Something new to talk about: Takahashi Daisuke

[emma]

In some ways he is, and other ways he isn't. He doesn't have Buttle's posture or control, or Weir's or Weiss' basic skating skills and glide. He lands many of his jumps at a forward tilt, and while he has a quad -- more consistently this year -- he doesn't have Weir's pristine jumping technique. When Sandhu is on -- and Sandhu is the closest stylistically to Takahashi among the North American skaters -- Sandhu is at a higher level, particularly live.

I love Takahashi, and compared to Oda he looks more "mature" on ice, but he's still a little choppy in person, although his stroking and line have improved since Dortmund Worlds, where he was dynamic and charming.

I have to agree with your take on Takahashi, although I haven't seen him live. I do, nonetheles, just lurvvvvvvvvvvvvve to watch him skate. I particularly love his dance abilities, his footwork (as Mzheng pointed out) and just his overall presence. It will be great fun to watch him at the Olympics. I hope he has a great skate (well, two).

 

[shine]

So I didn't pay that much attention to Takahashi last season--just watched him two or three times. I remember finding him a little sloppy and wans't that impressed.
It's amazing how much he has improved and matured since last season--the intensity has always been there, but now his skating is so much smoother and much more refined. He does every move with so much commitment and passion, yet with a level of control which wasn't all there last year. I think he's like the dream skater for Tatiana Tarasova, and makes her choreography looks ten times better than it is. IMO TT's choreo really isn't that original or brilliant, but Takahashi skates with a passion and the sweepting way of moving that, amazingly, make it look very outstanding. His SP just sends chills down my spine everytime I watch it. His skating this year reminds me of Toller Cranston- the innovation is obviously not there yet, but the posture, the flamboyance, and the way he's perfectly attuned to his music, I really like how he can show both attitude and sensitivity in his skating.
Eh, and we thought those skaters from the far east were reserved

 

[shine]

In some ways he is, and other ways he isn't. He doesn't have Buttle's posture or control, or Weir's or Weiss' basic skating skills and glide.

I disagree with this. One thing that's really amazing about Takahashi is his deep, sweeping edges. His footwork (esp. in the SP)--even more so than his stroking--really showcases this aspect of his skating. I just don't remember seeing any skater displaying that kind of mastery over their edges during their steps. He's just so effortless; the different edges and turns look like they can go on forever without any pushing at all, and there are so deep and steady, nothing shallow or husky. I also don't agree that his posture is any lesser than Buttle or Weir--I would've agreed with this last season, but this season definitely not. He has improved SO much in the "refinement" aspect of presentation, and his extension and posture is just as good as anyone in the world IMO. He may appear a little "wild" at times, but that's not a problem with his posture. OTOH, sometimes I really find Buttle's posture and movement a little forced, not natural, and IMO he doesn't really know how to use his arms.

 

[Vash01]

In some ways he is, and other ways he isn't. He doesn't have Buttle's posture or control, or Weir's or Weiss' basic skating skills and glide. He lands many of his jumps at a forward tilt, and while he has a quad -- more consistently this year -- he doesn't have Weir's pristine jumping technique. When Sandhu is on -- and Sandhu is the closest stylistically to Takahashi among the North American skaters -- Sandhu is at a higher level, particularly live.

I love Takahashi, and compared to Oda he looks more "mature" on ice, but he's still a little choppy in person, although his stroking and line have improved since Dortmund Worlds, where he was dynamic and charming.

I agree with you about the jumps. Takahashi does not have the pure jumps like Weir's but he is wonderful in the footwork and interpretation of the music- definitely better than Weiss.

Have to disagree somewhat about Buttle too. While Buttle has wonderful edge control, so does Takahashi at this point, and I like his passion and interpretation of the music. I am with him every moment, while Buttle loses me at times. I don't find Takahashi like Sandhu at all. Sandhu is all about innovation and lines. I find Takahashi a more complete skater who does not seem to fall apart frequently (knock on wood).

Vash

 

[hockeyfan228]

Have to disagree somewhat about Buttle too. While Buttle has wonderful edge control, so does Takahashi at this point, and I like his passion and interpretation of the music. I am with him every moment, while Buttle loses me at times. I don't find Takahashi like Sandhu at all. Sandhu is all about innovation and lines. I find Takahashi a more complete skater who does not seem to fall apart frequently (knock on wood).

Vash

I think that Buttle has more overall body control than Takahashi does at this point; I think Takahashi could be the absolute best male skater if he could get this, because, unlike Weir, he doesn't have a sway back, and his arm movements could come deep from his core.

The reason I think that Sandhu is the closest North American skater to Takahashi is in his dance quality. Even when Takahashi is a mess like he was in different phases of Worlds over the last two years, he still has an innately musical response, and he can even do flamboyant without self-consciousness or coyness.

This has been a break-through year for Takahashi; his competitive profile was closer to Sandhu's in the past. I hope he continues to build on it. There's a lot of pressure on him, because he was expected to make top 10 at Worlds and procure two spots for Japan, after Honda was injured. It looked like he could after the SP. But he looks like he's in so much better shape this year, keeping his cool, even if he loses an element up front.