But I am dissapointed in him for letting Mao skate all by herself in two very important competitions even though he seems to be still her official coach. When we speak about pay-off, I don't think that coming to Worlds would hurt his repetition at all because Mao would at least medal.
Mao leaves coach Arutunian
- Thread starter netnuts
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But I am dissapointed in him for letting Mao skate all by herself in two very important competitions even though he seems to be still her official coach. When we speak about pay-off, I don't think that coming to Worlds would hurt his repetition at all because Mao would at least medal.
I know there are things to speculate. But I just do not appreciate generalization made on people based on nationality, ethnicity/race, or "culture." Neither Mao, Mao's agency nor JSF in this matter can possibly represent "Japanese" or "Asian".
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2004
It's called playing the odds. Of course the entire spectrum of human behavior is found in every culture (as are individuals holding the entire possible spectrum of values).
But .... given the same stimulus, the percentages of people choosing particular reactions (out of the spectrum of different possible reactions) will differ across cultures in consistent ways. This has been replicated in lots of research. Cultural/national differences do exist (though again no particular individual will always choose the 'typical' reaction for their culture). In short there is no such thing as a typical Japanese (or American) individual but there are patterns of behavior that are more common in Japan (or the US).
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Back in December 2006, Arutunian interviewed about his work with Mao. I have the translation in my blog - http://ptichkafs.livejournal.com/3461.html. Here are some excerpts:
Did she say what she expected from you?
Experience tells me that the athletes of this level seek not only a coach, but the best training conditions. Nobody knows how long Asada will stay in Lake Arrowhead. If she stays a long time, then we can talk about contracts.
[...]
I’ve noticed that the athletes from that country are always surrounded by many officials at competitions. That’s how it was when Arakawa trained with Tarasova, and when Fumie Suguri trained with Oleg Vasiliev. Not it’s the same with Asada. Is that a form of controlling a foreign coach?
Rather a concern. I always feel this attention. Wherever we train, there are always water and napkins at the ready. Everyone always asks, “Are you OK?”
At the same time, I understand that if at any time the Japanese federation isn’t satisfied with me, I’ll be replaced with another specialist.
Did she say what she expected from you?
Experience tells me that the athletes of this level seek not only a coach, but the best training conditions. Nobody knows how long Asada will stay in Lake Arrowhead. If she stays a long time, then we can talk about contracts.
[...]
I’ve noticed that the athletes from that country are always surrounded by many officials at competitions. That’s how it was when Arakawa trained with Tarasova, and when Fumie Suguri trained with Oleg Vasiliev. Not it’s the same with Asada. Is that a form of controlling a foreign coach?
Rather a concern. I always feel this attention. Wherever we train, there are always water and napkins at the ready. Everyone always asks, “Are you OK?”
At the same time, I understand that if at any time the Japanese federation isn’t satisfied with me, I’ll be replaced with another specialist.
Thank you for your quite informative post. Interesting. It's back in 2006 but RA seems to be afraid of what might happen in future. But there is no telling whether it was the action of JFS or rather this kind of mistrust on the part of RA that might have played the role in leading to the current situation.
In any case, it would have been ideal for Mao's best interest if RA could come to the Worlds. I don't think that RA made a smart move about that. Even if staying in Japan to train her was a bit too much to ask, I think that he could have at least come to 4CC and Worlds, each of which taking just a week or so. He has had both Jeff and Mao at both competitions, but chose not to come.
I feel that both RA and JSF became a bit more defensive than needed. I think that this incident would hurt both sides' reputations; for RA in getting newer big students and for JSF in recruiting famous coaches. But because RA doesn't sound to be too ambitious in the first place, it may be Mao and JSF whose damage is more serious.
I wish Mao could have trained in the US until the Worlds is over or RA could have accomodated himself a bit more flexibly.
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- Feb 11, 2007
Has Arutunian made any official statement on this matter?
Is it 100% certain that it was his spontaneious decisions not to attend Mao's practice b/w JP Nationals and 4CC and not to attend 4CC rather than someone else having a control over these decisions or some unforeseen circumstances preventing him from going to Japan after the Nats.
Do you know how the confusing comments by the IMG rep must be correctly interpreted and whether her comments have been confirmed by all sides involved in this matter.
Reading your comments, I think you're going a bit overboard at this point in your assessing Arutunian regarding his, well, "decisions."
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Based on how inconsistent all the comment have been, I think there is just much more behind all this than we know, or perhaps will ever know. I find it rather hard to believe that RA would just, out of the blue, decide not to attend 4CC with Mao (if that were the case, then it really speaks ill of him). There must have just been more to this than meets the eye.
Thank you for your insights. That's true; we don't know anything about what RA may be thinking and how much he had his own input in this regard. And the same goes with JSF, Mao, and her agency. We just don't know how it's decided and who made the ultimate decision.
Lee is his main, long-term coach in Canada. RA is a technical coach and trains Jeff during the summer in CA in USA. Lee is usually at his C & K. But RA also joins at K & C sometimes.
On the other hand, Mao is going to be coachless at Worlds. That's the problem that ppl are worried about. It would be cool if either TT or Machiko Yamada could come!! But perhaps not.
I think that COP can be difficult to manage unless someone else is checking for you as you practice. For example, I feel that she may fail to get intended levels in her spins and spirals for not holding long enough. She also said that she was surprised to get UR at her 3-3 at SP at 4CC. And also the problem of nerves. I hope that ppl at JSF can help her prevent simple mistakes like not holding the position long enough. I also hope that all her practice will be perfect and she won't get anxious.
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- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
My guess is, she fired him before 4CCs. That would be the most logical explanation.
And then, there are also other versions of the story that are completely contradictory:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20080228f1.html
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20080228f1.html
that is the most confusing article ever. in the beginning it seems to say no, their relationship is fine and all the rumors are false. then towards the end, it seems to say that actually, artunian and mao were not even training together in california before 4cc and somehow he's upset about something and is not coming to worlds either.
and why is it saying that yuna withdrew from worlds?? i thought she was still going!
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2006
Why does Asada believe at this point in time that she cannot achieve her desired results with Artunian? Does she think that she would have achieved even higher results up to now if she had been training under a different coach?
I believe Mao wants to take advantage of the new rink. I read somewhere that it is a state of the art facility. She decided to stay in Japan to prepare for 4cc because she didn't want to travel back and forth, so she trained at the new rink. She probably really liked the rink then.
The best scenario for Mao may have been to train at her Univ rink which seems to provide her with a great training environment and have RA visit her and accompany her to 4CC and Worlds. I don't think that either JFS or Mao would have wished not to have him at 4CC or Worlds though. Going to competitions coachless is such a risky idea, which everyone knows. I don't think that JFS would have actively promoted it. Their main goal is to have Mao win the game using the best possible tangible and human resources available. That's why I am speculating that it may be RA, rather than Mao or JFS, who might have been a bit too defensive. But this is just my speculation and I can't be sure.
I just hope that Mao will be 100% confident in herself and can handle her nerves. But I am worried about that, having seen so many ups and downs this season. Although she did well at 4CC, it's a bit different because Yuna was missing, which would have lessened her pressures.
I just hope that Mao will be 100% confident in herself and can handle her nerves. But I am worried about that, having seen so many ups and downs this season. Although she did well at 4CC, it's a bit different because Yuna was missing, which would have lessened her pressures.
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