Pro Team
Colin Sander
Age: 22
Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Years playing Kendama: 3.5
Preferred grip: Tama grip & Sara grip
How did you first learn about Kendama: I was working at a ski & snowboard shop’s warehouse, and we had a lot of time to mess around. Watching skiing videos, killing time, etc. In a bonus section of one of the videos that chronicled the skiers’ tour through Japan, there was a lot of footage of this cup and ball type game that the locals played with to pass the time while waiting for a storm and fresh powder. Our manager figured it would be great for passing time at the store too, so he bought a super ghetto, unofficial Kendama on ebay. We were all instantly addicted, and eventually bought a case (24) of real, JKA sanctioned Kendamas. We gave them out to our friends, learned more and more about the history and what was possible with the Kendama, and it has continued on from there. Blind luck. I distinctly remember how one morning i was actually excited to go to work because I knew the Kendama would be there. Of course when i arrived, it was missing… I searched every nook and cranny of the store for the first hour like a true addict, and eventually found it, thank god.
Favorite Kendama trick: Jumping Stick, and all of it’s many variations
Favorite Kendama color: Red. It’s a classic baby, look at the Japanese flag
Hardest Kendama trick to date: Double space-walk to 1 turn lunar, flip lunar, (spike) I’m pretty sure this hasn’t even been done in Japan (YET)
Other hobbies and interests: Rollerblading and Filmmaking are the two other interests that really define my lifestyle. Aside from those I love tennis (singles) white-water kayaking, hiking, biking (road), anything that gets you competing or outside
Favorite joke: I don’t know if this would be considered a joke or a disturbing crime, but I’ll never forget the time my friend left a gift in a chinese-food takeout box and placed it neatly on my roommates pillow
For something more Kendama related, I remember seeing a video of one of the JKA champions, a 40-ish year old Kendama veteran, performing in front of the judges and crowd at the championships… He got really focused as if to perform a very intense trick, lifted one foot off the ground, pulled the ball up to the big cup, and smiled. Crowd pleaser
Zack Yourd
Age: 16 years old
Resides: Pittsburgh!!!!, PA
Years playing Kendama: 2 years
Preferred Grip: Sara Grip
How did you first learn about Kendama: Well Colin (Sander) came over with a Kendama one day and I just picked it up from there
Favorite Kendama trick: Double Lighthouse Flip
Favorite Kendama color: Gold but they don’t make those anymore so Blue
Hardest Kendama trick to date: Triple Stilts Flip
Other hobbies and interests: Snowboarding, long boarding, rope swings, and trampolines into foam pits
Favorite Joke: I just like to make mischief
Jeromy Morris
Age: 3003
Resides: Lawrence, KS
Years playing Kendama: 4ish
Preferred grip: Ken grip
How did you first learn about Kendama: During a rollerblading tour in Japan
Favorite Kendama trick: All the really hard tricks I can’t do consistently
Favorite Kendama color: Gold
Hardest Kendama trick to date: Flip stab for a week straight without stopping
Other hobbies and interests: Art, design, dogs, freestyle everything, urban archeology aka. dumpster diving
Favorite joke: Chuck Norris is so beastly, that when he jumps in the pool he doesn’t get wet, the water gets Chuck Norris!
*side note, if I ever have a baby boy I’m naming him Chuck
Turner Thorne
Age: 20
Resides: Lake Tahoe NV!!!
Years playing Kendama: 1 year
Preferred grip: Tama grip
How did you first learn about Kendama: In April of 2009 i blew out my knee skiing, so having nothing to do but sit on a couch, my good friend Tim Durtschi let me use his until i got my own. From there on i have been addicted.
Favorite Kendama trick: Lunar and Jumping Stick
Favorite Kendama color: White or Purple
Hardest Kendama trick to date: Triple lunar flip
Other hobbies and interests: Skiing, skate boarding… pretty much anything outdoors
Favorite joke: What do you call a ski bum without a girlfriend? Homeless
special thanks to Jonathon Chandler Photography for all of Turner’s great photos
