complete analysis of the hope and legacy of yuzuru hanyu (his free program from 2016/2017), the record performance in the 2017 world championships.
this was written by Юлия Кривихина original article in russian: http://ametist-95.livejournal.com/7210.htmltranslated into english by fairuza vagizova
some abbreviations to remember before reading the article
cw: clockwiseccw: counterclockwisel: left (foot)r: right (foot)o: outside (edge)i: inside (edge)b: backf: For example, lbo = left back out, lbi = left back in, lfo = left forward out, lfi = left forward in, rbo = right back out, rbi = right back in, rfo = right forward out, rfi = right forward in .
“He’s incredibly musical, you can’t really teach that. it goes out on the ice and you look at it and you forget everything: the weather, the people around you, those who have already skated. It’s amazing”. stephan lambiel, 2017 bathroom
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“I had the feeling of becoming wind, as if I was swimming in a river, the feeling of becoming one with nature. it was kind of a nice state. Every time I took a jump I felt that I merged with nature”. © yuzuru hanyu, interviewed after the toilet. ———————- // ———————- // ———————- Last weekend, yuzuru hanyu won his second world title. in the free program he achieved something impossible by jumping from fifth place after the short program to the top of the podium with new world records in the free program (tes 126.12 points and tss 223.20 points)
videos with comment in english cbc version with interview https://youtu.be/np-vkvo2xuyno comment: http://dai.ly/x5gz0m7
protocol
the freeware from yuzuru, hope & Legacy is based on beautiful Japanese-style music by Joe Hisaishi made from two of his works, Asian Dream Song and View of Silent. the piece was chosen by yuzuru himself since he likes it. Shay Lynn Bourne choreographed the show.
“(The music) has a Japanese melodic line, the reflection of nature, the wind, the trees, the water. I would like to express these natural elements. in this sense, the program is also related to last year’s number one exhibition “requiem of heaven and earth. that’s why I want to fill this freeware with everything I’ve already experienced and continue to elevate it to a new level.
“it’s a very fancy program set up for piano and it doesn’t have the kind of sharp, flashy parts that the previous fp had. that’s why I want to keep and cherish what I express naturally from the bottom of my heart. It would be great if I could act like this” © yuzuru hanyu, ice jewel magazine, iss. 4, 21.10.2016
“When you surrender to the power of hisaishi’s piano music, you can feel the wind and the trees, the fresh air and other natural phenomena. sharing with everyone that flows from your skate, creating a program that reaches the audience: this is the highest form of figure skating that combines athletics and art” © yuzuru hanyu, bungeishunjū 2017/02
the technical content: 4lo, 4s, fccosp, stsq, 3f // 4s+3t, 4t, 3a+2t, 3a+1lo+3s, fcssp, chsq, 3lz, ccosp.
jumping and non-jumping elements are balanced and evenly distributed throughout the program and on the ice. 4lo, 4s+3c, 3a+2c are executed on the left side of the court (on the judges side), 4s, 4c, 3a+1/2lo+3s are executed on the right side of the judges. solo triple jumps are executed closer to the long board in front of the judges: the somersault is done to the left near the center of the piste, the lutz to the right also near the center. the first and last combination of spins are on the same line near the center of the court, the change of foot spin is in the right half.
The program begins with a musical fragment of sight of silence. lunge, chasse rbi/lbo, turn, chasse lfo/rfi, 3turn rfi, mohawk rbo/lfo, chasse lfo/rfi/lfo, lunge while turning, 3turn rbi, 3turn rfo, chasse rbi/lbo, three crosses, chasse rbi/ lbo, roll lbo, change edge lbo/lbi, chasse lbi/rbo. mohawk rbo/lfo – chasse lfo/rfi – mohawk rfi/lbi – chasse lbi/rbo – mohawk rbo/lfo – cross roll lfo/rfo – chasse rfo/lfi – mohawk lfi/rbi – change edge rbi/rbo – cross roll rbo/lbo – 4lo
if you don’t enter it with a shuu, you won’t jump © (notes: yuzuru has his own words to describe a jump, shuu – up and close the body, then paa – down and open the body)
brian orser said that this jump has a special rhythm.
the positive criteria of the execution of the jump: clear and recognizable steps immediately before the jump; good height and distance; good flow from input to output; effortless at all; element adapted to the musical structure (the steps that precede the jump and the jump itself are adjusted to the musical accents). goe criterion +2 (and more).
“yuzuru doesn’t spend too much energy on his jumps. he just goes in at a good speed and-bam! – skips it”. © nobunari oda
crossover, turn, cornering, mohawk rfi/lbi, chasse lbi/rbo, 3turn rbo, mohawk rfi/lbi, change edge lbi/lbo, chasse lbo/rbi/lbo, rocker lbo, change edge lfo / lfi, mohawk lfi/rbi, cross step, chasse rbi/lbo, two crosses. choctaw lbo/rfi/lbo – chasse lbo/rbi – mohawk rbo/lfo – chasse lfo/rfi – mohawk rfi/lbi – chasse lbi/rbo – 3turn rbo -mohawk rfi/lbi – 4s
positive criteria for the execution of the jump: clear and recognizable steps immediately before the jump; good height and distance; good flow from input to output; good position on the landing; effortless at all; element adapted to the musical structure (choctaw and mohawk at the beginning of the element fit perfectly with piano chords, while the jump itself fits with the beginning and end of a musical phrase). go criterion +3.
beautiful posture after jump exit, turn and entry through a single jump in the camel turn, fccosp combined turn. The twist difficulty features a difficult camel twist variation (scale), a difficult standing twist variation (doughnut), a difficult seated twist variation (broken twist), a difficult vertical twist variation (biellmann).
the twist includes all three basic positions (camel twist, seated twist, and vertical twist). for any change of foot turn, the maximum number of functions that can be obtained to turn on one leg is 2. the requirement is met (two positions are executed with the right foot and two more with the left). 4 level twist.
the positive criteria of the execution of the spin: good speed; ability to center the turn quickly; balanced rotations in all positions; good control; element adapted to the musical structure (the change of foot fits with the beginning of the new musical fragment asian dream song, soft and fluid lowering of the leg and arms after the biellmann). goe criterion +2.
Coming out of the spin, yuzuru does a beautiful spin. the beginning of the step sequence (stsq) matches the beginning of the new musical phrase.
here is the video of his step sequence at the 2017 world championships: https://youtu.be/jnpzmx5phlm
the sequence of steps itself is made for the most peaceful and serene piece of music.
chasse lfo/rfi/lfo, choctaw lfo/rbi ccw, 3turn rbi ccw, chasse rfo/lfi, bracket lfi ccw, cross roll lbo/rbo/lbo, chasse lbo/rbi, turn left, besti lbo- rfo with beautiful torso and arm movement, chasse rfo/lfi, choctaw lfi/rbo ccw, change of edge rbo/rbi, loop rbi ccw, turn ccw, rocker lfo ccw – counter lbo ccw – loop lfo ccw, chasse lfo/ rfi , 3turn rfi ccw, posture with a beautiful movement of the arms and head to the rhythm of the music, mohawk rfo/lbo ccw, cross chasse lbo/rbi, ina bauer rbi-lfi, chasse rbi/lbo, twizzle rbi ccw – rocker rbi ccw- counter rfi ccw – counter rbi ccw in a spread eagle on the inside edges ccw, mohawk rfo/lbo ccw, chasse lbo/rbi, turn rbi/lfo ccw, twizzle lfo ccw chasse lbi/rbo, jump ccw (rbo*l *rfi), bracket rfi cw, jump, chasse rbi/lbo, rocker lbo cw – bracket lfo cw – counter lbi cw, mohawk lfi/rbi cw, chasse rbi/lbo, jump lbo/rbi, turn rbi/lfo ccw, chasse lfo/rfi, to beautiful rfi curve to music, rfi/rfo edge shift, chasse rfo/ lfi, mohawk lfi/rbi cw, chasse rbi/lbo, roll lbo with a beautiful movement of legs, mohawk lbo/rfo cw
step sequence diagram
step sequence difficulty characteristics: 1. the items that count in: 2 clean choctaws (both on the right), 2 seesaws (on the right and on the left), 2 counters (on the right and on the left), 2 twizzles (on the right and on the left), 2 loops (on the right and on the left), 2 square brackets (on the right and on the left). ccw). result in 12 difficult turns and steps (the minimum is 11 difficult turns and steps). the five types of difficult steps and turns (rocker, counter, twizzle, loop, bracket) are executed in both directions (clockwise and counterclockwise). meets the requirement for the complexity criterion, the maximum level of 4 stsq. 2. rotation in any direction (clockwise and counterclockwise) with full body rotation (covering at least 1/3 of the pattern in total for each direction of rotation) is present for more than 1/3 of the pattern in any address). the trait is counted in. 3. use body movements for at least 1/3 of the entire pattern (arms, head, hips, and legs do much more than that). trait is counted. 4. Three different combinations of 3 difficult turns are executed (two with the left foot, one with the right foot). all combinations during the step sequence are executed with a clear rhythm. To meet the complexity feature requirement, a skater has to do two different combinations, including three difficult spins with both feet. features count.
this results in a sequence of level 4 steps. positive stsq execution criteria: good energy and execution; good speed during the sequence; use of various steps during the sequence (yuzuru uses all difficult steps and turns, simple steps and turns, and some skating elements); good control and engagement of the whole body (difficult turns are joined in combinations whose number exceeds the required one); creativity and originality (some variations of steps and turns in difficult positions, for example, counterattack ending with an extended eagle); element enhances the musical structure (the musical accents fit with the choreographic ones during the sequence of steps). go criterion +3.
“Just listen to the wind. afraid of nothing.” ©
chasse rfi/lfo, 3turn lfo, chasse lbi/rbo, turn, cross chasse lfo/rfi, 3turn lfi, turn, cross roll rfo/lfo, counter lfi, change of edge lbi/lbo, cross chasse lbo/rbi, turn and – bam – 3f with 3turn lfo (with arm raised) – 3turn lbi – 3turn lfo.
positive jump execution criteria: unexpected and difficult entry; clear and recognizable steps that immediately precede the jump; good height and distance; creative output (unusual): twizzle rbo with arms up and a good landing position; effortless at all; good flow from input to output; the jump matches the musical structure (the steps at the entrance fit perfectly with the music, the takeoff and landing of the jump fit the two musical note accents). criterion coe +3 (and exceeding that)
“hanyu can land a jump perfectly at the end of the musical phrase and step on his other leg at the beginning of the next note” © judge mayumi kato, world figure skating magazine.
The second half of the program begins. turn, 3turn lfo, chasse lbi/rbo, 3turn rbo, mohawk rfi/lbi, a skating move with shoulder, arm and head movements, crossover. stance with a lunge on his left leg, chasse lbi/rbo, mohawk rbo/lfo, 3turn lfo.
catch the shooting star…it’s an angel flying to earth
cross, turn, 3 turns rfi, turn, 3 turns lfo, chasse lbi/rbo, 3 turns rbo, mohawk rfi/lbi, chasse lbi/rbo, cross, turn, chasse lfo/rfi, chasse rfi/lfo. music is getting more and more powerful. mohawk rfi/lbi – chasse lbi/rbo – 3turn rbo – mohawk rfi/lbi – 4s+3t
positive criteria of the execution of the combination: clear and recognizable steps that immediately precede the jump; good distance and distance; good flow from input to output; a good extension to the exit; effortless at all; the jumps match the musical structure (both jumps in the combination adjust to their own musical accent). go criterion +3
crossover, turn, 3turn lfo, chasse lbi/rbo, spread eagle rbo/lfo with a beautiful arm movement, 3turn lfo. then a lbi/lbo edge change, lbo/rbi cross chasse, three crosses. 3turn rbo – chasse rfi/lfo – mohawk lfi/rbi – cross chasse rbi/lbo, chasse lbi/rbo. 3 turns rbo – mohawk rfi/lbi – chasse lbi/rbo – turn – 3 turns lfo – 4t
positive criteria for the execution of the jump: clear and recognizable steps immediately before the jump; good height and distance; good flow from input to output; good extension on the landing; effortless at all; the jump coincides with the musical structure (the landing coincides with the end of the musical phrase). go criterion +3.
A new musical fragment of the vision of silence begins. turn, posture with a beautiful movement of the arms and head, mohawk lfi/rbi, cross step, turn, 3turn rfo, chasse rbi/lbo, crossover, turn, rocker rfo, cross chasse rbo/lbi. 3 laps rbo – mohawk rfi/lbi – chasse lbi/rbo – lap – 3a+2t
positive criteria of the execution of the jump combination: clear and recognizable steps that immediately precede the jump; good height and distance; difficult variation in the air (rippon when jumping the toe loop); good flow from input to output; matches the musical structure (both breaks in the combination adjust to their own musical accents). go criterion +3.
After the jump two jumps with change of direction come out, 3turn lfi, 3turn lfo, chasse lbi/rbo, two crossovers, 3turn rbo, chasse rfi/lfo, mohawk lfi/rbi. 3turn rbi – 3turn rfo – change of edge rbi/rbo – turn – 3a+1lo+3s
positive criteria of the execution of the combination: difficult entry (counterattack to the jump), clear and recognizable steps immediately before the jump; good height and distance; good flow from input to output; good extension on landing and creative exit (extended eagle with arm movements), effortless at all times; the combination matches the musical structure (the takeoff and landing of the axel and triple salchow, as well as the entry into the spread eagle, fit the musical accents). spin and enter a change of foot sit spin fcssp.
spin difficulty features: hard entry (flying seat spin in the air or death drop); Difficult Seated Spin Variation (Seated Cannonball Spin/Shoot the Duck); difficult sipping twist position (sitting twist in a bent or pancake position); at least 8 revolutions in difficult seated (pancake) turning positions. for any change of foot turn, the maximum number of functions that can be obtained to turn on one leg is 2. the requirement is met (two positions are executed with the right foot and two more with the left). 4 spin levels.
positive criteria for the execution of the spin: good speed; good centering; balanced rotations in all positions; originality (arm movements during the sit spin), good control in all phases; the twist matches the musical structure (the death drop fits with the musical key change, the music gets progressively quieter and quieter during the twist). go criterion +3.
the music grows. the exit of the turn and the beginning of the choreographic sequence (chsq) coincides with the beginning of the last musical fragment of the program:
two progressive runs, choctaw rfi/lbo, chasse lbo/rfi, jump left, lunge, mohawk lfo/rbo, cross chasse rbo/lbi, jump right, chasse rfi/lfo, mohawk lfo/rbo, rbo/lbi cross chasse, right turn, 3 turn rfo, hydraulic spiral, lunge, lfo/rfi chasse, twizzle rfi ccw, rfi-lbi spread eagle, lbi/rbo cross chasse, jump right, 3 lfi turns on the right, cross chasse lbo/rbi/lbo. three crossovers, ina bauer with musical arm movement, rbo/lbi cross chasse.
positive criteria for the execution of the choreographic sequence: good flow, energy and execution; good speed and acceleration during the sequence; good clarity and precision; effortless at all; it coincides with the musical structure (arm movements in the extended eagle and ina bauer, for example). goe criterion +2/+3
*all three arm movements in ina bauer are set to musical accents on a high note: ‘one’ – arms go up, ‘two’ – arms out to the sides, ‘three’ – open the hands*
the tension builds, the ina bauer at the end of the program and the triple lutz that follows culminate the program.
mohawk lbi/rfi – foot change – mohawk lfi/rbi – edge change rbi/rbo – cross roll rbo/lbo – 3lz.
positive criteria for the execution of the jump: difficult entry (outside the ina bauer of the choreographic sequence); clearly recognizable step immediately before the jump; good height and distance; good flow from input to output; good landing extension (body and arm movement); effortless at all; matches the musical structure. goe criterion +3
giro, 3giro rfi and entry into the final combination giro ccosp. the characteristics of difficulty in the turn: difficult entry (traveling camel); camel spin edge change (inside out); change of foot through a jump; Difficult variation in vertical position. twists include all basic twists (camel, seated and upright twist). four difficulty characteristics are used. for any change of foot turn, the maximum number of functions that can be obtained to turn on one leg is 2. the requirement is met (two positions are executed with the left foot and two more with the right). 4 spin levels.
positive criteria for the execution of the spin: good speed and acceleration; good centering; balanced rotations in all positions; good control in all phases; the turn coincides with the musical structure (with the change of foot the music becomes calmer, changes its tonality, fluid movements of the arms in the seated turn). goe criterion +2/+3.
welcome to planet hanyu. population – one. he ©
that is the hope of yuzuru hanyu & legacy.
I would like to end my story about this wonderful program with Shay Lynn Bourne’s words from her interview with World Figure Skating Extra Magazine
“this program is him. the hope that is yuzuru and the legacy of him. yuzuru hanyu as an athlete who never stopped moving forward, who never gave up, who always believed, an athlete who continues to inspire young skaters and everyone who watches him will be a person who will leave his name in history, I believe that ”. .