Yeah, I think he is right. Riding style in Japan is very different.
''Kimura Kicks Down a New Door at Old Del Mar''
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... ld-del-mar
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"I'm still learning," Kimura said. "I look at other riders to see what they are doing well—how they break, how they finish—and see if what they do technically can work for me. In Japan, riding style is more like Europe. They settle the horse early and concentrate on a finish. Some riders you even see bounce in the saddle. They learn this because some courses are uphill last part and that can help the horse go forward."
Kimura's style, though, is very American. When in California, he also enjoys the break from the underhand whip rules imposed in Canada, although tracks under the jurisdiction of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority are stricter when it comes to jockey health protocols. Kimura sustained a concussion in a fall at Woodbine one year ago.
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Kazushi Kimura, age 3 atop a stable pony held by his father, Tadayuki Kimura