Fresh baby blue strings in our store
For a limited time only, we have some fresh baby blue strings in our online store. Check them out HERE!
Archive for October, 2011
Ube #4 Available now!!
The Artist Series is a new project here at Kendama USA. Our goal is to collaborate with talented artists to create Kendamas that are hand painted at a high quality level that could never be duplicated in mass production. We love working with artists and this series was a natural step that we are absolutely thrilled about. These Kendamas are truly one-of-a-kind pieces of art. The hardest part is deciding if you want to put it in a display case, or actually risk playing with it!
We are honored to have Ube Urban collaborate with us on our first ever Artist Series. Ube is a highly skilled industrial designer/painter, and owner of Ube’s Icecream Shop in San Francisco, CA. He is highly sought after for custom paint jobs, and has made quite a name for himself in the Kendama community. All the custom Kendamas in this series are hand painted by Ube himself. There are no duplicates made of the Artist Series designs, so “limited edition” would be an understatement. There is 1 of each. As soon as it’s gone, it’s gone, and the next custom design will be available in it’s place. The intricate detail Ube puts into his work is difficult to capture in photographs or video, and needs to be seen in real life to truly appreciate all the small features.
The 4th Ube custom is an Ozora painted like a deep midnight sky. A custom blue hue glistens with Ube’s signature ice-cream style paint detailing unlike anything in your collection.
We must stress that these are Kendamas are pieces of art, and are not intended to be children’s toys. The Artist Series Kendamas use several different materials and paints that are not considered “toy-safe” by US toy standards. Please enjoy your artwork responsibly.
Artist Series purchases are non-refundable, and shares of the profits go directly to the artist. Every purchase includes the Artist Series Kendama, an extra string, framed original sketches, and a framed autographed photo.
Available now in our null
Kendama USA Pro Team Contest 2011
The 2011 Pro Team Contest begins NOW!!!
Each year we add one new member to the Kendama USA Pro Team. What is a Pro? A Kendama USA Pro
is a player who demonstrates extraordinary technical skill, creativity, and is active in promoting and sharing
Kendama with others in a positive way.
FORMAT
This year our contest will be TWO rounds. The finalists from round 1 will advance to the round 2.
Round 1 is an online video edit contest, with a MAXIMUM length of 3 minutes. This edit should be a mix of tricks
and lifestyle. Of course we want to see that you have skills, but we also want to “meet” the person behind the
Kendama. We want to learn who you are, why you play Kendama, and your hobbies and interests that AREN’T
Kendama. We want to see how Kendama fits into your daily life, and understand why you would be a good Pro.
This edit should be approximately 1/3 Kendama tricks, and 2/3 lifestyle.
Round 2 will also be a video edit, but focused entirely on Kendama playing. If you advance into this round, you
will have several extra weeks to make your edit for Round 2. More details for round 2 will be announced after
round 1 is finished.
JUDGING
The current Kendama USA Pro Team will judge the winners based on skill level, creativity, and personality.
PRIZES
The winner of the PRO contest will be given their very own Pro Model Kendama in 2012, and will enjoy all the
perks that come with joining the Kendama USA Pro Team: Kendama packages that will blow your mind, Pro product
royalties, filming trips, special projects and edits, and a life-changing surprise we have planned for Spring 2012.
and if that wasn’t enough …
There is a very special twist to this year’s Pro Team Contest. All the finalists who advance from round 1 will be the
very first recipients of our NEW Kendamas, fresh from the factory, before they are available to the public for sale.
While only 1 person can win the Pro Team spot, a handful of top entries in Round 2 will qualify for a special
NEW Kendama USA Team forming in January 2012. Members of this team will receive Kendama sponsorship, be
involved in product development and testing, Kendama USA edits and events, and much more.
HOW TO ENTER
Round 1 begins NOW, and all entries are due by 11:59 PM, NOVEMBER 14th, 2011.
Your edit should be labeled “YOURNAME Kendama USA 2011 Pro Team Contest Entry“.
Upload your finished video to YouTube or Vimeo, and complete the following information:
Name:
Age:
City/State/Country:
How long have you played Kendama:
What do you love about Kendama?
What roll does Kendama play in your life?
Why would you be a good pro?
URL link to your video edit (and password if you upload privately):
Contact info and Mailing address for prizes:
Please send us ONE email with the completed questions above, and the link to your edit. Send your complete
entry to this email address: [email protected]
****Please do not send multiple emails, do not try to enter via Facebook, and do not try to enter by
submitting to any other email addresses.
details and FAQ:
Why is the lifestyle aspect so important to you? Our Kendama Team is like a small family, and we believe
that Kendama is about much more than simply doing hard tricks. When it comes to being Pro, we feel
that who you are as a person is just as important as how good you are at playing.
How old do I have to be to enter? There is no age requirement for this contest.
Do I have to live in the USA to enter? No. We accept submissions worldwide. Our new
Kendama team will have an international segment, and we encourage anybody who is interested
to enter.
When does round 2 start? We will contact the finalists with details about round 2 at the appropriate
time. Just focus on round 1 for now!
What should my edit look like? However you want!! You have complete creative control.
Your edit should be roughly 1/3 tricks, and 2/3 lifestyle. Use this as a guideline, but PLEASE be as
creative as you want with your edit. We don’t want to see 100 edits that look identical. Have fun
with your entry, and show us something fresh!
Can my edit be 3:30, or 4 minutes, or maybe 5 minutes? THREE MINUTES!!!
I’m already sponsored, can I still enter? ANYBODY is welcome to enter the contest. However, if
you win, please note that we do not co-sponsor with other shops, or other Kendama brands. You would
be expected to switch sponsors completely if you win. If you want to enter privately, feel free to password
protect your video and email us your entry. We will respect your privacy and communicate with you before
anything is made public. If you have specific questions regarding this, just email us.
How many times can I enter? We prefer that you put your focus and energy into 1 great edit. Making
multiple edit entries will be distracting. If you already entered once, but have a great new idea, feel free
to make a 2nd entry. We will be focusing on one edit, so making multiple entries will not increase your
chances of winning. We won’t stop you from entering more than once, but we don’t recommend it.
Any advice? Have FUN, have FUN, and have FUN!!!!! We can’t wait to see your edits!
**if you have any more questions you feel we haven’t answered, please ask in the Comments area below
Ube Artists Series #3 Available now!
The Artist Series is a new project here at Kendama USA. Our goal is to collaborate with talented artists to create Kendamas that are hand painted at a high quality level that could never be duplicated in mass production. We love working with artists and this series was a natural step that we are absolutely thrilled about. These Kendamas are truly one-of-a-kind pieces of art. The hardest part is deciding if you want to put it in a display case, or actually risk playing with it!
We are honored to have Ube Urban collaborate with us on our first ever Artist Series. Ube is a highly skilled industrial designer/painter, and owner of Ube’s Icecream Shop in San Francisco, CA. He is highly sought after for custom paint jobs, and has made quite a name for himself in the Kendama community. All the custom Kendamas in this series are hand painted by Ube himself. There are no duplicates made of the Artist Series designs, so “limited edition” would be an understatement. There is 1 of each. As soon as it’s gone, it’s gone, and the next custom design will be available in it’s place. The intricate detail Ube puts into his work is difficult to capture in photographs or video, and needs to be seen in real life to truly appreciate all the small features.
The 3rd release is a classy wooden Ozora titled “Sea Foam Breeze”. This 2 tone tama has a smooth, subtle fade from light blue to sea foam green. You can almost feel the pacific breeze wafting in from San Francisco bay into Ube’s custom shop. His precision painting style will make a great addition to your Kendama collection.
We must stress that these are Kendamas are pieces of art, and are not intended to be children’s toys. The Artist Series Kendamas use several different materials and paints that are not considered “toy-safe” by US toy standards. Please enjoy your artwork responsibly.
Artist Series purchases are non-refundable, and shares of the profits go directly to the artist. Every purchase includes the Artist Series Kendama, an extra string, framed original sketches, and a framed autographed photo.
Mark Your Calendars – November 19th – DAMA FEST!!!
DAMA FEST!!!
We can’t begin to tell you how excited we are about Dama Fest!!! This is the first Kendama event hosted by Kendama USA, and we are working hard to make it one to remember!!
WHERE? WHEN?
Dama Fest will be held inside the Gallery Room, at the Cobb Galleria Center, on Saturday November 19th, 2011. This is a great location north of Downtown Atlanta, and easily accessible from Canton, Woodstock, Alpharetta, and of course Atlanta. It’s at the intersection of I-75 and I-285, and the full address is 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339. It’s also next door to the Cumberland Mall, so your parents can do some holiday shopping while you’re getting your Dama on. The doors open at 10am, and close at 5pm. Don’t be late, as you won’t want to miss a moment.
ITS FREE!?!? NO WAY!!!
YES! We are so thankful for all the Kendama enthusiasm and support we’ve received, and this is our chance to give something back. There will be no charge to attend Dama Fest. Parking? Also FREE. You may not want to come empty handed though, because we will have lots of Kendama specials, sales, and some brand new Dama-goodness exclusively at this event. If you choose to enter the main event, there may be a small entry fee. We are still working out those details and will update ASAP.
WHAT TO EXPECT
FUN, FUN, and more FUN. The best Kendama players in the country will be attending, including the entire Kendama USA Pro Team. More players keep contacting us telling us they bought a plane ticket, or that they are road tripping to Atlanta. The list keeps growing! There will be Kendama challenges, games, and giveaways. Unbelievable raffle prizes. Great music. Custom Damas. Plenty more. Our main event will be a unique contest hosted by Jake Wiens of the Kengarden, and the infamous Dave Mateo.
SUPPORTERS
We are really thankful to those helping to make this event happen. Kendama is a great tool to bring together a community, and this event is no exception. Big thanks go to Jake Wiens at the Kengarden, the entire Ozora family, Tyler Marshall at the Kensession Stand, Ryan “OhSnapKid” Purcell, and of course the Kendama USA staff and Team.
If you’re interested in supporting the event, please contact us. If you have ideas about how to make this great event even better, we want to hear them!!!
REGISTRATION
Just show up! There is no registration required to attend Dama Fest, however it would be a huge help to us if you will RSVP on our Facebook Page if you plan to attend. You can RSVP on our Facebook page by clicking HERE. If you plan to enter the main event, you will need to register at the event, and we will have more details about this soon.
HOW TO GET THERE:
If Traveling Northbound on I-75 (or coming from Atlanta Airport):
If traveling north on I-75 take Exit 258/Cumberland Boulevard. Go west on Cumberland Boulevard to the fourth traffic light at Cobb Parkway/US 41. Turn right on Cobb Parkway and go 7/10ths of a mile (5 traffic lights) to Galleria Drive. Turn right onto Galleria Drive. The Cobb Galleria Centre’s main (rotunda) entrance is located immediately on the right. An additional parking facility is located directly across Galleria Drive.
If Traveling Southbound on I-75:
If traveling south on I-75 take Exit 258/Cumberland Boulevard. Go west on Cumberland Boulevard to the fourth traffic light at Cobb Parkway/US 41. Turn right on Cobb Parkway and go 7/10ths of a mile (5 traffic lights) to Galleria Drive. Turn right onto Galleria Drive. The Cobb Galleria Centre’s main (rotunda) entrance is located immediately on the right. An additional parking facility is located directly across Galleria Drive.
Directions from I-285 Eastbound:
If traveling east on I-285 take Exit 19/Cobb Parkway/US 41. At the end of the exit ramp turn right onto Cobb Parkway and move into the left-hand turning lane. At the first traffic light turn left onto Galleria Drive. The Cobb Galleria Centre’s main (rotunda) entrance is located immediately on the right. An additional parking facility is located directly across Galleria Drive.
Directions from I-285 Westbound:
If traveling west on I-285 take Exit 20/Cobb Parkway/US 41. Continue to exit using the lane marked Cobb Parkway. At the traffic light at the end of the exit ramp turn left onto Cobb Parkway and go under I-285. Make a left hand turn at the second traffic light onto Galleria Drive. The Cobb Galleria Centre’s main (rotunda) entrance is located immediately on the right. An additional parking facility is located directly across Galleria Drive.
Directions to the Gallery Room:
The Gallery Room is located adjacent to the Cobb Galleria Centre inside the Galleria Specialty Shops and across from Jocks and Jills restaurant. On Galleria Drive, pass the main entrance to Cobb Galleria Centre and turn right at the second driveway. Park in the parking deck and look for the sign for Jocks and Jills.
Parking
There are more than 2,000 complimentary parking spaces on site. Parking can be found at three main parking decks. A two-level and four-level deck can be accessed from the main (rotunda) entrance to Cobb Galleria Centre, while a five-level deck is located directly across Galleria Drive. This parking deck has an underground tunnel on the 2nd level with direct access to the front entrance of Cobb Galleria Centre. Use this tunnel in order to avoid traffic while crossing the street and also to protect yourself from inclement weather.
Results are in!
Thanks to everybody who entered the sticker pack challenge!! Congratulations to our 2 winners are Daniel Rhodes, and Adam Kingman. Each winner will be receiving a $50 voucher toward anything in our store, a Kendama USA Premiere or Pro Model of their choice, a custom engraved Kendama USA wooden plaque, and a Kendama USA Stencil.
The top 3 runner ups will be contacted via email and be receiving a $15 voucher toward anything in our store, and a Kendama USA Premiere or Pro Model of their choice.
In addition, EVERYBODY that entered the contest will be receiving a special discount code for their efforts.
The sticker pack will be available this holiday season in the null!
Check out their designs below!
Designs by Daniel Rhodes
designs by Adam Kingman
Adam Kingman also submitted 2 other designs that will be shown in a project launching this December!
