Mastering Kendama tricks involves a blend of practice, precision, and understanding the unique physics of the toy.
Understanding Your Kendama
Before diving into tricks, familiarize yourself with the parts of a Kendama, as each plays a role in various maneuvers.
Parts of a Kendama
- Ken: The handle with three cups and a spike.
- Big Cup: The largest cup on one side of the Ken.
- Small Cup: The smaller cup opposite the Big Cup.
- Base Cup: The flat bottom of the Ken, around the hole where the string attaches.
- Spike: The pointed tip of the Ken.
- Tama: The ball with a hole drilled through it.
- Sarado: The cross-piece that holds the cups.
- String: Connects the Ken and the Tama.
Essential Beginner Kendama Tricks
Start with these foundational tricks to build your coordination and control.
Holding the Kendama
For most beginner tricks, you'll use the "Ken Grip." Hold the Ken with the spike pointing upwards, gripping the base of the Ken so that your thumb and forefinger are positioned around the cups. The Tama should hang freely.
1. Big Cup
This is often the first trick learned and teaches fundamental control.
- Preparation: Hold the Kendama in Ken Grip, letting the Tama hang directly below the Big Cup.
- Swing: Gently swing the Tama upwards, guiding it with your hand and arm. Aim for the Tama to rise vertically above the Big Cup.
- Catch: As the Tama descends, guide it to land squarely into the Big Cup. Crucially, bend your knees slightly as you catch the Tama. This absorbs the impact, stabilizes the ball, and makes the catch much smoother and more controlled.
2. Little Cup
Building on the Big Cup, this requires a bit more precision due to the smaller target.
- Preparation: Hold the Kendama in Ken Grip, with the Tama hanging below the Little Cup.
- Swing: Similar to Big Cup, swing the Tama upwards, aiming for it to hover above the Little Cup.
- Catch: As the Tama falls, guide it into the Little Cup. Again, remember to bend your knees slightly upon impact to cushion the landing and maintain balance.
3. Base Cup
This trick involves landing the Tama on the flat bottom of the Ken.
- Preparation: Hold the Kendama in Ken Grip, allowing the Tama to hang freely.
- Swing: Swing the Tama upwards, aiming for it to land on the flat Base Cup.
- Catch: Guide the Tama onto the Base Cup. Just like with the other cup catches, a slight bend of the knees is essential to absorb the momentum and ensure a stable landing.
4. Spike (Ken Grip)
The ultimate goal for many beginners, landing the Tama on the spike.
- Preparation: Hold the Kendama in Ken Grip, letting the Tama hang directly below the spike.
- Swing: Swing the Tama upwards so that the hole in the Tama aligns with the spike. The key is to keep the Ken relatively still and guide the Tama with a smooth, controlled motion.
- Spike: As the Tama descends, gently meet its hole with the spike. Avoid aggressively thrusting the spike; let the Tama fall onto it.
5. Airplane (Tama Grip)
This trick reverses the grip, focusing on spiking the Ken into the Tama.
- Preparation: Hold the Tama in your dominant hand, letting the Ken hang freely by the string.
- Swing: Gently swing the Ken upwards.
- Spike: As the Ken rises, guide the spike directly into the hole of the Tama. The goal is to make the Ken "fly" and land perfectly. Focus on keeping the Tama steady and meeting the Ken with it.
Tips for Kendama Success
To accelerate your learning and master new tricks, keep these tips in mind:
- Practice Consistently: Short, frequent practice sessions (10-15 minutes) are often more effective than long, sporadic ones.
- Use Your Knees: This cannot be emphasized enough. Bending your knees allows you to absorb impact, control momentum, and make catches much smoother and more consistent across almost all tricks.
- Start Simple: Don't jump to advanced tricks before mastering the fundamentals. A strong foundation makes complex tricks easier to learn.
- Watch Tutorials: Observe experienced players and detailed tutorials online to understand the mechanics and timing of various tricks. Search for "Kendama beginner tutorial" on YouTube for a wealth of resources.
- Patience is Key: Kendama has a steep learning curve. Don't get discouraged by failure; every drop is a step towards success.
- Relax Your Grip: Holding the Kendama too tightly can restrict your movement and make fluid motions difficult. A relaxed grip allows for better control.
- Good Environment: Practice in a space where you won't break anything or hurt yourself if the Kendama goes flying.
Building a Kendama Trick Repertoire
Once you've mastered the basics, you can start combining tricks into fluid sequences and explore more challenging maneuvers like:
- Lighthouse: Balancing the Ken on the Tama.
- Lunar: Balancing the Tama on the Base Cup.
- Ken Flip: Flipping the Ken and catching it.
- Whirlwind: A more dynamic combination of swings and catches.
Exploring these and other advanced tricks will deepen your understanding and skill with the Kendama. Many online communities and resources exist to guide your journey. Discover more at Kendama USA or similar community sites.
