The Sakura Classic is the official Kendama event of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. Featuring workshops, mini games, pro demos, and an amateur contest with an amazing prize. Each year we focus on the youth and sharing the world of kendama with the public.
The Sakura Classic is made possible by
the Consulate General of Japan San Francisco, The Kengarden, the KG Tues Crew, Kendama USA, Grain Theory, and the NCCBF.
DAY 01
- 11:00 - 12:30 Signups
- 12:00 - 12:30 Speed ladder practice with Ben Herald & Haley Bishoff
- 12:30 - 1:00 Beginner Kendama workshop with Alex Dupont & Hongboots
- 1:00 - 1:10 Mini games before speed ladders
- 1:00 - 4:00 Amateur speed ladders
- 2:00 - 2:30 WORKSHOP Taps with Nic Stodd
- 2:00 - 2:30 WORKSHOP Parents Kendama workshop - Keeping up with the kids! with TJ Kolesnik
- 4:00 - 4:30 Break / Kendama shop
- 4:00 - 4:30 WORKSHOP FIRST TRICKS with Kristian Aynedter and Ben Herald
- 4:30 - 5:30 Pro speed ladder bracket contest
- 6:00 - 7:00 Main Stage performance / Speed ladder finals / awards presentation
- 8:30 - 11:00 Dama Happy hour at "The Hatch" Oakland. All ages welcome.
DAY 02
- 11:00 - 12:00 Am classic division practice with Mia Song and wyatt bray
- 11:30 - 12:00 9 and under kendama mini game contests
- 12:00 - 12:30 30 and up kendama contest
- 12:00 - 12:30 The FUNK - Get creative with Kristian Aynedter and Ben Herald
- 12:30 - 1:00 Making a Kendama Sandwich with Wyatt Bray and TJ Kolesnik
- 1:00 - 3:00 AM Classic rounds - Down to finals
- 2:00 - 2:30 Kendama For beginners with Nic Stodd and Max Norcross
- 3:00 - 4:00 Pro Classic Rounds - Down to Finals
- 4:00 - 4:30 Lightning drops with Mia Song and TJ kolesnik
- 4:30 - 5:30 Pro Freestyle
- 6:00 - 7:00 MAIN STAGE AM Finals - Freestyle finals - Pro Classic Finals
AMATEUR SPEED LADDERS
April 8th
Competitors will learn and master a series of tricks. Players will face off with other players to see who completes the series of tricks the fastest. The Fastest Players will advance to the next round. In the end there will be a Sakura Speed Ladder Chmapion! The top 16 fastest players will be eligable to join the AM CLASSIC on April 9th.
AMATEUR CLASSIC
April 9th
The AM CLASSICS is a traditional Style of Kendmma competition. Players face off by drawing trick cards and alternating attempts to land the trick. If one player lands a trick and the other misses, the player who succeded is awarded a point. Each trick is given 3 attempts by each player. If either both players land all 3 or fail all 3 attempts the trick is null and no points are awarded. First player to 4 points wins. If there is no winner after 15 cards the player will the most points will recieve the win. If there is a tie the players will battle the Sakura Speed Ladder.
PRO CLASSIC
April 9th
The PRO CLASSICS is a traditional Style of Kendama competition identical to the AM Classic. Players face off by drawing trick cards and alternating attempts to land the trick. If one player lands a trick and the other misses, the player who succeeded is awarded a point. Each trick is given 3 attempts by each player. If either both players land all 3 or fail all 3 attempts the trick is null and no points are awarded. First player to 4 points wins. If there is no winner after 20 cards the player will the most points will receive the win. If there is a tie the players will battle the Sakura Speed Ladder.
PRO FREESTYLE
April 9th
For the 2017 Pro freestyle we are taking it back to the streets. Inspired by classic B-Boy cyphers players will be grouped together in groups of 4 for 4 min. A circle will form in the street and players will have to jump in and show the crowd what they got. Each player can perform until they fail 2 times or up to 45 seconds. After 4 min the crowd will decide who advances. The final round of the Pro Freestyle will be held on the main stage the evening of day 2.
1. Spacewalk 1 Turn
2. Lighting Drop Trade Spike
3. Around USA
4. Around the Kengarden
(Sara grip small - Top spike - big cup reg spike - base cup down spike)
5. Lunar Flip Lunar Flip In
6. Lunar Candle Stick Lunar In
7. Stilt Trade Down Spike
8. Stilt, Trade Sara Underbird, Penguin Spike
9. UFO
10. 1 Turn Airplane 1.5 Swap Spike
11. Airplane Double Jumping stick to Opposite Hand
12. Bird, Top Base Cup, Nightingale, Flip In
13. Tail, Frying Pan, Slip On
14. Inward Slinger Downspike, Juggle Downspike
15. Penguin Base Cup, Trade 0 Turn Airplane
16. 1 Turn Tap Flip In, Tap Flip In
17. Whirlwind, Inward Whirlwind
18. 1 Turn House Insta Trade down
19. Pull Up Fast Hands Catch Between Legs
20. Hanging Inward Flip Downspike
GET FAST! The Sakura Classic Speed ladder features every style of grip. Ken, Sara, Tama, and Candle stick grip. Tricks must be completed in order but not in a row. If you miss a trick you continue to try that trick until it is completed and then move onto the next. Speed ladders will be in groups as well as 1 on 1 best 2 of 3.
Speed Ladder contest is April 8th. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The top 16 players will be eligible to enter the AM CLASSIC the next day for a chance to become the third Sakura Champion!
Contest location
Northern California
Cherry Blossom Festival
SAN FRANCISCO
- Saturday : 11am - 7pm
- Sunday : 11am - 7pm
SIGN UP & ENTER TO WIN
--ATTENTION-- IF YOU ARE SPONSORED BY A KENDAMA BRAND OR PRO YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE AMATEUR CONTEST. IF YOU ARE PRO / SPONSORED YOU MAY ENTER THE PRO CONTEST.
YOU'VE SUCCESSFULLY SIGNED UP FOR THE SAKURA CLASSICS! THANK YOU!
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