Hey there, As far as I know, there isn't yet a thread about footwork in kendama play in general. I was thinking about it while seshing today, when I changed the front leg from left to right (i'm righty). How do you stand while lacing and what are your thoughts about it? Both foots straight and next to each other or one foot in front position? When it comes down to position change, the knee-bending comes in focus aswell. Curious about your opinions and happy shredding everyone!
I've thought about this extensively myself, and i notice players tend to have habits regarding footwork depending on certain tricks. I've tested this a little bit against people playing Dama and have tried to predict what tricks they're doing according to where they place their feet. sounds silly but it somewhat works. wider stance usually means spacewalks and closer together could just be cup tricks or stall tricks, just my observation, as for myself I've noticed i do this little shuffle forward whenever i go for juggle or forward moon circles.
There is no correct way to stance your feet while playing kendama. However, there are a few players in mind that use their footwork to create TECKY lines
I'm also a righty, and I play with my left foot in front. I kind of do this because if I need to move my hand down low to catch something like a j-stick or earth, then my right leg won't hinder me from catching down low.
I dance around a lot when I play kendama so I like to keep my feet on the loose side. When I'm learning a new trick I will try to land it in all sorts of different stances so then I can bust it out on the move. This also helps when trying to link two tricks together that you couldn't link before.
I was learning a new stall trick barefoot on a pretty hard floor, and noticed that my toes were starting to hurt. I think i use all the muscles in my toes when I'm doing stalls lol.
I always have one foot just a bit in front of the other, whether it's left or right. Helps when you need to save a lighthouse or snag a spike
Keeping left foot forward if you're a righty is the most 'balanced' sort of stance I think. Right foot forward with right handed play works, but I can definitely feel a difference. Things feel more 'centred' and 'in front' of me when playing left foot forward.
I started by always putting my right foot forward a bit, but recently have had more of a shoulder stance without a foot forward for certain tricks and I like it. Its weird though.
are you perchance a regular stance skateboarder? I'd imagine the skateboard test would work for kendama (For a n00b, have them stand with their feet together and push them from behind. whatever foot they step forward with is their "front" foot)
I'm not much of a skateboard or snowboarder but I know for a fact that I ride goofy. And if I put one foot forward it is my right foot. So go figure, eh? Interesting.
Yea, but I snowboard goofy. Go figure. For dama I think it's more of a balance between upper and lower body to have right arm and left leg forward, compared to boarding where you have your 'lead' leg forward.
I find footwork to be really important. A minute or two of focusing on your weight distribution over your feet can be the difference between understanding a trick and just trying a trick. Much like skateboarding, I think landing a trick requires good balance. It will be nearly impossible if you are too far onto your heels or toes. Think about the way your feet feel while you're playing and try to use your whole foot for balance.
Left leg in front and right at back FUN FACT: my kendama stance and motion made me bend my knees when bottle flippin and it looked relly dramatic
As an archer, i'm used to the "open" stance (right handed, right foot forward). Gives me the stability i need and opens up the left side for swing-in tricks (multi-turn airplanes, etc).
For a time, yes! But i was state-sponsored, so i had to give the equipment back when i stopped playing. Didn't stop me from collecting broken arrows (due to robin-hoods) and lost arrows left by other archers, though.