When talking about his decision to continue to skate past the 2014 Olympics season Mura said:
The Olympics is the 4-year goal isn't it? When Nationals was done I thought about the next four years. Should I continue or should I stop here. I was very unsure. About two days, ...but I didn't want it to end like this. I didn't think I had shown my full potential. I wanted to keep going as far as I could go. So I have continued till now.
I think Yuzuru has had a big influence on my decision.
K: In what way?
Well, he's younger than me of course, but I watched him at shows and in competition, and heared about how he researched jumps and skating. And I thought, this dude is amazing!
I asked him about his way of thinking, his way moving and his way of using his body, I thought 'Ah, it's like this'. There were lots of areas where I could understand (the word is 'nattoku' but I'm struggling to find the right word in this context. understand/agree with)
As we had this back and forth I saw the effort he was making, Yuzuru said to me, "Please stick with it" (again, the word is 'gambatte hoshii' not sure about exact English word in this context) And because of that I have continued.
K: What a good story!
....
K: Is there a specific story you can share about that?
The quadruple jump. I was unsure of it for a long period, should I put it in competition or not. I saw videos of Yuzuru and thought of where our quads were different, and when I really couldn't see it, I asked him, "Well, what do you think?" "What do you (Yuzu) Think is different? " And I learned that when I was going to jump I was hesitating on the rotation, but I should just really go for it instead. And also the direction my body is facing, the best way to hold my arms so I could jump successfully, he suggested that I think about the best way for me to bring my arms in for the jump. "For me it is like this" stuff like that. (sorry, this is vague, I don't know exactly how to write in English the pointers he learned)
K: During the Ice Shows practice sessions you guys are just jumping aren't you?
That's right.
K: it's weird, everyone is practicing and you two are doing triple axels and quads the whole time and talking about 'what's different, etc.' just the triple axel and quads and everyone just watches.
There is a battle of wills there.
K: You guys tried the 4A as well, that was scary.
I asked Shoma if he wanted to try it to and he was like "No, I'm good." So I asked Yuzu, "I'm going to try it, wanna try it too?" He said "Let's try it"
K: You both got about the same amount of rotation?
Yes. when it comes to the 4A that last half rev feels like forever. It's as if I could just hold my body closed I could rotate it but I can't hold it. I can't tell how much I've rotated. The triple axel is (makes gesture close, open) but the quad axel, I don't know how long to keep (the rotating position)
K: I've never even had a chance to feel that. I don't think anyone knows.
What I can say is that it feels very long in the air, You don't know when you will land.
I think if I can land the (quad)Lutz I can land the axel.
K: Are you training it?
Only when I'm feeling in good condition. If I'm in good condition, and my training is finished, and I want to play. I'm pretty sure if I practiced it for real, I'll injure myself.
K: For skating a lot of the tricks you try in fun is something you get good at later.
Some times, in the competitions official practice, you try something and you land it.
i hope he wont force himself too hard this year
Congrats!
Very good job by Massimo and Charlie, too. :agree:
