While not giving in to those cal-ling for a coaching change, Mao Asada's decision at last month's Japan nationals to cut the number of triple axels she attempted in her free skate from two to one was significant.
It appeared to be an admission that her original plan of pulling off two of the difficult jumps in the same program was too ambitious.
The inclusion of two triple axels in her free skate made the difference at the 2008 Grand Prix Final, when she came from behind to score a narrow victory over South Korea's Kim Yu Na. However, with a year having passed without a single victory, Mao seemed to recognize that it was time to shake up the lineup.