[Rec] Challenge! A roundup of kendama tricks

lighthouse

Watch this to learn lighthouse tricks and practice methods! [Kendama lessons for beginners]

The trick called “Lighthouse,” where you pull up the ken and set it on the ball.

Hold the ball by wrapping your thumb, index, and middle fingers around its side, and support it from underneath with the remaining two fingers.

Once you’ve got a firm grip on the ball, pull the ken straight up and place it on the ball by bringing the ball under the large cup.

What’s crucial in this trick is the sense of balance needed to keep the ken stable on the round ball.

It helps to practice balance first—such as placing the ken onto the ball by hand, or dropping the ken from a few centimeters above the ball—before attempting the full trick.

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Flying Trapeze

Kendama Aerial Trapeze: Tips & Practice Methods!

The “Trapeze”! Hold the string, swing the kendama up, catch the ken in midair, and land the ball on the big cup.

With the ball spiked on the tip, pinch the string and move the kendama as if rotating it away from you.

As the ball comes off, grab the ken and set the ball on the big cup.

Three moments are crucial: when the ball separates, when you grab the ken, and when you present the big cup under the ball.

First, practice each action separately—switching your grip, catching, and placing on the big cup—then combine them once you’ve got the feel.

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airplane

Kendama: How to do the Airplane

The “Airplane,” where you hold the tama and swing up the ken, then stick the ken tip into the tama’s hole! Lightly grip the tama around the second joints of three or four fingers.

Step one foot back so you can respond flexibly to the ken’s movement, and use your other hand to lightly draw the ken in as you set your stance.

Then, as you bend your knees, release the ken from your hand; when the tama comes directly under the ken, pull the tama sharply toward you.

This gives the ken just the right spin so the tip settles cleanly into the hole.

Using your knees properly at the moment you spike the hole is also key.

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Princess Pinky

Kendama: How to Do the Pinky Princess

Make it look like you’re about to swing the ball up and spike it onto the ken tip, then catch the ball with your pinky on the hand holding the ken—this is the “Pinky Princess.” It’s a unique, high-impact trick that’s sure to get a “Wait, that way?!” reaction when you show it off.

First, it’s essential to master “Furikens”—swing the ball forward and catch it on the ken tip.

Once you can do that, you’re practically set for the Pinky Princess.

After you get good at spotting the hole and reliably landing the ken tip, move on to practicing inserting your raised pinky into the ball’s hole!

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Palm airplane

Kendama: Palm Airplane

The trick called “Airplane” involves holding the ball, raising the ken, and stabbing the tip into the hole.

Its variation, “Palm Airplane,” starts with both the ken and the ball placed on your palm.

Bend your knees deeply and, as you extend your whole body upward, toss the ken and ball straight up.

While the ball is floating, catch it and land the ken tip into the hole.

It’s a difficult trick that requires calculating everything—the timing of the catch, the orientation of the hole, and how long the ball and ken tip stay in the air—but pulling it off delivers a great sense of accomplishment.

Master the basic tricks first, then give it a try!

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Kendama Fencing

Let's play kendama fencing! #after-school care #kendama

Let’s play by arranging the game! Here’s an idea for Kendama Fencing.

Fencing is a sport that originated from medieval European chivalry, where two athletes face off one-on-one using swords, right? This time, let’s use kendamas instead of swords.

Split into two teams and keep a distance of about five meters between them.

Choose one player from each team, and have them aim for the opposing team’s side while balancing the ball on the kendama’s cup.

The rule is: when they pass by each other, the player who knocks the opponent’s ball off with their hand advances.