Trials of a Young God: A (Kinda) Spoiler Free Review of the Karinchu (JO) v. Nakamura (MI) FT7

[mikadolurker]

Karinchu (JO) v. Nakamura (MI) FT7 5/7/2016

"You went to the Mikado Open, you hit that Toshin right? I'm gonna give you a boss fight! How you like Karinchu?"

    MajinObama (@2djazz) is back at it! On the mic, on the move, this man cannot be stopped! With KSB over and things calming down tournament wise in Japan for now, this man is keeping the fire stoked with lining up some exhibition matches whose quality most professional sports would be lucky to glimpse. Having just reached the rank of Toshin himself, a Fighting God, a certain Millia deity came looking to Obama for a good match to prove himself as someone worth of his newly earned stature. What he got was a shot at Kantou’s king. This weekend was the first of the new FT7‘s after the little break, Karinchu (JO) v. Nakamura (MI). I'm not going to lie either, while the match was good, I can’t say it was the most impressive display of the play I’ve seen out of Mikado. Not that it isn’t a must watch for Johnny or Millia mains. This one I’d count as “Grade A” study material, both sides were relentless with their pressure and mix-ups in so many ways that I would absolutely recommend picking through this match over with a fine toothed comb. Everyone should check it our anyways because it’s still awesome and Majin had a two secrets to share with us after all was said and done. Lucky for you I’ll let you in on one here. The other you’ll have to watch the brawl to catch.

                                            

    So what’s the game plan? Well Nakamura is looking to get his set play going to obliterate Karinchu’s health like Millia does so well. Secret Garden and Chroming Rose are the two biggest elements of his game to lookout for in my opinion in this set, the level of abuse he can put someone through with just these two tools alone is impressive. However, The Final Boss of Kantou, Karinchu (JO), isn’t going to let anyone walk over him if he can help it. Watching Omito’s Johnny you can appreciate the movement, the technique, everything is on this graceful sort of level. Karinchu is a fucking bully though. A savage of a man, if you get touched anywhere on the screen you’ll find yourself knocked down, in a corner, staring an unblockable level three Mist Finer in the face. Watching him work is like watching Machaboo’s Sin, clean and vicious at the same time. Sometimes I honestly had no clue what even hit Nakamura to begin with, Millia’s health was there until it suddenly wasn’t and her back was up against the wall like she’d always been there. It’s a cat and mouse game between a panther and a cheetah, they’re both fast and deadly but it’s really about who get’s their claws into the other first because life bars do not mean a thing in this match up. 

                                           

    So the dust settles, to the winner goes the glory, and everyone goes home right? Not fucking close! Remember those secrets I was talking about earlier? One is too great to ruin, however the other one concerns the next match which I’m fine with sharing. Who’s going to clash next? Well lets say it’s going to be more of a run back than anything else. Before KSB losers finals, before the pools brackets were even filled in, MajinObama already had Nage (FA) v. Machaboo (SI) FT7 set up. May 14th, at 6PM JST. God. Damn.

The Karinchu (JO) v. Nakamura (MI) FT7: https://www.twitch.tv/joniosan/v/65037503 (Starts at around 03:21:35)