Dama Dice gives slayers a new way to enjoy games of KEN. The Dama Dice app, available on iOS, gives you a random Kendama trick in Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty modes. It also helps you learn about new Kendama tricks with the integrated Kendama Tricktionary. Just tap on one of the dice, and you can read about how it’s done or view tutorial videos from the best Kendama pros in the community.

We caught up with the app’s creator who’s is also a local Utah slayer; Theodore B., and here’s what he had to say:

“I created Dama Dice because it’s fun to shake things up every now and then. I got started building these apps for snowboarding and skateboarding. My friends and I were always daring each other to try new tricks, so it’s really a product I built to have more fun with them. Dama Dice is great for games of K.E.N. when you don’t know what trick to try.

The app works through a process known as “procedural generation”. That’s fancy computer science talk for lots and lots of random numbers. If the number is “1”, the app gives you a different trick than you’d get if it’s “2” and so on.

Dama Dice has over a hundred random trick components that it draws from. It puts those components together to make new and interesting combinations of tricks every time you shake your phone.

Dama Dice also has a Combo Mode that combines tricks together in lines of three. It uses the ending grip from the previous trick to figure out which trick to flow into. Combos are natural and fun to try. The app will keep surprising you with the combos it creates. It’s sort of unreal and nothing like the kinds of combos you can think up yourself.

So yeah, enjoy the app. Have fun! Send me your feedback too.  I can add in new tricks and move things around. I built the app for the community, and I want it to be something everyone loves to play with.”

“I’ve decided to do a free version so people can try out the app before getting access to all of the advanced tricks and combo mode.”

You can get that here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dama-dice-kendama/id1384971400?mt=8

Full version:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dama-dice/id1382452487?mt=8

Head to shop.kendamausa.com/ and use the code: CLICKCLACK to get 10% off your next order.

Special thanks to:
Ben Herald
Jack Baker
Molly Harney
Haley Bishoff
KendamaUSA
Grain Theory
Josh Flow Grove – Rhythm kendama sounds

Sakura Classic recap –
kendamausa.com/2017/04/21/sakura…assic-2017-recap/

“Going pro the night before and winning the contest the next day creates a story for the ages.” – Ben Herald

In Vol. 2 of Back to Basics, Haley & Molly show you over 25 different base cup variations to incorporate into your flow and hone your skills with.

Check it out!

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!

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD NOW!
https://soundcloud.com/jakewiens/sesh-mko-warm-up-mix

TRACK LISTING

MAD TING – SWINDLE
DROP DOWN – LADY BEE
Heard Me – RL GRIME
Sweat Dreams – HEX COUGAR
Tambo Remix – MR CARMACK
Animal – BRO SAFARI , UFO!
ili – TROYBOI
ODB Shimmy Shimmy Ya – MR CARMACK
Voyage Feat. Zepher – PART NATIVE
Ceramic Drips – MORE//NIGHT
Meet in the Middle (REMIX) – EKALI

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!

~Joris Scweppe

Tribe member Zach Porter & Focus member Austin Ring spent the 4th of July relaxing at Jones Gap State Park in South Carolina. They shot this mini edit during their travels and shared it with us. Check it out!

Who is Zach Porter? Zach porter is one of the first KUSA Tribe members, chosen by Pro player Alex Smith. He has a unique style and has been a positive force in the Kendama community for several years. His crew, GVK hails from the southeastern US and is known for creating mind blowing edits and have won several contests over the years.

Follow Zach Porter on IG here.

More about Jones Gap State Park here.

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 2^nd and 3rd were Tribe Members Derek Astin and Dylan Westmorland

For the intermediate ladders we had Kevin Luong taking 1^st . Gabe Romo taking 2^nd . Parker Smith taking 3^rd

For the Beginner Ladders they had Dylan Trast taking 1^st  @btampu taking 2^nd taking 3^rd @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.”

Haley recently met up with a friend who she met last summer at a campsite in Leavenworth,  WA. Both her and Nelson Klein were enjoying world renowned boulder problems, swimming in the Wenatchee river and meeting new people as the summer passed by. Such an awesome part of both the dama and climbing community is that new people are  always being welcomed, friends are constantly being made and having connections spread  across the country allows for new memories when passing through on trips.

Nelson and Haley spent some time climbing at Smith Rock in Terrebonne, OR, a small town just North of where Haley grew up. Smith is one of the most iconic sport climbing areas in the world and is home some of the first ever sport routes and through extensive pioneering since the 60s, now contains over 1,500 climbs on beautiful tuff and basalt rock.

Bringing a Kendama on a climbing trip is always a good call. Getting to play while waiting to climb and even attaching it to the gear loops on your harness for some casual play at the top of the wall never fails.

If you’re ever taking a trip to Smith Rock, don’t get fooled that Monkey Face is the only place worth seeing. Take at least a couple days to explore this gorgeous area in Central Oregon, take a walk up the heinous Misery Ridge and don’t forget to pack lots of water.

To follow more of Haley’s adventures and Nelson’s travel & climbing photography follow: @hbishhh and @ne1son.klein on instagram!

All Photos: Nelson Klein
Kendama used: Zebrano kaizen x Grey and Seafoam Half Split
Shout outs: KendamaUSA, all the belaytionships and Smith Rock for letting us climb your walls : )

Every trip to Japan is always an unforgettable experience for us, and the 2016 trip is right around the corner!  As we get honed for KWC 2016 over these next few weeks, we are taking a look back to remember last year’s adventures.  We are excited to release our 2015 Japan video to the public today. Enjoy!~

The event was a blast, I placed first in the Freestyle comp and second in the main pro competition. And of course John Paolo Silva taking first Place in the Pro division.

We had the Time to See some Of the Famous places in Rome and film some tricks with the locals.

Thanks to all the Italian players for making the event possible and
special thanks To Dario Patti for hosting it all by himself!

Much Love, ~Joris
Kendama USA Tribe

We are happy to welcome Dylan to the team. 15 years old and killing the game. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you and how you’ll grow with our company.

Be sure to check out his TRIBE Announcement video below, as well as a collection of photos below of jams, events and contests Dylan has attended.

WELCOME TO THE TRIBE

Huge congrats to the winners of the Sakura Classic!

Amateur bracket:
1st: CJ Martinez
2nd: Hayden Brickman
3rd: Keilan

Pro Freestyle Division:
Logan Tosta

We were stoked to see the commitment from the Kendama community to come out and jam despite the rain. Huge thanks to all the volunteers from the Bay Area that came out to help, Gloken, KendamaUSA, Grain Theory and of course, Jake Wiens for putting on another incredible Sakura Classic! See you next year!

“Over 3 Days we explored Oakland and laid down some of the crazies tricks for the camera.  It was amazing to have the time to properly document Wyatt.  He has such crazy energy and a drive that is unmatched by any other player.  When he gets into a zone he is in it until he gets it.  I was prepared to film for hours on each trick only to have wyatt bang each one out with the quickness.  TJ Kolesnik came along for the 2 days coaching and documenting behind the scenes.  This was the dream squad.  There was so much support and drive to make this something amazing and memorable.”

Enjoy Wyatt Bray in “Oakland Slay Days”
-Jake Wiens