Benihana (skateboarding)

The benihana was invented by Lester Kasai and named after the Benihana restaurant chain.[https://books.google.com/books?id=hGI_eDYV4nUC&dq Dropping in With Andy Mac: The Life of a Pro Skateboarder] by Andy MacDonald (Simon & Schuster, 2003)[http://stabmag.com/matt-meola-faux-judo-quasi-madonna-pseudo-benihana-air-mexico/ Matt Meola, faux-judo, quasi-Madonna, pseudo Benihana air, Mexico] by Derek Rielly (STAB Magazine, 22 October 2010)

A benihana is performed by first getting airborne (for example from a vert ramp or an ollie). The skateboarder holds the tail of the skateboard deck with the back hand, while the back foot is taken off the skateboard and extended downwards. The front foot is straightened but kept on the board. When the front foot is extended, the tail of the board is brought close to the inner thigh of the front leg.[https://books.google.com/books?id=n-sm3PHrfuMC&dq Mastering Skateboarding] by Per Welinder & Pete Whitley (Human Kinetics, 2011)

The trick's inventor, Lester Kasai, considers a "true benihana" to be one done when the skateboarder performs the motion as described above after riding up backwards (or fakie) on a transition and landing back into the transition facing forwards, and calls the trick with the motion performed while moving forwards a "benibonga".{{Cite web |last=Dobija-Nootens |first=Nic |date=2019-02-22 |title=THE HISTORY OF SKATEBOARDING'S MOST TABOO TRICK: THE BENIHANA |url=https://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2019/02/22/history-skateboardings-taboo-trick-benihana/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Jenkem Magazine |language=en}}

The trick was very popular in the 1990s, with professional skateboarders like Jamie Thomas and Josh Kasper recognised for their proficiency with regard to the benihana.[https://books.google.com/books?id=wuMzV1cZgMEC&pg=PT25&dq Advanced Skateboarding: From Kick Turns to Catching Air] by Aaron Rosenburg (Rosen Publishing, 2003) However, since that point, the popularity of the trick has waned.

The trick featured in the Tony Hawk video game series including Tony Hawk's Underground 2, released in 2004.[https://books.google.com/books?id=hpgKdMV1WF4C&q Tony Hawk's Underground 2: Official Strategy Guide] by Doug Walsh (BradyGames, 2004)

In 2008, Transworld Skateboarding magazine ran a feature that included the benihana in a list of the 10 Worst Tricks In Skateboarding and described the trick as "terrible".[https://skateboarding.transworld.net/1000076983/features/tws-10-the-top-10-worst-tricks-in-skateboarding/ TWS 10: The Top 10 Worst Tricks In Skateboarding] by Blair Alley (Transworld Skateboarding, 17 November 2008)

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101102222003/http://skateboarding.transworld.net/1000070446/ugc/ugc-images/sheckler-and-dompierre-benihana/ Sheckler and Dompierre Benihana] (Transworld Skateboarding, 11 August 2008)
• [https://archive.today/20130222073447/http://skateboarding.transworld.net/1000134091/ugc/ugc-images/chris-fauver-benihana/ Chris Fauver, Benihana] (Transworld Skateboarding, 2 March 2011)

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Category:Skateboarding tricks