This is a warning he will try to prevail with his trademark quadruple jumps on his way to the Vancouver Olympics.

With a 2.35-point lead from the short programme, he nailed an opening quadruple toeloop but downgraded two more four-revolution jumps in free skating to assure himself of his first Grand Prix title of the season.

The Frenchman swept all before him to collect 147.35 points in the free programme for a total of 232.70, followed by American Johnny Weir (217.70) and 19-year-old Czech Michal Brezina (217.48).

Skating to ‘Ancient Land’ by Ronan Hardiman, Joubert touched the ice after a triple axel in an early element before executing six triples with varying success.

‘After I landed the first quad, I avoided the rest because I wanted to win this competition no matter what,’ the 25-year-old said. ‘I’m very happy because I have worked a lot.’

Joubert finished a disappointing fourth in the season-opening Grand Prix, the Trophee Eric Bompard, in Paris three weeks ago when he stumbled on the opening quad toeloop, fell on the second and downgraded his third to a triple.

The NHK Trophy was the fourth event of the six-stage ISU Grand Prix series.

In the series, each skater is allowed to compete in just two events. The best six in points standings in men’s and women’s singles as well as pairs and ice dance qualify for the Grand Prix Final in Tokyo in early December.

‘I know I must land two or three quadruples as I step toward the Grand Prix Final and my ultimate goal of the Olympics,’ said Joubert, who finished sixth at the 2006 Turin Olympics before clinching the 2007 world title.

‘If I can do three quads with quality skating, it will be great,’ added the three-time European champion who finished third at the world championships in March.

Weir, the 2008 world bronze medallist who has struggled with a high fever, said: ‘I’m proud of myself that I can push through a strong competition.’

China’s 2006 world pairs champions Pang Qing and Tong Jiang overcame a 1.60-point deficit from the short programme to win the NHK Trophy for the second straight year with a flawless free-skating performance.

They skated to ‘Impossible Dream’ by Joe Hisaishi to earn 132.35 points for their personal best total of 199.65 points.

The Chinese veterans, who won last season’s Grand Prix Final title, beat overnight leaders Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia into second spot as they did in the Grand Prix event in Russia two weeks ago.

With two wins, Pang and Tong assured themselves of a spot in the Grand Prix Final.

Kavaguti dislocated her right shoulder when she crashed on the ice in an opening quadruple salchow throw. After a medical break to correct the problem, the pair went on to collect 124.15 points for a total of 193.05.

‘The season is not over yet and we want to work hard and produce much better results,’ said Pang, who will turn 30 next month.

In ice dance, Four Continent champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States extended their lead over British siblings Sinead and John Kerr in the original dance to 9.61 points. They had been 3.05 points apart after the compulsory dance.

The ice dance contest will wrap up with free skating on Sunday.