A Yamada Theory

[jfeathe]

Both in Sasuke 5 and Sasuke 18 Yamada did very well in the first stage. I think the reason he did so was that there were few or no obstacles he had a bad history with.

Once Yamada fails on an obstacle, he builds an inaccurate model and trains over and over on it. When it comes to the next few competitions, he always does terrible on it due to his training and his mental block.

As long as close to every obstacle is replaced in the first stage, I think Yamada wll either clear it or time out on the final obstacle.

[TCM]

That's an interesting note there, but considering the big deal they made with his retirement (they put "RETIRED" besides his name whenever the showed the All-Star chart; everyone besides (Bunpei too but he didn't compete so...) him got a "X" or "O") he may actually stay away or TBS/M9 may not let him compete again.

EDIT: Then again, it would look weird to not have the man called Mr. SASUKE try out the new course, so his future is still up in the air at this point.

[Deleted]

That's an interesting theory. I think you're right about that. Yamada's main problem now is the Warped Wall. If they get rid of that, I think he could pass the first stage easily. In the last couple of tournaments, he's showed that he still has the stamina to beat the first stage. In both 23 and 24 he had a good pace and was doing well until he got to the WW.
I think he will come back. Maybe not for 25, but probably for 26. It would be pretty dumb for TBS to refuse to let him come back. He's Mr. Sasuke. He has a lot of fans. If they don't let him come back, ratings will drop. I would think they would realize that.

[YoDaUO]

nice catch!

The warped wall is his problem. He just cant do it. Maybe it wont be there anymore. time will tell.

I think they should let him come back, just to try out the new course.

[Zorn]

Warped Wall then the Jumping Spider, what kind of obstacle will give him trouble this time...(assuming he comes back.)

[lars072]

Jan 19, 2010 0:10:07 GMT -5 Zorn said:

Warped Wall then the Jumping Spider, what kind of obstacle will give him trouble this time...(assuming he comes back.)

slide? monkey bars? merry-go-round?

[arsenette]

Honestly do not believe it's the wall. He had it in his fingertips twice in 24. I think it's mental. He wanted it too much and choked. Plain and simple. You can psyche yourself out from doing something. Yamada could do that wall with his eyes closed if he'd just relax and concentrate instead of ZOMG I'm RUNNING OUT OF TIME. He failed once there before (trying to remember what tourney.. but it was an early one) and when the timer finished he literally jumped the all and finished the course with no problems. Personally I think the timer is his problem. He knows he's being timed and he freaks out. Maybe he's thinking he's too old or thinks he can't get past things because of his age. The mind is a powerful deceiver. It's made heroes out of chumps and chumps out of heroes. Happens in sports all the time.

[davidyko]

Yeah, that happened in 8. He was threatening to retire at that point, too. (Was it the first time? I think so.)

But I agree, pretty much, with everything arsenette said. Maybe with a new renewal, it will take some pressure off of him, if he comes back...but I doubt it'll make much of a difference.

[YoDaUO]

He was actually focused in sasuke 24. But if he doesnt make the wall on his first try, odds are that he wont make it at all then.

[Deleted]

Jan 19, 2010 12:10:42 GMT -5 arsenette said:

Honestly do not believe it's the wall. He had it in his fingertips twice in 24. I think it's mental. He wanted it too much and choked. Plain and simple. You can psyche yourself out from doing something. Yamada could do that wall with his eyes closed if he'd just relax and concentrate instead of ZOMG I'm RUNNING OUT OF TIME. He failed once there before (trying to remember what tourney.. but it was an early one) and when the timer finished he literally jumped the all and finished the course with no problems. Personally I think the timer is his problem. He knows he's being timed and he freaks out. Maybe he's thinking he's too old or thinks he can't get past things because of his age. The mind is a powerful deceiver. It's made heroes out of chumps and chumps out of heroes. Happens in sports all the time.

I thought it was just because it was raining like hell, and he just had to get used to the rain, and than he could finally do it. He kept slipping on it if I recall.