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Post by dlee on Jul 8, 2014 18:54:56 GMT -5
Maybe they could add a catch that's around knee-height, so once it was lifted to there it can't drop lower and it's safe to scoot under. And then other catches higher up so once it is lifted to waist, shoulder, head etc it won't drop below that. That would also make good visuals -- showing Kenji standing on the red carpet with three fully-lifted walls behind him. It would also stop me cringing when I see the walls hit people in the back as they run underneath them. I'm hesitant to say "add a rule that you have to lift it at least to the first catch" because then we could have disqualification and that would be less exciting than the current setup -- if they make it to the button they're clear. yeah if they add a rule like that it will be the whole SSL DQ problem all over again. I do like the catch idea though. Maybe like a 3 catches? knee, just above waist, then just below head height. Its a real grey area though because unless you did make a rule you would get the same situation as now, people only lifting then crawling under the first catch. You would have to say at minimum you must dead lift it to above your waist. Probably easier/better just to leave it as is.
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Post by RobbyMac on Jul 8, 2014 20:56:52 GMT -5
My last point on the topic is that Sasuke is supposed to be the hardest course in the world. But for the 1st time, if the course remains the same, the winner would not have won the hardest course in the world and it would devalue his or her win. So unless the course gets harder in stage 1 and 2, I won't be too impressed by the winner regardless of who it is. I'm just not rooting for Ryo or Yuuji. I applaud you for defending your point. Your problem is with the course designers tho and has not much to do with the competitors. They go out there and do their best. Off topic but I would love to see you go post some training videos on the training board. You must train like a beast if you think this course is easy! Any course with the CCH & Vertical Limit = to me, the exact opposite of easy. And unless they make a rule for it EVERYONE is going to continue to use any technique they can to get past the walls. When they hear the countdown it's just all desperation. (example is Yasuke this year when he tried that little trick on the 2nd last wall instead of the last wall because he knew he was almost out of time) Everyones going to crawl unless they have loads of time. I'm not gonna root for a person who's going to beat the course because it's too easy. He's not that good. Couldn't even pass Sasuke 25 stage 1. What a joke.
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Post by dudesky1000 on Jul 8, 2014 21:42:28 GMT -5
Personally, my qualm with any competitor who practices on obstacle replicas routinely is that clearing the course is just not surprising. Of course, it is just as impressive as anybody succeeding under the pressure, but for a television program, I can understand why Yuuji and the STQ'er's in general get little love from TBS. Seeing them do well on the course is just not as exciting as seeing a commoner, a fisherman, a fire-fighter, etc. people whose lives revolve around their livelihood, not this show or this obstacle course somehow fight against the odds. Yes, it means an awful lot if they manage to win--their devotion and targeted training would be all worth it! But then what? They go back to training more and more odd jobs? It seems that those types of competitors are not what the show intended to showcase. It doesn't exactly fit the appeal of ordinary human beings doing extraordinary things. If somebody puts in an extraordinary effort to train for this course, their success becomes ordinary. It becomes expected. And some will even root for the course, against them, in spite of their efforts, because of their efforts, a la Mr. Sasuke. Yamada in a sense is truly one of a kind, but if you really think about it, he has had an unbelievable amount of influence on the field. The new generation all have shades of him.
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SuperTiger
Yamada Kōji
Kunoichi-san
*meyolow*
Posts: 1,187
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Post by SuperTiger on Jul 8, 2014 22:43:56 GMT -5
Personally, my qualm with any competitor who practices on obstacle replicas routinely is that clearing the course is just not surprising. Of course, it is just as impressive as anybody succeeding under the pressure, but for a television program, I can understand why Yuuji and the STQ'er's in general get little love from TBS. Seeing them do well on the course is just not as exciting as seeing a commoner, a fisherman, a fire-fighter, etc. people whose lives revolve around their livelihood, not this show or this obstacle course somehow fight against the odds. Yes, it means an awful lot if they manage to win--their devotion and targeted training would be all worth it! But then what? They go back to training more and more odd jobs? It seems that those types of competitors are not what the show intended to showcase. It doesn't exactly fit the appeal of ordinary human beings doing extraordinary things. If somebody puts in an extraordinary effort to train for this course, their success becomes ordinary. It becomes expected. And some will even root for the course, against them, in spite of their efforts, because of their efforts, a la Mr. Sasuke. Yamada in a sense is truly one of a kind, but if you really think about it, he has had an unbelievable amount of influence on the field. The new generation all have shades of him. This has literally been how I felt about the Shin Sedai etc since they came to prominence. I know one of my favorite things in a tv show is unpredictability, which is in part why I root for the course, and against certain competitors. It's like with Ryo and the third stage. If he gets there, he's basically guaranteed to be in the final. Clearing the third stage is supposed to be unprecedented and unpredictable. People like Ryo/Yuuji eliminate that factor entirely, and at least for my viewership, take away a lot of appeal for me when it pertains to the show.
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Post by LusitaniaAngel313 on Jul 8, 2014 23:04:42 GMT -5
Post 1st-stage-run interview of Bunpei Shiratori Interviewer: How's your knees and lower back / hips? Shiratori: Well, I didn't feel any discomfort while I was running the course. Interviewer: How about the next one (Sasuke)? Shiratori: Well… Let me see... Interviewer: You mentioned that you will take responsibility... (and will decide to retire officially?) Shiratori: Yes, but after I've done it, well, as long as I could still run...mmmm End of the interview he seems unsure of which direction to take... he may return to redeem himself... maybe...
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Post by dlee on Jul 8, 2014 23:45:03 GMT -5
Personally, my qualm with any competitor who practices on obstacle replicas routinely is that clearing the course is just not surprising. Of course, it is just as impressive as anybody succeeding under the pressure, but for a television program, I can understand why Yuuji and the STQ'er's in general get little love from TBS. Seeing them do well on the course is just not as exciting as seeing a commoner, a fisherman, a fire-fighter, etc. people whose lives revolve around their livelihood, not this show or this obstacle course somehow fight against the odds. Yes, it means an awful lot if they manage to win--their devotion and targeted training would be all worth it! But then what? They go back to training more and more odd jobs? It seems that those types of competitors are not what the show intended to showcase. It doesn't exactly fit the appeal of ordinary human beings doing extraordinary things. If somebody puts in an extraordinary effort to train for this course, their success becomes ordinary. It becomes expected. And some will even root for the course, against them, in spite of their efforts, because of their efforts, a la Mr. Sasuke. Yamada in a sense is truly one of a kind, but if you really think about it, he has had an unbelievable amount of influence on the field. The new generation all have shades of him. This has literally been how I felt about the Shin Sedai etc since they came to prominence. I know one of my favorite things in a tv show is unpredictability, which is in part why I root for the course, and against certain competitors. It's like with Ryo and the third stage. If he gets there, he's basically guaranteed to be in the final. Clearing the third stage is supposed to be unprecedented and unpredictable. People like Ryo/Yuuji eliminate that factor entirely, and at least for my viewership, take away a lot of appeal for me when it pertains to the show. The idea of an average, common, every day person walking onto the course and completing it was a great idea, for sasuke 1 when the course was a cake walk. the athletes have evolved with the course. Im sorry i just dont agree. I really dont see how it lacks any unpredictability. There has been 3 winners in 30 tournaments. Yuuji didnt even make it to stage 3 this year so how has he eliminated the unpredictable and unprecedented factor? (using ANW par example for a sec, david campbell has gone out 2 years in a row on stage 1, yet he is arguably the most dedicated and trains harder than anybody) just because his life revolves around training why do you feel that dedication and training makes him less exciting? And what about a situation of someone who does work a 9 to 5 job but every night & weekend trains on replicas? (according do your logic evan that would automatically make his clear "just not suprising"). i dont see how thats less exciting than a fire man who does pull ups and rope climbs everyday at work. just my opinion tho folks
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Post by LusitaniaAngel313 on Jul 9, 2014 0:24:38 GMT -5
i dont see how thats less exciting than a fire man who does pull ups and rope climbs everyday at work. Clearly pointing towards Takeda-san. *giggle* But yeah I gotta agree. I cheer on anyone who can get passed the first stage.
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Post by blah123 on Jul 9, 2014 7:41:17 GMT -5
Personally, my qualm with any competitor who practices on obstacle replicas routinely is that clearing the course is just not surprising. Of course, it is just as impressive as anybody succeeding under the pressure, but for a television program, I can understand why Yuuji and the STQ'er's in general get little love from TBS. Seeing them do well on the course is just not as exciting as seeing a commoner, a fisherman, a fire-fighter, etc. people whose lives revolve around their livelihood, not this show or this obstacle course somehow fight against the odds. Yes, it means an awful lot if they manage to win--their devotion and targeted training would be all worth it! But then what? They go back to training more and more odd jobs? It seems that those types of competitors are not what the show intended to showcase. It doesn't exactly fit the appeal of ordinary human beings doing extraordinary things. If somebody puts in an extraordinary effort to train for this course, their success becomes ordinary. It becomes expected. And some will even root for the course, against them, in spite of their efforts, because of their efforts, a la Mr. Sasuke. Yamada in a sense is truly one of a kind, but if you really think about it, he has had an unbelievable amount of influence on the field. The new generation all have shades of him. Times have changed. As much as I'd love to see the "average Joe" do well in Sasuke, like in the pre-Shin era, that's just simply not possible any more. No way could your average 9 to 5er clear stage 3. The only type of average Joe (i.e. someone who doesn't train specifically for Sasuke) who could stand a chance these days would be something like an ex-college athlete who routinely works out and hits a rock climbing gym now and then. Regardless, I wouldn't expect to see even 1 such person per tournament. The course has evolved, along with the competitors who do it. If you want that nostalgic type of excitement again, the only thing I could imagine would be to make the course easier and not let the replica-trainers on it. Simply put, get used to it -- the course is a different ballgame than it was 7 years ago.
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Jul 9, 2014 8:17:54 GMT -5
I understand the arguments both ways. One thing of note that I want to remind those full against obstacles is that both Bunpei and Yamada had full courses they practiced with and Yamada in particular, and it did nothing for him. I think the bigger argument is that TBS has spent a lot more time with the All-stars to the detriment of everyone else during the broadcast. I mean everyone knows I adore the All-stars (I built my damn blog around them) but that's also the problem. TBS has done nothing to properly allow us to have any other affection with those outside of that circle. Now we are getting a little bit of that. They are a much younger generation. Totally different jobs and psyche. Back when the show was still evolving you had that group get better and better with each tournament. But the new guys were doing the same thing, from a much younger age and a bit more fine-tuned to the obstacles they preferred. That's why you had a "cliffer" group. That's why you had a Morimoto in the background literally growing up with the show. Some just don't like the new group because they are older than or at the same age and it "feels" weird. The show is 17 years old and nothing is "new" again. Partially that's TBS' fault for not coming up with fresh ideas and partially is because the competitors know how to prepare for the show. TBS has had to adapt to the point where they now tape the show over a 2 day span because they EXPECT an onslaught of people in the latter stages. Gone are the days of being surprised that there was a 3rd stage. That's because of the caliber of the competitors. That alone is the problem most people are facing. The nitpick of specific people is because it's destroying the older view of what the show used to be. Those days are gone. Personally I'm fine with it and am adapting to the new generation and the new direction of the show. I know some aren't as accepting.
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SuperTiger
Yamada Kōji
Kunoichi-san
*meyolow*
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Post by SuperTiger on Jul 9, 2014 10:12:35 GMT -5
This has literally been how I felt about the Shin Sedai etc since they came to prominence. I know one of my favorite things in a tv show is unpredictability, which is in part why I root for the course, and against certain competitors. It's like with Ryo and the third stage. If he gets there, he's basically guaranteed to be in the final. Clearing the third stage is supposed to be unprecedented and unpredictable. People like Ryo/Yuuji eliminate that factor entirely, and at least for my viewership, take away a lot of appeal for me when it pertains to the show. The idea of an average, common, every day person walking onto the course and completing it was a great idea, for sasuke 1 when the course was a cake walk. the athletes have evolved with the course. Im sorry i just dont agree. I really dont see how it lacks any unpredictability. There has been 3 winners in 30 tournaments. Yuuji didnt even make it to stage 3 this year so how has he eliminated the unpredictable and unprecedented factor? (using ANW par example for a sec, david campbell has gone out 2 years in a row on stage 1, yet he is arguably the most dedicated and trains harder than anybody) just because his life revolves around training why do you feel that dedication and training makes him less exciting? And what about a situation of someone who does work a 9 to 5 job but every night & weekend trains on replicas? (according do your logic evan that would automatically make his clear "just not suprising"). i dont see how thats less exciting than a fire man who does pull ups and rope climbs everyday at work. just my opinion tho folks I was using Yuuji as an example. Everytime Yuuji has made it to the third stage, he's cleared without breaking a sweat, except in 28 when he had never practiced something like the Crazy Cliff Hanger before, an instance where Yuuji failing wouldn't have been much of a shocker. The same applies to Ryo, except he's never failed the third stage. As far as Yuuji's run goes, his end result was pretty predictable to me. If there was one place he was most likely to fail, it was there. Unpredictability ends with them because the third stage has always been the stage that tournaments are expected to end on. In general, competitors are not expected to clear it, and when they do it's a feat to behold. With Ryo and Yuuji they are expected to breeze through it, which can make portions of the stage anticlimactic if they're still around for it. The thing that lots of training and dedication take away from this, is that a person who trains nonstop is expected to clear. Failing in that situation becomes more unpredictable than clearing. I think when it pertains to "9 to 5" competitors it's a little different, especially when you look at the All Stars as an example. Yamada aside, they had other hobbies and things they did that prepared them for the course, and were just all around athletic people. Some of their jobs helped them be prepared for the course, but they weren't just building every single obstacle and training on them day in and day out to the point they were basically guaranteed to clear them. In addition, using the All Stars as an example, most of them had kids and families of their own that contended with any training they wanted to do. It's not like that with competitors like Yuuji and Ryo. They don't have kids or any big commitments biding their time like other competitors do. While I can see the point you're making, I just don't agree that competitors like Yuuji/Ryo, as well as a toned down first stage/course in general make the show as exciting. There was no failure in particular that really surprised me this tournament. While there were a couple of refreshing clears I did not expect, nothing really jumped out and me and shocked me. However arsenette is correct that times are changing and we have to adjust to the way things are now. I just don't think it's as exciting as it once was with competitors that train nonstop for the course.
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Jul 9, 2014 10:19:47 GMT -5
Wouldn't using the All-stars as an example of the results being unpredictable also be against your argument? Takeda has the 3rd stage appearance record, Nagano was in the final 5 times.. No one even cheered for them when they cleared the first stage because it was 'expected'. I think the bigger issue you are having is that you marathoned the first era because G4 didn't get the show until AFTER that era was at it's end. You are LIVING through this era and are feeling what every one else already was feeling with the All-Stars. Having to sit and wait every year now for the tournament, and with the caliber of the competitors you have a chance to nitpick people. In the past all you had to do was wait for the next tournament to air 2 minutes after the commercial break.
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Post by RobbyMac on Jul 9, 2014 13:55:25 GMT -5
The idea of an average, common, every day person walking onto the course and completing it was a great idea, for sasuke 1 when the course was a cake walk. the athletes have evolved with the course. Im sorry i just dont agree. I really dont see how it lacks any unpredictability. There has been 3 winners in 30 tournaments. Yuuji didnt even make it to stage 3 this year so how has he eliminated the unpredictable and unprecedented factor? (using ANW par example for a sec, david campbell has gone out 2 years in a row on stage 1, yet he is arguably the most dedicated and trains harder than anybody) just because his life revolves around training why do you feel that dedication and training makes him less exciting? And what about a situation of someone who does work a 9 to 5 job but every night & weekend trains on replicas? (according do your logic evan that would automatically make his clear "just not suprising"). i dont see how thats less exciting than a fire man who does pull ups and rope climbs everyday at work. just my opinion tho folks While I can see the point you're making, I just don't agree that competitors like Yuuji/Ryo, as well as a toned down first stage/course in general make the show as exciting. There was no failure in particular that really surprised me this tournament. While there were a couple of refreshing clears I did not expect, nothing really jumped out and me and shocked me. However arsenette is correct that times are changing and we have to adjust to the way things are now. I just don't think it's as exciting as it once was with competitors that train nonstop for the course. They both failed ANW stage 3. ANW is harder than Sasuke right now and I'm not happy with that
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Post by LusitaniaAngel313 on Jul 9, 2014 15:06:55 GMT -5
While I can see the point you're making, I just don't agree that competitors like Yuuji/Ryo, as well as a toned down first stage/course in general make the show as exciting. There was no failure in particular that really surprised me this tournament. While there were a couple of refreshing clears I did not expect, nothing really jumped out and me and shocked me. However arsenette is correct that times are changing and we have to adjust to the way things are now. I just don't think it's as exciting as it once was with competitors that train nonstop for the course. They both failed ANW stage 3. ANW is harder than Sasuke right now and I'm not happy with that Isn't the reason because the ANW course is more set up for the larger competitors you see in the US? I think that's why
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Post by RobbyMac on Jul 9, 2014 16:43:21 GMT -5
Maybe they should build some leg muscles so they can jump up to reach the obstacles. Oh wait no, let's only work on our upperbody for stage 3...
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Post by dlee on Jul 9, 2014 20:03:07 GMT -5
woaaaah *claps for everyone* I LOVE THE PASSION! I think Arsenette hit the nail on the head. There is most probably a pattern between how we feel and how long we have been fans of the show. Im relatively new to sasuke (fan for almost 2 years now) so i marathoned from sasuke 1-27 in about a month. And seeing fail after fail after fail & watching the course grow the way it did contributes alot to how i feel. But anyway, great discussion!!!!!!
LOL or build up some core strength! ANW Obstacle Designer: "So what else is possible to hang from"? I would love to see some creativity in stage 3 this year!!!
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Post by LusitaniaAngel313 on Jul 9, 2014 20:24:37 GMT -5
For me I've been into SASUKE since 2006... Literally immediately I was thrusted that Nagano achieved total victory. I was lost at first until I saw every other tournament first... once I did I smiled seeing Nagano making it through. But that's just it... I've grown to see the all stars... not anyone else and I still haven't gotten used to Yuuji and the new stars yet. Soon I'll have to but that won't be easy. SASUKE 30 gave me a sign that things are changing and I'll have to accept them soon. Ryo nearly achieving the ultimate honor helped in the message.
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Jul 11, 2014 1:57:22 GMT -5
Just letting you know this year the blog is giong much slower. Couple of reasons. I'm sick as a dog (it's a sin to have summer cold.. I mean really).. and another is that I baptized my keyboard by accident the other day and had to order a new one. Using a spare now that has keys that stick and it's a royal pain in the a** to get this to cooperate when I'm moving pictures around. So hopefully by the weekend I'll get the keyboard and I start to feel better (and actually sleep okay without waking up into coughing /sneezing fits) and can get the rest of the tournament up. This is the latest I've ever dragged it.
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Post by Philip on Jul 11, 2014 6:47:18 GMT -5
I have gotten completely used to the New Stars. The All Stars still have some gas left in the tank, but they definitely are not what they used to be. Just like other sporting events, the "stars" will come and go. It would be boring if we had all the same people all the time.
On a side note, can everyone PLEASE stop all the goddamn "hurr the new stars can't lift" crap.... it's really stupid. The sliding under the walls technique has been around since SASUKE 1..... If you were in the same situation and running low on time you would do the same f***ing thing.... Shingo has always done the sliding thing too....
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Post by wrestlingfan55 on Jul 11, 2014 11:01:20 GMT -5
Was anyone else completely bored with stage 1 like I was? I felt like I was only interested when it got to Drew and onwards. It had its moments, like with Bruce Lee and the facepaint dude, but overall I was just not into it until Drew's turn.
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Post by TCM on Jul 11, 2014 11:21:59 GMT -5
Just letting you know this year the blog is giong much slower. Couple of reasons. I'm sick as a dog (it's a sin to have summer cold.. I mean really).. and another is that I baptized my keyboard by accident the other day and had to order a new one. Using a spare now that has keys that stick and it's a royal pain in the a** to get this to cooperate when I'm moving pictures around. So hopefully by the weekend I'll get the keyboard and I start to feel better (and actually sleep okay without waking up into coughing /sneezing fits) and can get the rest of the tournament up. This is the latest I've ever dragged it. Try to feel better. And think of it this way, we can always get Rider to blog again
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