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British Kendama Association
Kendama: "Elegant Simplicity.
Infinite Complexity.
Ultimate Fun."
Welcome to the BKA:
the ultimate resource for all kendama-related information. You'll find the all latest kendama news, and a wealth of other info on the pages linked below.
If you're completely new to the Japanese skill-toy that is kendama,
and don't know what it's all about, watch this. |
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Tricks with the Kendama
There are literally hundreds of kendama tricks for you to learn.
Beginners should head to this page, which has the first ten tricks from the BKA's skill level tables, including animated GIFs. For harder trick descriptions, head to the Advanced page.
For the benefit of more experienced players here is a list of 100 tricks, in Japanese and English.
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Skill Levels
Deutsche Übersetzung der Kendama Skil-Level
The BKA now keeps a register of players' official skill levels.
The skill level system mirors that of the Japanese Kendama Association.
To qualify for any given grade, you have to take an exam. For any given grade, you have ten attempts to achieve each trick listed the required number of times. Example: to qualify as a grade 5 beginner, you have 10 attempts to hit Rousoku 3 times, another 10 attempts to hit Tomeken twice, and another ten attempts to hit Hikouki once. For grade 1, you also have two attempts (non-cummulative) to achieve 50 catches of Moshi kame.
All tricks at all levels must be performed with an approved kendama.
A separate, unstrung, kendama may be used for Moshi Kame only.
Starting at 10th Kyu, each grade must be achieved before you can try the next. You can, however, achieve multiple grades in one test (to a maximum of 4th Dan), if you pass all the requirements on the way.
After taking an exam, you may not take a new exam until the following amount of time has passed:
Next level target grade: Required interval
Kyu 10-6: 1 day
Kyu 5-1: 1 week
Pre-dan - 5th Dan: 1 month
6th Dan: 1 year
See videos of all these tricks in KendamApp.
Beginners Skill Level Table ("Kyu" gradings)
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Grade: |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Oozara / Big Cup |
gif/vid |
1 |
2 |
3 |
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Kozara / Small Cup |
gif/vid |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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Chuuzara /
Base Cup |
gif/vid |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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Rousoku / Candle |
gif/vid |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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Tomeken /
Pull-up-in/Spike
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gif/vid |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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Hikouki /
Aeroplane
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gif/vid |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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Furiken / Swing In
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gif/vid |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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Nihon ishuu / Around Japan
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gif/vid |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
Sekai isshuu /
Around the World
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gif/vid |
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1 |
2 |
Toudai / Lighthouse |
gif/vid |
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1 |
Moshi Kame |
gif/vid |
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50 (2) |
Pre-Advanced Skill Level Table ("Pre-Dan grading")
Tomeken /
Pull-up-in/Spike |
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5 |
Hikouki /
Aeroplane |
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5 |
Furiken / Swing In |
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5 |
Ken isshuu / Around Prefecture |
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4 |
Nihon ishuu / Around Japan
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4 |
Sekai isshuu /
Around the World
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3 |
Toudai / Lighthouse
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2 |
Ken saki suberi / Slip-on-stick
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1 |
Moshi Kame
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100 (1) |
As above, but only 1 attempt at Moshi kame.
Advanced Skill Level Table ("Dan" gradings)
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Grade: |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
Sekai isshuu /
Around the World |
gif/vid |
4 |
5 |
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Toudai / Lighthouse |
gif/vid |
4 |
5 |
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Ken saki suberi / Slip-on-stick |
gif |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
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Chikyuu mawashi / Earth Turn |
gif |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
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Saka otoshi / Falling Down
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gif |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
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Ura furiken / Reverse Swing In
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gif |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
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Uchuu issuu / Around the Cosmos
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gif |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
Uguisu / Bird
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gif |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
Tsurushi tomeken / Hanging Pull-up-in
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gif |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
Haneken / Jumping Stick |
gif |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
Ikaiten hikouki /
1-turn Aeroplane |
gif |
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1 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
Ikaiten toudai / 1-turn Lighthouse |
gif |
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1 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
Suberidome gokui / Slip Grip Special |
gif |
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3 |
5 |
Uguisu no taniwatari / Bird Fly Over the Valley
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gif |
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3 |
5 |
Toudai tonbogaeri / Lighthouse Somersault
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gif |
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2 |
4 |
Tsurushi ikkaiten hikouki / Hanging 1-turn Aeroplane
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gif |
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2 |
4 |
Nikaiten toudai / 2-turn Lighthouse
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gif |
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1 |
3 |
Jiyu shumoku / Freestyle Tricks
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** |
Taimu kyogi B / Speed Trick B |
gif |
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120s |
60s |
45s |
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Moshi Kame |
gif |
200 |
300 |
500 |
1000 |
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For grades 1-4, only 1 attempt is permitted at Moshi Kame, which should be at 135 beats/minute (minimum).
Grades 3-5 must perform all of the tricks in the Speed Trick B table (below) within the alloted number of seconds. ** For Grade 6, you must show the technical level suitable for the Advanced 6th Grade: Two tricks of the required level must be declared, and approved by the examiner, then shown once, in 10 attempts per trick.
Speed Trick B
slow gif - fast gif - vid
Mae Furi Rousoku / Swing to Candle |
gif |
Ken ishuu / Around the Prefecture |
gif |
Nihon ishuu 2 kai renzoku / Around Japan 2 times |
gif |
Sekai ishuu 2 kai renzoku / Around the World 2 times |
gif |
Yoropa ishuu / Around Europe
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gif |
Chikyuu mawashi / Earth Turn
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gif |
Uguisu-ken / Bird and In
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gif |
Haneken / Jumping Stick
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gif |
Ikkaiten Hikouki / 1-turn Aeroplane
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gif |
Saka otoshi / Falling Down
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gif |
If you're having trouble hitting a trick, remember the golden rule:
MORE KNEES!
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