The character of Daigo Umehara has been enshrined into legend in the FGC as this mystical figure, one part philosopher and another part warrior. With multiple sponsors to his name, an almost 20 years legacy behind him and acting as “the” ambassador for competitive Street Fighter, Daigo has quite the reputation to live up to, alongside winning tournaments.
In a mini documentary with Red Bull eSports, filmed over the course of Evo 2016, director Nick McDonald tries to delve into the man behind the persona–attempting to separate “The Beast” from Daigo’s private personality. As he says in the documentary, Daigo is a “very half-assed human being” but the figure of “Umehara” cannot be half-assed. In order to access the full power of “Umehara”, Daigo must erase all worries and negative aspects of his private persona, to perform as the mythical Beast which he is portrayed as.
It’s an intimate documentary, one that focuses on the internal struggle which can be just as difficult to deal with as the one playing on the screen. If you into the psychology behind performing in the public eye, this video is definitely worth your time.
Source: Red Bull eSports