months/weeks going to WC, but he opted out because he didn't think 4Lo was ready yet quality wise (ready in Yuzu sense, I guess: which means doing it with the most difficult entry you can think of...).

As for his shape right now, there's really no much to know for certain: just to keep fingers crossed he has fully healed.

 

[xibsuarz]

Well, I usually wouldn't know what he's working on in practice. I haven't seen him do it in competition, so when I read here that he has it now, I assumed that he'd just learned it and was astonished that he could do it so quickly. So thanks for clarifying this. If he'd been working on it for about two years, it would make much more sense. Still, it's great to know that he's in such a good overall shape now (even if he can't do quad toe-loops yet), and that he's mananged to fully master the quad loop now (and shortly after returning to ice after recovering from an injury into the bargain).

Yeah, he often attempts (and lands) the 4Lo at Galas and ice shows At the end of the WTT Gala last year, he actually landed a 4Lo+3A+SEQ #justYuzuthings

 

[Spiral]

Thanks for the info!

TBH, they spin so fast in triples and quads, I often don't automatically see the difference, and in exhibitions don't even look that closely - I didn't think anybody would do a quad in a show or gala. I've heard commentators exclaim admiringly when somebody did a triple axel in an exhibition.

But I guess if he does quads now, he must be in a very good overall shape.

 

[hamaguri]

Long time no see Although he is out of summer ice shows, but there are many news.
First, very pleased to see yuzu's recent photo and relieved to see him on ice. Always miss his bright smile.
I also ordered his autobiography 2, but I don't understand japanese fully not using translator. So my friend who can understand japanese translated some parts for me.
It's really cruel to know his injury details since his senior career, especially before every worlds.. I finally understand some this thread posters who describe that parts as a horror movie..
I always have thought injury is inevitable to quads jumpers, but yuzu's case is too much... he has beautiful body shape and gifted jumps, but maybe he's not gifted healty athlete...
After reading that parts, I'm even more appreciated his performances and blood/sweat. And I wish his happiness as a human besides skate.
I also read his first book some years ago. The impression is quite different between two books. It is a matter of course considering time change, his position, experience and updowns.
But yuzu is yuzu, final parts are always progressive and determined. I really like his way of thinking that take the bull by the horns ( I searched this expression at dictionary haha)

And his gp spots are what I expected. I had a feeling he'll go SC. Maybe around mid August, do we have a information about his programs? so curious and exciting.
Anyway, thank you for all information. Best wishes to yuzu and everyone this thread.

Agree!

Welcome back seimei!
I feel the same about his injury/illness history. Still i cant read this book, but it's just beyond my imagination. His patience is truly unbelievable.
Anyway, we are glad to see him back on the ice.

I guess his programs will be disclosed around August. Lets wait and see!

 

[mcq]

He's been landing it in official galas since post-Oly season and he has shown it in various summer/winter ice-shows over the years (a small collection here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Y2L6E6DDI )

According his latest autobiography, he considered long and hard to put 4Lo in both his programs in Boston since his consistency on 4Lo was better than on his 4T in the months/weeks going to WC, but he opted out because he didn't think 4Lo was ready yet quality wise (ready in Yuzu sense, I guess: which means doing it with the most difficult entry you can think of...).

As for his shape right now, there's really no much to know for certain: just to keep fingers crossed he has fully healed.

Oh wow I did not know the condition of his 4Ts became that bad nearing WC. However I kind of agree with him about his 4Lo not being "there" yet based on several footage of his past 4Los. I saw most if not all of it; the landings are not as effortless as his 4S or his 13/14 season's 4T - he either hangs on or land them with a bit of stress in the upper body which made them look wobbly at times, and those deep knee-bend, gosh I feel like my whole joint hurts just from watching him landing them. His 4Lo back then was probably already +1/+2 GOE-material but this would not really improve his score cause his 4Ts and 4Ss are +3 GOE quality. Other skaters would probably have already added it in their program but well, of course Yuzuru being Yuzuru probably want those +3 GOE quads solid before adding them.

 

[Lys]

Oh wow I did not know the condition of his 4Ts became that bad nearing WC.

People who read the book can correct me, but from translation&sum up of parts regarding 2016 I read, in second half of january he couldn't jump 4t at all, he felt pain jumping 4sal, he was hurting and losing also his triples and only jump who didn't hurt him was loop. Then in February he failed also 3lo (which he said it was a shock, and I can image, 3lo is the most natural of his jumps, even more than 3a).
Things got better when he went back to Canada, but he still didn't do 4t at the beginning, he practiced his sp doing 4s 4s3t and 3a. He thought about switching jumps order (4t, 4s3t, 3a) or doing 4lo instead of 4t.
In the end only change he did was the combo for his fp.

His 4Lo back then was probably already +1/+2 GOE-material but this would not really improve his score cause his 4Ts and 4Ss are +3 GOE quality. Other skaters would probably have already added it in their program but well, of course Yuzuru being Yuzuru probably want those +3 GOE quads solid before adding them.

Biggest bonus of 4lo in fp is to be able to do 3 different quads and have a triple more. But that of course if 4lo is done together with 4s and 4t, while the feeling I got from those translations is he was trying to see if he could do his fp with 4lo but without 4t (which becomes more a goe game than anything else, and I do agree, he wants that jump ready to get +3 goe on its own merit, otherwise it's too easy)
Anyway, I suspect we will see 4lo in both programs next season

 

[mcq]

Biggest bonus of 4lo in fp is to be able to do 3 different quads and have a triple more. But that of course if 4lo is done together with 4s and 4t, while the feeling I got from those translations is he was trying to see if he could do his fp with 4lo put without 4t (which becomes more a goe game than anything else, and I do agree, he wants that jump ready to get +3 goe on its own merit, otherwise it's too easy)
Anyway, I suspect we will see 4lo in both programs next season

Be still my heart. 4Lo in both programs! :shocked::eeking:
Anyway I saw someone here before list out the possible layout if he would do 3 types of quad and insert an extra triple (and lose the 2t). Apparently it requires him to do 3Lz3Lo. Considering his 3Lz is not really dependable lately I wonder will this really be a good idea hahaha I won't lie though, I would really want to see him landing those 4Lo in competition. Not necessarily for extra score/WR/BV etc. I just want to see him do it so I could freak out over it

 

[Lys]

Be still my heart. 4Lo in both programs! :shocked::eeking:
Anyway I saw someone here before list out the possible layout if he would do 3 types of quad and insert an extra triple (and lose the 2t). Apparently it requires him to do 3Lz3Lo. Considering his 3Lz is not really dependable lately I wonder will this really be a good idea hahaha I won't lie though, I would really want to see him landing those 4Lo in competition. Not necessarily for extra score/WR/BV etc. I just want to see him do it so I could freak out over it

Even without doing 3lz3lo (which I won't rule out, because it would be just one of those Yuzuthings to do XD) a layout like:

4lo, 4t, 3f // 4s3t, 3a3t, 3alo3s, 3lo, 3lz

would mean a BV of 85,44, almost 5 points higher than his WC fp BV

My feeling is he will put 4lo in both programs, but even if my feelings are wrong, I'm pretty sure (like 99,99%) he will put it at least in his FP

 

[mcq]

Even without doing 3lz3lo (which I won't rule out, because it would be just one of those Yuzuthings to do XD) a layout like:

4lo, 4t, 3f // 4s3t, 3a3t, 3alo3s, 3lo, 3lz

would mean a BV of 85,44, almost 5 points higher than his WC fp BV

My feeling is he will put 4lo in both programs, but even if my feelings are wrong, I'm pretty sure (like 99,99%) he will put it at least in his FP

Interesting! a layout with 3lz3lo would be : 4Lo, 4T, 3F // 4S3T, 3Lz3Lo, 3A1lo3S, 3Lz, 3A.
I am estimating this one would have a slightly higher BV by 1-2 points but higher risk because of the 3lz . Considering the condition with his toepick foot I think 4Lo is very likely to happen. I don't see him watering down his layout for next season or stay with his old layout so hopefully we will see it by next season. (Also fingers crossed for a full recovery by the time next season starts)
P.s : Also, lol at Yuzuthings

 

[Meoima]

People who read the book can correct me, but from translation&sum up of parts regarding 2016 I read, in second half of january he couldn't jump 4t at all, he felt pain jumping 4sal, he was hurting and losing also his triples and only jump who didn't hurt him was loop. Then in February he failed also 3lo (which he said it was a shock, and I can image, 3lo is the most natural of his jumps, even more than 3a).
Things got better when he went back to Canada, but he still didn't do 4t at the beginning, he practiced his sp doing 4s 4s3t and 3a. He thought about switching jumps order (4t, 4s3t, 3a) or doing 4lo instead of 4t.
In the end only change he did was the combo for his fp.

Angelica Yuzu‎'s translation for Yuzuru Hanyu International Fan Group

As I said I would do, I translated the main parts of the last chapter of Aoi Hono II: World Championships 2016.
The first part on his injury is paraphrased. After that is proper translation of parts.

About his injury-- briefly summarised by me from his direct speech:

It started as a discomfort at the end of October, just before Skate Canada. There was numbness when he jumped toeloops. But it went away after 3 or 4 jumps. He gave it some care but did not see it as major because it went away with more movement. At NHK Trophy, it had become a pain and got worse over time and was pretty bad at Nationals (Dec).

After Nationals, he rested for 10 days, and then he did ‘NHK Trophy Special Exhibition’ (Jan 9, Morioka) and then ‘New Year On Ice’ (Jan 16, 17, Osaka).

[My own notes about these 2 ice shows from past articles I had saved:
1) NHK Special Ex– This show was hosted by NHK and proceeds were donated to the Tohoku Earthquake reconstruction efforts.
2) NYOI– 17 January is the anniversary date of the Great Hanshin Earthquake (also known as the Kobe earthquake) which happened 21 years ago. 21 year-old Yuzuru skated ‘The Final Time Traveler’ which is the song written specially for the Hanshin earthquake.]

Before ‘New Year On Ice’, he went to the hospital and had a steroid injection and also took painkillers. After the show, he rested totally for 10 days, but after that, the pain was still there.

At its peak, even walking was painful. The inside of his big toe hurt so much that he started to walk with his ankle turned out. Because of walking in this strange way, other places started to hurt as well.

At the end of Jan, even though it was painful, he could still do the salchow. But soon, he was falling on more and more jumps. It was most painful for the toeloop, then later, there was also pain for the axel, salchow and flip. Only the loop was not painful, so he practised a lot of that and thought of adding a quad loop at Worlds. But in the end, he was falling even on the triple loop. Mid-February, he thought he had to withdraw from Worlds and was in despair.

He had planned to go to Toronto at the end of January but because of the pain, he only went back there at the end of February. It started to get better bit by bit with treatment in Toronto. Except for toeloops, all the other jumps started to come back and his “can-do” spirit also returned. The doctor that was treating him ordered a “toeloop ban” on him, so for 3 weeks he just practised with the other jumps. 2 weeks before Worlds, he did the quad toe for the first time and managed to jump it in a day, but it felt different.

Although the pain still remained, his jumps had returned and he was in good spirits.

At World Championships:

March 27, he arrived in Boston. The next day was the first practice.

“The 1st day’s practice was good. But from the 2nd day’s practice, my body did not work well. […] Even when I took a painkiller, the pain in my left foot was still there. And my lower back started to hurt. Within that anxiety, there was a matter with another skater. As such, it was a mess inside my head. Various kinds of stress arose and I knew very well that my mental state was dragged away in a different direction. A short program that “there’s no way you can do it in this condition”, but it was clean. (laughs)”

His SP score was 110.56, only 0.39 points short of his own world record at GPF. However, after the SP, his foot got worse and swelled up badly.

“Before the practice on the day of the free programme, I took a painkiller and confirmed that I could jump a quad toeloop even though it’s painful. Because my adrenaline was still running, I was in a constant state of excitement, and those 2 nights before the FP, I could not sleep.”

When he drew turns for the FP at Worlds and he got 2nd to skate, he thought, “ah, I, am finished.” Because he has not had much experience of having good results with 2nd to skate. He has not yet found a good rhythm for skating 2nd.

His mind and body was not yet put in order and he faced the free skate. [………]

“World Championship was really hard. Between the short and the free, the temperature was about 10 degrees different and the ice was melting, but people who can jump, can jump. My body was not in a condition to adapt to all kinds of ice, my mental state was also fluctuating all the time.”

[…….]

“Being 2nd at World Championships, last year I was so regretful and felt very gloomy about it. This year (about a month before Worlds), I kept dreaming about being 2nd in various competitions (laugh), there was not a single dream where I was first. So, when Worlds ended, even though I was really regretful, my mood was refreshed.

Thinking about it again, for last season (2014-2015), what I achieved was I recovered from my injuries (from CoC) and I was restored; that is the impression I have in my mind. This season, I got world record scores, and for the first time, I gave something perfect from within myself at a competition. It’s an important season that gave me a sense of accomplishment.

And also, my exhibition was good. I could put a lot of my feelings into it. The period before this Worlds, I did a lot of polishing on areas related to expression. Because of the pain in my foot, on-ice training was limited. So I practised on land, things like hand movement, ways of putting in emotions, the direction of the legs. For the ‘Requiem of Heaven and Earth’ at Worlds, I could put my feelings into it very well, my body and feelings were in harmony, and I was also one with the music. I finished the performance feeling refreshed.”

During practice for the exhibition, “Ahhh, if I skate this way, it is good,” he found a suitable way to skate on that ice and the skating felt good.

“Although in the end it took about 2 months, at that point in time before Worlds, it was decided that ‘due to the condition of my foot, I will not skate for one month after the competition ends’. ‘Must stay away from skating totally’. As such, with the thought that I cannot skate for one month from now, it was an exhibition where I really felt the joy and pleasure of skating.” […..]

“I think I first skated ‘Requiem of Heaven and Earth’ at Fantasy On Ice in Kanazawa. Many voices said "the Requiem at that time was so painful, it was heart-breaking”.
In fact, I had cried in practice, it was too painful. Especially when I was trying to link with the music completely, the moment I listened to the music, images of the disaster floated to mind…… I felt as if the pain at that time was depicted through me, it was very painful.” [……]

“ ‘My own happiness, it’s in skating’, ‘There is no joy except for skating’, there were times when I thought to that extent. At the start of January, my foot was in pain, and added to that, there were false news reports which made me rather distrustful of people.
(My own note: one terrible gossip mag said he was getting married and rumours spread.) Because of this situation, I was very happy that I could skate in a show. Skating is something done only by my own will. It is a place where no one else can interfere. At that time, I thought about many things. As such, it’s a program with deep meaning for me, ‘Requiem of Heaven and Earth’.”

He talks a bit about this recent season’s skating and jumps in the men’s field, and ends this part by saying he almost did a quad axel at Dreams On Ice and he is still studying how to do it. And “there are no quint jumps yet, but maybe Boyang might be able to do them. (laugh)”

“For men’s figure skating, now is the hottest period, isn’t it? For me, Salt Lake City was still the best Olympics and it was the trigger that started me thinking seriously that “I want to skate!”. In a certain meaning, that kind of time has come again, or it has become that kind of flow and I myself am in it. I am so happy. Until Pyeongchang, how much can I evolve, that will be my challenge from now. I am looking forward to it.”
[this is his last quote in this chapter]

 

[Sorrento]

Was there a news clip with this part: https://twitter.com/msmf40239/status/751672461322629120 ? What is he saying about Yuzu?

 

[hamaguri]

Yuzu's video message at faoi Nagano (June 23-25) was aired today!
http://dai.ly/x4jvkiq

He had ana outfit! I don't remember well, but the translation of this message was already posted (alia or someone?)? If anyone finds it, post please!

 

[Interspectator]

Was there a news clip with this part: https://twitter.com/msmf40239/status/751672461322629120 ? What is he saying about Yuzu?

My translation: 'From when he was small he could think very clearly. He could say with clarity what he could do and what he coludn't do. And for the things he coludn't do, he was a kid who was able to practice at it with his whole being."

 

[Sorrento]

Thank you so much!

My translation: 'From when he was small he could think very clearly. He could say with clarity what he could do and what he coludn't do. And for the things he coludn't do, he was a kid who was able to practice at it with his whole being."

 

[Sydney Rose]

When he drew turns for the FP at Worlds and he got 2nd to skate, he thought, “ah, I, am finished.” Because he has not had much experience of having good results with 2nd to skate. He has not yet found a good rhythm for skating 2nd.

Maybe he needs to find a coach who can help him with this issue. It's ridiculous that someone at his level
would not be prepared for such a scenario. That is a major coaching failure.

 

[Pamigena]