It’s been almost 3 years since Josh Kim picked up his first Kendama. Since then, Josh’s passion & determination to lace Kendama tricks has fast-tracked his skill progression and he is now on Kendama USA’s Tribe Team! Josh’s play style is fast & technical, so try not to blink when watching this edit. With trick combinations including but not limited to boarders balances, 123 variations, & even tightropes, Josh’s gravity-defying lines will definitely blow your mind.
Back when I used to yo-yo around 2013, I would always learn tricks from yoyoexpert.com. I saw they were selling Kendamas, so I watched my first Kendama video on the site, which was the Kendama USA 2012 Japan Tour. Still one of my favorite videos to this day. However, I did not get a Kendama until 2015 where just kept it on my desk, and did not start playing until February of 2016. My first Kendama USA dama was a black silk Kaizen Kendama. My current favorite setup is a Watermelon Slim X Dwesty Ken; throws absolute face melters.
A year later Josh met Wyatt at the 2017 Grand Central Station Jam, where he won a Spike-Off and almost bested Wyatt in a game of Ken. Wyatt saw potential in Josh and sent him a few kendamas after the jam. Since then Josh has helped host a number of events and plans on continuing to throw jams and events in the NYC area.
Kendama for me is just an amazing sport that I love. To be able to receive so much support from the community is phenomenal. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in the past, and special shout out to my day 1′s; my parents. Without them supporting me everyday I play, I never would be where am I today. So grateful to be blessed with this amazing opportunity to play for Kendama USA. Can’t wait for what happens next!
Kendama USA is proud to launch the first series of Kaizen Shifts and Kaizen Slims. The Shift and Slim shape have been extremely popular on our Craft Kendamas, and the Kaizen options now offer you these amazing shapes at a great price. Here is a picture of all the Kaizen’s we recently released. These color options are limited, so grab your favorite style while you can. Also, check out our null feature to share with friends and family.
Kendama USA is proud to release its newest addition to the Craft Colors line; The Black Belt, available now. The black belt encapsulates the best quality and playability perfected for modern play style. The black belt features a new triple split color design distinguished by the thick black stripe on the ball. The top half of the tama is a smooth pastel purple, and the bottom 30% is a fresh minty green. This unique tama is coated with our silk paint.
We’ve added special customization options to our Craft Colors line, giving you the option to pair this tama with our Shift or Slim ken shapes in a variety of wood options. These two popular ken shapes were designed by the Kendama USA team for modern play style, durability, and control. The combination of our silk painted tama with a USA made Craft ken gives you one of the most honed and customizable setups available. null
Miya Song is a Kendama USA Tribe member, living in Oahu, Hawaii. Not only is she one of best female players in the game, she’s also an artist and is known for her Strawberry mark when signing damas!
Listen & enjoy this mellow & humorous interview with the one and only, Miya Song.
Special thanks:
Molly Harney (null)
Haley Bishoff (null)
Miya Song (@_Miyasong)
Jack Baker – Production (@freewheelinfilm)
KendamaUSA – Premiere Sponsor (null)
Click Clack Radio (null)
Don’t forget to use the code “CLICKCLACK” to get 10% off your order at www.KendamaUSA.com
SpikeDama 9 / NKO was one of the most memorable. With players coming from all over Europe to celebrate, share & compete in this sport that we all love. It was one of the biggest & most international turnouts of SpikeDama so far. Check out this new edit from Joris’ point of view on how it all went down.
Enjoy & see you at SpikeDama 10!
To read more about Spike Dama 9, see the winners , pics etc… click here.
We’re happy to release the Make Waves World Tour ft. TJ Kolesnik.
Over the summer of 2016, Tj embarked on a six week journey across the world, touring to multiple countries, cities and states upon his #MakeWaves Pro Model being released. Starting in Japan, he traveled to counties like Singapore, Sweden, Canada and the United States. Each day brought a new crowd of eager Kendama players, fun and exciting experiences and memories that will last forever.
We hope you enjoy this full documentary style / video piece Tj shot during his trip. With help from all of you, Tj was able to turn his dream into a reality.
Countries:
Japan
Singapore
Sweden
Canada
United States
“It was crazy to be away from home for 6 weeks. I’ve traveled all over the world for the last couple of years, but going non stop for 6 weeks, I was a bit anxious to start my journey. Every second of my trip was memorable. I met so many amazing people, new Kendama players and like-minded individuals who are chasing their dreams, just like me.
I want to give a HUGE thank you to every single person who has supported me since day one, as well as all of the new players who are just starting their Kendama journey. I realized a long time ago that hard work, dedication an persistence can get you anywhere in life. As long as you’re humble, patient and hungry, anything is truly possible. Thank you to Kendama USA, Original Grain, Goorin Bros., and Dama Mods for sponsoring this tour.
Enjoy some photos along my journey during Tour. If you haven’t had a chance to pick up the Tj Kolesnik Pro Model, click below to get yours today.
On the 29th of October, the 9th edtition of Spikedama was held in Rotterdam; a city in The Netherlands. During the event, the Open Dutch Championship went down and our TRIBE team member Joris Schweppe took home 1st place. Competing against the former champion, Jeffrey Italiaander, Joris was all but defeated at 0-2 in Italiaander’s favor. Despite the mounted pressure, Joris stayed focused and managed to come back and win the final round with a 3-2 win.
It was one of the biggest turnouts of SpikeDama so far. The attendants came from all over Europe, it was the most international SpikeDama to say the least.
Joris won the competition on his Craft 2.0 Ash Kendama, which was released the same day at MKO In Minnesota.
Joris’ thoughts on the new Kendama: ”Its my new favorite Kendama. I learned new tricks incredibly fast while playing it. The shape is so refined that when I picked it up, I knew I had to use it for the competition.”
The SpikeDama crew is planning to blast out another event early 2017, This will be the 10th edition so hopefully it will be a big one!
MKO is around the corner and everyone is getting prepared for the contest. Each year the freestyle contest gets more and more intense as overall skill and creativity evolves in the Kendama world. The finals is without a doubt one of the most hype moments during the contest. This year we are very excited to have our very own Jake Wiens on stage not as an MC or a competitor but as a DJ! Jake has been producing mixes catered to Kendama play and is taking his skills LIVE to the main stage to provide the beats to fuel the freestyle gladiators as they put their skills to the test.
Jake has put together a live recording of his “SESH” mixtape that features a taste of whats to come during the freestyle contest. Make sure to download the mix for free, grab some homies, and SESH!
We are so proud to announce that Nobu Nori is the newest member added to our Tribe team. Nobu is our first Japanese team member and has always impressed us with his incredible Kendama play, style, and positivity.
“I never want to stop creating. I hope I get to spend every day being an artist.” – Madison Morabito aka Painted Bluu
Madison Morabito aka “Painted Bluu” just dropped her newest custom “The Kaleidoscope”. We took some time to talk about her life as an artist and to get to know her a little bit better.
What inspired you want to paint this design on a tama?
Painted Bluu: As an artist I’ve always tried to expand the surfaces I’ve worked on and to me a tama was the perfect challenge. Whether it be painting, drawing, wood burning. I wanted to apply my medium to this less common surface.
How many different designs have you done on damas?
Painted Bluu: I’ve done about 10 design lines since I started painting kendamas about 2 years ago, and I’ve painted countless customs!
How did you begin painting?
Painted Bluu: As a child I watched my father painting comic book strips, his talent made me want to be an artist. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I picked up a paint brush and it’s been my passion since.
Are you in school?
Painted Bluu: I’m currently a printmaking major at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR.
What drives you to create paintings, drawings, and tattoos?
Painted Bluu: The endless possibilities. As an artist your job never stops. Everyday I am inspired to create something new, something better. While I do paint and draw nearly everyday, I’m excited to begin my tattooing journey! Lately I’ve found my biggest inspirations in tattoo artist John Larsons work, and some of my favorite printmakers. I’ve been very into American Traditional style tattoo work, learning how to convert everything to that style. I also am heavily influenced by middle eastern art, I use a lot of organic shapes in my mandala works.
What’s the craziest thing you painted on?
Painted Bluu: The craziest thing I’ve painted on is either a saw or a skate deck, both were crazy sick to do! I love painting on unique surfaces!
Do you have a muse?
Painted Bluu: Right now what’s pushing me to be my best is so rise above and beyond in the tattoo community, I want to hone in on my painting skills and be able to produce perfect flash pieces.
What has to be going on while your creating?
Painted Bluu: Music for sure! Brand new and Tiny Moving Parts all day, nothing pushes me more than that!
How would you define your style?
Painted Bluu: Id say currently my style is aimed towards the American Traditional tattoo style, but overall I’ve always had a very middle eastern art style to my work. Creating mandalas are a huge passion for me. The symmetry is comforting.
What is your Pokémon go team?
Painted Bluu: MYSTIC FOR LIFE, in my free time I run every gym I encounter. Often with P0WAH0USE
When your not Painting or drawing, what are you up to?
Painted Bluu: Inmy free time I am hiking. I love being submerged in nature.
Favorite Players?
Painted Bluu: My favorite kendama players… Stephanie Lussier, she’s my favorite person on earth, Wyatt of course, and my DKT boys ❤️
What’s next for Painted Bluu?
Painted Bluu: I never want to stop creating. I hope I get to spend everyday being an artist.
The EKO has always been the place for all the OG Kendama players from Europe to come together. This year it was held at The European Juggling Convention, one of the BIGGEST juggle events in the world. It is super cool to see how Kendama take’s its own place in such big event with mainly just jugglers. It’s truly awesome!!
The competition was a blast, Rob Henman took 1st place and became the European Champion, I managed to take 6th place. The positive vibe’s are always really high at the EKO. Since most of the Kendama players are really OG and have known each other for a lot of years, it’s always bringing up good memories and great new moments at the event itself. Also the flow of new Kendama players new to the competition is really cool, It’s always nice to find out about people that had been shredding and finally come to their first event. Overall it was a great event with people from all over Europe, I hope to see everyone again next year or sooner!
The 2nd Annual Let’s Dama event in Long Beach, CA was an amazing event. It was put on by local LA crew; LEZDAMA.
Over 100 people attended the day long event as did sponsored players and vendors from several different companies.
Many sponsored players that attended the event showed up with some fantastic giveaways. One of which was one of a kind REZ Kendama that went to Charity Cristobal.
We showed our support with Colin Sander, Derek Astin, Haley Bishoff & Dylan Westmoreland all in attendance.
(Pictured below from left to right)
Other sponsored players included EJ Williams from RWB, Steph Lussier & Kristian Aynedter of Grain Theory, Chelsea Perez & Alex Hirota for Sweets Kendamas and Molly Harney from DWI plus many more.
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The winner of the Advanced Open Divison was local Emmy Evans. Reppin’ hard for the all the lady shredders out there. In 2nd and 3rd were Tribe Members Derek Astin and Dylan Westmorland
For the intermediate ladders we had Kevin Luong taking 1st . Gabe Romo taking 2nd . Parker Smith taking 3rd
For the Beginner Ladders they had Dylan Trast taking 1st @btampu taking 2nd taking 3rd @mgdama
Haley Bishoff described the event as “an incredible day for the progression of female Kendama. The event was put on by all girls and the winner of the open division was a young female who actually won the beginner bracket at last years’ Lets Dama. Seeing how female Kendama has evolved makes me psyched as ever and I’m very happy I can be apart of it.”
