What's New

Last week we spent some time in NYC for Toy Fair, which is the largest toy industry show in N America. It was the fifth year we've attended Toy Fair, but this time instead of showing off the Terra Pill in the KendamaUSA booth, we had a booth of our own! 

Toy Fair is always a crazy, busy, and amazingly fun experience, and this year was no exception! Check out this review on the Terra Pill to get a little bit of insight into our booth at the show, written by Jim Bessman.

We have some great deals for Black Friday!

10% off EVERYTHING in the shop!
-> Just use the code 'BLACKFRIDAY' at checkout to apply the discount

Jumbo Pill and Zebrano or Purpleheart Pill for just $59.99!
-> Normally priced at $109.98, save 45% with this deal!

Terra Kendama Pro Models!
-> Support our team by buying their pro models, check them out here:
Eric Martin / Rodney Ansell / Matt Rice

 

Kendama painting mastermind Mr Sourmash spent some time hanging out in our workshop a couple weeks ago, and he just dropped a short edit filmed during his time in Vancouver! Give it a look below:

On Saturday, June 11, we're helping to host a kendama jam and competition at the BC Playthings shop, in North Vancouver BC. There will be contests for all skill levels, as well as a freestyle jam, pill contests, and many other sidegames. 

Registration begins 9:00 am
Competition starts 10:00 am

Click here to pre-register for the events
Click here for the Facebook event page

Please see the video below for a rundown of the contest rules, and a demonstration of the trick ladders.

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Ladder battle rules:
- Each competitor can compete in one skill category (beg, int, adv)
- Any standard kendama may be used, but no kendamas larger than a Terra LBB (18cm tall, base cup to spike)
- Qualifying rounds will be larger groups, with the first few competitors to complete the ladder in each group advancing to later rounds
- Final rounds will be heads up, and the final two competitors will compete in a best of three battle
- The goal is to land each trick in the ladder, as quickly as possible
- Try each trick until you land it, then move to the next trick, until you have landed all five tricks
- Tricks must be completed in the listed order
- No ‘adjustments', or using your other hand to adjust the ken or tama

BEGINNER:
1. Candlestick
2. Around the block (catch on all three cups, any order)
3. Airplane
4. Big cup, tap to big cup
5. Spike! (no spinning)

INTERMEDIATE:
1. Hanging spike
2. Lighthouse, falling in
3. Around Europe (any order)
4. One turn airplane
5. Downspike!

ADVANCED:
1. Around USA (any order)
2. One turn lighthouse, tradespike
3. Bird over the valley, spike
4. Inward jumping stick
5. Whirlwind!

Freestyle contest rules:
- Each competitor will have ~30 seconds to perform their best moves on stage
- Judges will be looking for creativity, difficulty, showmanship, and of course you have to land your tricks!
- Any size of kendama is allowed
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Rodney is currently on tour with Keith Matsumura and the rest of Floyd Hill in Japan, but before leaving he was hard at work in the shop, turning a new batch of Roddamas! We're excited to release these, you'll find them up for sale in the Roddama webshop on October 1st at 5pm PDT.

 

It is no secret that Calgary is home to some serious kendama shredders, and we were stoked when a bunch of them drove out to Vancouver for the Van Jam 2! Steph, Micha and Jared put this video together, showing off some tricks they landed on their journey. Check it out!

Eric came to Vancouver to hang out for the Van Jam 2, and while he was here he filmed a rad new edit! Check it out below!

 

Eric did three more tricks, for the eight time! We have just one question: is penguin a bird?

Three Trick Rick 8 (is a penguin a bird?) from Heshisfreshh on Vimeo.

 

We've teamed up with the creative minds behind 44 RPM to bring you the Flat Pack Pill! Check it out in our online shop!

44 RPM has been hard at work lately, creating many unique and awesome toys. Their flat pack designs are laser-cut from a single sheet of birch-wood, offering a new look at many different skill toys. We were very excited when they approached us with the idea for a Flat Pack Pill, and we couldn't be happier with the results! There is a whole new world of trick concepts possible with the Flat Pack Pill, just waiting for you to explore and discover!

The Flat Pack Pill's design allows for 16 nickels to be added during assembly, bringing the total weight of the toy up to that of your average beechwood Pill. 44RPM has previously released the 'Penny' Kendama, which similarly allows pennies to be added to the toy for additional weight. Being a Canadian company, we opted to use nickels for the Flat Pack Pill, since Canada does not produce or use pennies! 

Three Tricks from Rick number 7! This time with a guest appearance from Alex. Enjoy!

Three Trick Rick 7 + Smith from Heshisfreshh on Vimeo.

Rod has been working seasonally as a tree planter for 4 years now, travelling to the rugged landscape of interior British Columbia to bring new life to the landscape. This year, Rod brought filmed some of his adventures, and some kendama tricks. Take a look to see what Rod's life as a tree planter is like!

This year we received over 50 entries to our yearly contest, and we're seriously impressed with the quality of the submissions! Next year we may have to call it the '4 Year War' instead of the '4 Year Contest', as there was an epic battle of skill and stye in every category, leaving our judges with some tough decisions in selecting a winner! 
(Clicking on a contestant's name will link you to their entry)

Pro Category:

1st place: Wyatt Bray
2nd place: Nui Wong

Wyatt has been dominating the Kendama scene lately, and his performance in our contest was no different. Incredibly difficult and fresh tricks, a clean cut edit, and that goony COTK style. Congrats, Wyatt! In second place, Nui's strange and creative style helped him stand out above the rest. Honourable mentions to pretty much everyone else that entered the pro category, some seriously quality edits in the mix! 

Am Category:

1st place: Bryson Lee
T-2nd place: Rolf Ganer, Soma Kanemoto, Nic Warren

The amateur category was a serious battle, but with tricks that rivalled the pro entries, Bryson has been selected as the winner! Seriously epic stuff! Picking a second place entry proved too difficult a task, so our judges instead decided to split 2nd place three ways, in lieu of awarding a third place. Congrats to everyone involved!
Honourable mentions: Rudy Simpliciano, Cullen Daniels, MJ, Nathan St-Arnaud

Pill Category:

1st: Bryan Hansen
2nd: Joshua Cansana
3rd: Chris Marquest

Bryan has been turning heads with his pill tricks for some time now, but now he's moved on to exploding heads with his insane and technical tricks! Congrats on the win, Bryan! Joshua from the Pill USA team also had an amazing entry, with some of the smoothest string/flow lines we've ever seen. In third place, Chris Marquest was slaying jumbo tricks like its his job. All around, an amazing showing in the pill category. Thanks to everyone who took the time to make an edit!

Additional prizes: 

Best trick: Ryan Walker (Lighthouse held during cartwheel)
Prize: Terra Painted Standard

Forgot it isn't Rasta week, man: Will Schiebe
Prize: Terra Painted Standard

A huge thanks to everyone who took the time to enter our contest, you all rule! If you won a prize, please contact us with your shipping details (terrakendama@gmail.com).