Continuing Kikuchi-sensei’s book ‘Strongly, beautifully,….Chapter 44.
Continuing Kikuchi-sensei’s book ‘Strongly, beautifully,….Chapter 44.5 Words to enter a switch“You’re alright, so just do carefully one by one,” this was what I said to him before the free skate at PyeongChang Olympics.“Have confidence, you can do it!” I incited him with this before the short programme the previous day.In actual fact, “Carefully one by one!” and “Have confidence!” are Yuzuru’s own habitual phrases. (t/n. In Japanese: 「一つ一つ丁寧に！」 and 「自信を持って！」)2015-16 season, GP series NHK Trophy, it was his first time competing with Boyang Jin (China) who had just moved up from junior level. Yuzuru was very tensed. Before the free skate, he murmured, “It’s alright, do carefully one by one, here we go!” and he flew into the rink.(translator’s notes: At this comp, he set new world records for both SP and FS, becoming the first skater to break 200 points for FS and 300 points for total score. He already broke 100 points for SP at 2014 Olympics.)Since then, he has often said “Carefully one by one” before a performance. As for “Have confidence!”, not only before a competition but also during practice, he always says that to himself.These 2 phrases are Yuzuru’s favourite words to rouse himself. Once they are said, the mood switches and the focus is on the performance. That is why I said those words to him right before the short programme and free skating at PyeongChang, hoping to give him some extra composure and calm facing the competition. Having words that can encourage himself is one strong point that Yuzuru has.4.6 (not translating)4.7 To moderate the tension before competingPerhaps due to figure skating being a sport that demands expressiveness, Yuzuru can express emotions* very well. (*t/n. 喜怒哀楽 = literally “joy anger grief pleasure”.) He always has an abundance of expressions. Frequently moving the facial muscles has a relaxing effect. I don’t know if that child is aware of it but his facial expressions are varied and colourful.If an athlete whom I am taking care of shows an expression like he/she is worrying about something, I will get them to do 'enforced eyeball movements’.Put a string from the back of the head to above both ears to the front. Cross it about 25-30cm in front of the eyes and suspend a weight of about 3cm at that point. First, fix your eyes on the weight, and with eyes staring at the weight, use your neck to turn your head side to side. Next, move the weight from side to side, and the eyes follow the weight with the head turning as well. Lastly, keep the head still and move only the eyes to follow the weight that is being moved side to side.This kind of training can be done in the warm-up before the '6-minute practice’.People who see this may think we are doing a strange thing. But this exercise is effective in easing tension in the brain. If an incorrect method is used and over-relaxes the tension in the brain, concentration power will decline. The person will not be able to give the fullest display of his abilities in the performance. 'Moving the eyeballs’ training is like an exercise that leaves one thread of tension behind.In my role as Yuzuru’s trainer, I felt some difficulty in dealing with this tension. I racked my brains and worried over a suitable state of tension for him, but Yuzuru said, “I really like battling with my body that has become stiff with tension.” A rather difficult situation, isn’t it?(This is the end of chapter 4. Next is chapter 5, last chapter of book.)Translated by me from Akira Kikuchi-sensei’s book (please buy it to show support, if you can)1st photo: from NHK Trophy 2015 (original source unknown, sorry)2nd photo: credit -- source link
#yuzuru hanyu#akira kikuchi#kikuchi sensei