Keitaro vs Stage 2

[tns8597]

Just thought I’d make this post in anticipation of SASUKE 38.

What seems to be Keitaro’s problem with Stage 2? It’s generally one of the easier stages in this era due to the strongest competitors tending to either fail Stages 1 or 3.

I know he failed the Backstream in SASUKE 29 but that was because the obstacle was way too OP and took everyone out.

I feel like he struggled with the Backstream again in 34 because he’s usually quite fast on the first half of the course yet timed out just after completing the obstacle.

SASUKE 35 was the only tournament we’ve seen his run in full and he didn’t even get to the Backstream.

SASUKE 36 he weirdly timed out and we don’t really know why as his run was digested.

I find it weird that the Backstream seems to have contributed to all of his Stage 2 failures yet he never seems to train for the obstacle. He only really trains rock climbing which serves well in Stage 3, almost as though he’s forgotten his losing battle with the stage before; do you think that’s what contributes to his failures or some other sort of blockade?

[PizzaKing57]

I swear if Keitaro makes it back to Stage 2 in 38, but regresses once again, I'll be extremely heartbroken as my biggest wish is for him to reach the 3rd stage, as he is a very interesting challenger especially because he's now part of the Morimoto Sedai who should try to perform well for the group.

If he does return back to the 2nd Stage next time which he most likely will, his run must be shown in full on the broadcast as that way, I'll know that he cleared for the first time. If he gets digested clearing Stage 2 for the first time, I'm gonna be extremely furious and request someone to upload his full Stage 2 run from Paravi Original, as I would really like to watch his full run so badly.

Four months ago, I asked him if he trains for Backstream and he said he will after the coronavirus clears up. That obstacle is what he has to overcome his fears of, like Yuuji. Or else he will time out again and I'm gonna really hate it so much if he does.

He also said on a video of him lifting a heavy wall, that he is good at climbing walls but not lifting them which is ridiculous because he's one of the strongest challengers that we currently have. I'm also wondering how much kg that Wall Lifting replica weighs at the residence he trained at.

And I'll be frustrated if he is given a lower number in the 80s or something like that next time, as he's a new promising challenger and deserves high numbers, especially to hype up the Morimoto Generation group.

[tns8597]

I was expecting him to reach Stage 3 in SASUKE 37 and I defo think he could’ve done given how watered down Stage 2 was in that tournament. He’s on track to clear given that he’s made it further and further every time save for his Spider Drop error.

I definitely think it’s a mental blockade at this point. He effectively failed the Backstream twice (given that it caused him to time out in 34), and I read on his Instagram that in 36, he was really hesitant on the obstacle and rested a long time before attempting it, contributing to his time-out. Also I was quite surprised at how poorly he was lifting the walls given his upper body strength. I suppose he was just absolutely gassed out at that point, or the fact that while he’s got good body weight strength he doesn’t have much raw power, similar to Ryo and Yuuji who are similarly sized. He just needs to train a bit more for it and really attack it without hesitation.

Not sure what number he’ll get; I’m guessing high 80s given that he wore 90 last time and failed the First Stage. He might get a high number again given that most of the competitors who performed well in 37 either get low numbers (eg Tada, Hioki, Black Tigers) or might not compete (Jessie, Rene) so there’s more room for him to be in the upper echelons of competitors this time round.

I can’t help but feel bad for the guy. Imagine training half your life for Sasuke and still not be able to get past Stage 2, then seeing someone like Darvish clear the course you just failed for the fourth straight time .... Not to mention how it’s holding him back from reaching Stages 3 and 4 where we know he can annilhate the upper body oriented layout.

[ChiBiJKT48]

May I know where he post the video, tho? Facebook? Twitter?

He seriously need to train his swimming skill. Although, again, **** Backstream *my view on this obstacle will be same and no one can change it. If I compete, I even prefer to just sit above the tank, waiting the time to run out*.

[tns8597]

Which video? The wall lifting one? It’s on his Instagram; I think it was a few days before Sasuke 37 took place (not aired, so around November time).

The wall didn’t look heavy at all, maybe 30kg; I suppose it’s just to get the right technique, but he probably needs to practice on the heavier weights because otherwise his technique will go out the window when he tries to lift the last wall when only practicing on the first. The difference between 30 and 50kg is night and day.

Yeah I honestly don’t really know why he hasn’t practiced. Maybe he has and he just doesn’t document it, but I feel like he falls into that class of insane upper body strength but poorer raw power and we know they tend to struggle at swimming. We’ve seen people like Ryo and Yuuji try really hard to overcome this to an extent, but Keitaro never seems to actually build upon his fears of the obstacle.