Kendama is a traditional wooden skill toy that comes from Japan. It consists of a ball connected by a string to a handle with 3 cups and a spike on top.  The goal is to catch the ball in the cups or on the spike.  Experts can do this in succession as well as catch the ball on the edges of the cups, or balance the handle on the ball.

Kendama improves your hand eye coordination as well as your timing and balance.  In Japan experts are recognized for their persistence, patience, and perseverance.  Kendama is fairly new to the US but is enjoyed by jugglers and people who enjoy playing with skill toys like tops and yo-yos.

Continue reading "What is Kendama?"

One of the most common questions Kendamaspot gets is "What if the difference between kendama A and kendama B?"  For the most part, each kendama with the JKA seal on it will play very similarly, but there are a few unique characteristics to each of the brands.  This article breaks down the 3 kendamas currently available from Kendamaspot as well as 3 that are not, from the packaging to the tips.

Continue reading "The Differences Between the Brands"

You guys kept us extraordinarily busy during the holidays. We shipped more kendamas in December this year than we did January through June. It was awesome and we appreciate the business. We’ve gone through the site and made some updates. First, we removed Shin Sakura and Mugen kendama info from...

Continue reading "Kendama Spot Updates"

So you have your new kendama, maybe even made some modifications to it for optimal play, now what?  Unless you have a resolve made of steel the first day is probably the toughest.  Everybody loves to constantly succeed, unfortunately kendama is not a forgiving hobby and immediate success is unlikely to say the least. This "Practice Advice" series of articles will walk you through learning to play your new kendama like a pro in extensive detail.

Continue reading "Practice Advice: Starting Out"

Much like a yo-yo, you can start playing with your kendama immediately out of the package.  If you read the instructions that come with your yo-yo, however, they tell you how to shorten the string and set the yo-yo up for optimal play.

The kendama doesn't have any such instructions, but there are some things you can do to improve your kendama's performance and make its play more consistent.  These improvements can lead to faster skill development and help you hit those really tough tricks more consistently. 

Continue reading "Setting Up Your Kendama for Optimum Play"

Why did you start playing kendama? Who did you learn from? What keeps you playing? For me, I first saw kendama at a juggling festival in Portland. A great juggler from Japan came and gave a workshop. He had some for sale, but was sold out by the time I decided I wanted one. I was bummed. I picked up...

Continue reading "Why do you Kendama?"