Shintaro Misawa Interview – Back Wheel Progression

Intro/Interview: Effraim
Photos: Shintaro Misawa.

Shintaro’s recent back wheel progression has been inspiring, very quickly Shintaro took his “jedi” front wheel skills to the back wheel and there’s no telling where this will go in future. A few of you like me were curious, if there was anything more than just hard work behind this progression. There’s a lot to take out of Shintaro’s insight during this interview. Read on.

Recently your back wheel progress has been well documented, and it is amazing, as I have been following your progression, it seemed like from your video descriptions you have some kind of basic theory behind this progression (you have basic tricks then you add to it), can you explain what you are doing and trying to do and how you go about it?
I learned how to make consistent from competition experience.. It is mostly hard.. I mean.. iteration practice, speed control, learn for each surface, bike setting etc..
No need take a long time for just learn trick on own spot and condition. A few hours, days, months.
I just doing only this process. That’s why looks quickly. But actually these are very barely flows actually.

The reason I ask about a theory is I noticed on your videos discussed numbers and the titles, there seemed to be some logical format for you to progress?
How to know the level of combo. I mean how-to I choose learning next steps. I learn from another riders riding.
(of course depend on each riders skills). I think not so hard level..
If I take move into a long link, that move is become basic move for me. If showing looks well.
example..
So I am thinking like this. Only one or two hard switch (trick) in the each link.
It in case of a competition, I must learn without those part of hard move.
I have almost completed those.

Next.. I make some original move, this is hardest for anyone..
Then I arrange to some basic link later, I can see “only basic” and “only original” sometimes.
But with this style it is difficult to win in the competition.
Only basic.. judgement know that, only original.. judgement don’t know level..
So I mix these two tastes.
Sorry i talking about usually things..

I never thinking easy.. the move of the Mr.Steve (Editors note: Steve Mulder?)
Here in Malaysia I am riding only one surface. I have some experience about riding different types of floors, that’s why feeling which combo or bike setting I have to choose for next competitions.
But, anyway not nice conditions now..
Can’t be thinking about heat..haha

Interesting…So a new back wheel combo comes to mind, perhaps your latest one you learned wherever that is. What was the process you went through to learn it? Do you learn combos in stages?
About tricks. You may notice I only choose only clockwise now. This because coming the same “wall” if do practice same move in both side. I felt those in front tricks previously. And it is just my opinion.
Most many riding style is clockwise/forwards, people can image “how is feeling of riding” maybe.
That’s why I choose clockwise and back wheel, back wheel tricks also people can image easily..
And.. here (Malaysia) is not like Japan, here it is not so important “original” taste yet.
We still need skillful riders, people want see simple and easy,many trick variations by flatland.
I have to change for that too. I don’t know i can or not..
Because I am riding bmx for me basically.

One thing is for sure Shintaro, Theory or no Theory you progressed a lot during the past months on the back wheeel, how much are you riding per day out of curiosity?
You mean each day riding times? I am riding about 3 hours when i can riding. 5 or 6 days par week..
During my practise time I focus only one combo until I have made it.
But I am changing combo, if can’t make it within 3 days. Then must go back to there after few combos.

It’s debateable that you are now as good on the back wheel as you are on the front wheel that are you famous for?
I was really interested to backwheel tricks actually. I want to be master if I try seriously, but.. my I am not tall, very short! 164cm so it’s almost impossible to make some tricks previously.
Death Truck etc..
So that is reason I choose front wheel tricks a lot. Hard ride, good life.. I lost interest in backwheel tricks for a while, about 10 years to be exact..
Just impossible.. doing other things under recent conditions. The move to the back wheel naturally came.
I can’t long combo by surface and heat, even completed move also, feel so tire.
I just get frustrations if do previous front combos I have done. Because.. so feel hard..
Back wheel (new) trick is i don’t know “good or bad conditions about me”
that’s why.

You talk about heat, does riding in a hot climate in fact help your fitness?
My life is totally moved to Malaysia now, living in Mersing town, Johor state. It is very hot weather every day, I haven’t found a nice riding spot unfortunately. This makes it hard to do practice for being consistent. It is possible of course, but efficiency is bad under recently situations, so it is nice to try new tricks for me. I see it as a chance to change it.

So what’s next in terms of riding style Shintaro?
Of course I want to build new riding style. it is not sure yet, only back or front, both side??
Anyway just keeping ride hard. That is the answer for getting naturally your own style.
And.. i have confidence, I can do any trick if someone made already. Because we are not so different.
That’s why i haven’t yet found “my original trick”, still just copy. But copy is no good “word”..
I am respecting to each teachers when I learn from them.

Any plans to compete again on a worldwide scale?
I want attend a lot of international competitions again, but I can’t attend for a while or forever. My wife is delivering baby on this August. have to prepare a lot.
btw i following the backwheel progress program to baby 1.2.3..
so i spent all money to house and business for new life. it house include own riding space and guests room, I can arrange riders sessions later hopefully. when built.. will be open bicycle shop and home stay.
Malaysia also has international competition “FLAT dev” on end of year coming the next one. I will be attending there. Back to competition scene..
I have interesting to BMX products also. on the way with friend, we will produce Malaysian original brand in 2014. I am testing some sample for that already.
Thanks to great rider “Ucchie” we can learn trend move from his style a lot. Thanks to “COLONY” they made for me 17 inch TT frame in 2010. It makes possible the Death truck!!

Thanks for the chat Shintaro, so there you have it ladies and gentlemen. Sometimes in harder conditions, focussing on one particular style can be worthwhile and the rewards are there for all to see. Shintaro you are a true jedi!

Thanks chatting to me Mr.Effraim.

No problem, Shintaro that was fun catching up with you. Looking forward to more back wheel progression. For now check below in the related links for a reminder of his progression.

Related Links:

https://www.flatmattersonline.com/shintaro-misawa-777

https://www.flatmattersonline.com/shintaro-misawa-the-sixth-sense

https://www.flatmattersonline.com/shintaro-misawa-5

https://www.flatmattersonline.com/shintaro-misawa-the-force-month

9 thoughts on “Shintaro Misawa Interview – Back Wheel Progression

  1. interesting reading, by the sounds of it he doesnt pull those combos all the time, he is human after all, make the most of those 3 hr a day sessions before the baby comes shintaro!!

  2. Really enjoyed reading this. Love articles that explore a rideris approach to practice in more detail. Interesting to hear that shintaro sticks with one trick or combo for three days (9 hours) before switching. Would like to know what other rider make of this and how it compares to their own practice.

    • I always believed Flatland comes down to three various different types of level no matter “where you are at”,(beginner, novice, expert, pro, whatever). which is very similar to motivational theory.

      Storming – Trying tricks out for the first time, feeling them out, you might hit one a session..

      Norming- The trick you might hit once a day, because more frequent, hit it 2-3 times a session and so on…

      Performing – Being dialled, able to pull off your latest tricks almost on demand. Like contest pros do….

      The challenge has always been to get all your combos at performing level. When you take the contest away, you start to go back to “storming” level a lot more, because your minds not on being consistent, but progressing. This is where I think Shintaro is at, but as he explained due to his previous competition practice routines I don’t think it will take him look to reach that “performing” level.

      Isolating a trick for long periods is also a good way to progress, and it proven in his videos that it works, its not holding him back at all.

  3. practicing one trick\ combo for that amount of time must be properly mentally draining , dont think many riders would have the patience or concentration

  4. Different methods work for diff people of course!

    I would imagine Shintaro is quite well disciplined, 9 hours is obviously his limit where he moves on to something else before coming back to it as he says.

  5. thanks reading πŸ™‚
    just ask to me if someone has any questions more..
    i would to talk if have answer.
    by facebook, by e-mail. anything.

    thanks again to Flatmatters,
    i am doing translate to Japanese language now.

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