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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.

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.


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)

Grade:
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Oozara / Big Cup
gif/vid
1
2
3
Kozara / Small Cup
gif/vid
1
2
3
Chuuzara / Base Cup
gif/vid
1
2
3
Rousoku / Candle
gif/vid
1
2
3
Tomeken / Pull-up-in/Spike
gif/vid
1
2
3
Hikouki / Aeroplane
gif/vid
1
2
3
Furiken / Swing In
gif/vid
1
2
3
Nihon ishuu / Around Japan
gif/vid
1
2
3
Sekai isshuu / Around the World
gif/vid
1
2
Toudai / Lighthouse
gif/vid
1
Moshi Kame
gif/vid
50 (2)

Pre-Advanced Skill Level Table ("Pre-Dan grading")

Tomeken / Pull-up-in/Spike
5
Hikouki / Aeroplane
5
Furiken / Swing In
5
Ken isshuu / Around Prefecture
4
Nihon ishuu / Around Japan
4
Sekai isshuu / Around the World
3
Toudai / Lighthouse
2
Ken saki suberi / Slip-on-stick
1
Moshi Kame
100 (1)

As above, but only 1 attempt at Moshi kame.

Advanced Skill Level Table ("Dan" gradings)

Grade:
1
2
3
4
5
6
Sekai isshuu / Around the World
gif/vid
4
5
Toudai / Lighthouse
gif/vid
4
5
Ken saki suberi / Slip-on-stick
gif
3
4
5
6
Chikyuu mawashi / Earth Turn
gif
3
4
5
6
Saka otoshi / Falling Down
gif
2
3
4
5
Ura furiken / Reverse Swing In
gif
2
3
4
5
Uchuu issuu / Around the Cosmos
gif
1
2
3
4
6
8
Uguisu / Bird
gif
1
2
3
4
6
8
Tsurushi tomeken / Hanging Pull-up-in
gif
1
2
3
4
6
8
Haneken / Jumping Stick
gif
1
2
3
4
6
8
Ikaiten hikouki / 1-turn Aeroplane
gif
1
2
4
6
Ikaiten toudai / 1-turn Lighthouse
gif
1
2
4
6
Suberidome gokui / Slip Grip Special
gif
3
5
Uguisu no taniwatari / Bird Fly Over the Valley
gif
3
5
Toudai tonbogaeri / Lighthouse Somersault
gif
2
4
Tsurushi ikkaiten hikouki / Hanging 1-turn Aeroplane
gif
2
4
Nikaiten toudai / 2-turn Lighthouse
gif
1
3
Jiyu shumoku / Freestyle Tricks
 
**
Taimu kyogi B / Speed Trick B
gif
120s
60s
45s
Moshi Kame
gif
200
300
500
1000

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
gif
Chikyuu mawashi / Earth Turn
gif
Uguisu-ken / Bird and In
gif
Haneken / Jumping Stick
gif
Ikkaiten Hikouki / 1-turn Aeroplane
gif
Saka otoshi / Falling Down
gif

If you're having trouble hitting a trick, remember the golden rule:
MORE KNEES!
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