yt comments are cancer in all areas, not just dama. Dama yt comments are actually prob much better, on avg
When someone says they've done a super creative trick on insta, it's probably a juggle tap line that involves a penguin spike somewhere. But penguin spikes look super cool anyways so I can't complain.
I'm gonna say it.. Hate me if you want. Behind the back tricks. They are ugly looking, uncomfortable, impractical and in general I find them to be more of a party trick. Under the leg is a close 2nd when people do it non-stop. Maybe once in a line, but not when you look like a drunk flamingo.
I'm gonna edit and slightly contradict myself right quick... Ben Herald has a knack for good looking behind the back tricks. Those quick pops or wraps around his body are beautiful. Mateo and Kenyatta make under the leg stuff look smooth, stylish and effortless. But in general... Behind the back/ under the leg... Drunk flamingos lol (Just my opinion)
lmao. yes Ehh I honestly don’t disagree. I like contortion (behind the back) tricks in some cases, when executed well. It’s sorta like ‘flying V’ tricks. You can do them steezy (think: Adrian Esteban), or you can do them sloppy (think: chasing a wobbly ken around, waiting for it to balance out.. etc). It really can make a difference!
I like the edited version..! ‘Cause Mateo and Kenyatta DO both make leg stuff look cool especially kicking the tama..! But I agree, people landing lunar/airplane/Lh whatever then lifting their leg, go under it and do a lunar flip/LH flip or Jstick then bring it back kind of looks awkward.. sure prob has it’s place in a game of KEN, just like we’d use to come up with trick shots in HORSE while playing b-ball, but for normal steeze it just doesn’t work for me. But that’s just like, my opinion, mannnnn...!
One of the GA players did do this sick trick where he did a lunar went under his leg and did a lunar turntable (no not a rover, he spun the tama on his finger) and then went back to regular lunar and finished it. It did look a little sloppy I guess but was also crazy impressive.
So this one's gonna be a question cuz I'm pretty conflicted on it. How does everyone feel about PRO PLAYERS... Sponsored players... Getting drunk at comps, before they even start competing? On 1 hand. I found it amusing to watch, especially as a judge. On the other hand. I found it pretty disrespectful to the event, and not a good look when you are surrounded by kids who idolize you. You are representatives of the community and your respective sponsors. Like I said... I was amused by the antics. But when PRO players are too drunk to land a single trick in the 1st round... Or reek of booze.... Well that's a little different. (Not necessarily a trend... But I felt this was the right forum for it)
People thinking kendama pros should’ve designed their pro mods differently to appeal more to them (the customer) specifically (an example I can think of was someone on FKC wishing Haley Bishoff’s new pro mod was on a Craft Shift ken or could have an option to be setup that way for purchase). They seem to forget or just do not understand is that the pros design their pro mods as kendamas that THEY want to specifically see made the way they want it to be.
...wow. I kinda forgot about this kind of aspect for the pro mods. I think this sort of logic can apply to the Dave 1.0 mod because not too many people were into the translucent gloss on sassafras combo and the actual weight of sassafras.. I was definitely one of those kinds of people at first, but I eventually got curious as to how it played and bought a Kaizen translucent off one of my friends who quit dama. It's actually not that bad once the bevel breaks in for stalls.
I brought this up because I saw a post on FKC from someone complaining that his new Plus size mod deviates very little from his 1.0 mod. Like, it’s his pro mod. Not yours. He made it the way he wanted to match his style and play (especially the first one)
The new one is a must cop - ESPECIALLY because it looks like the first one. It's one of my fave kens i used at the beginning of my dama career and while i personally disliked the Tama the Ken is great. Also i love how they switched woods from padauk (i think) on the cups to cherry <3 My bank account says no new kens atm but I hope to have saved up enough when they land @ kendama france
Ahh, I believe I saw the post on FKC. To be fair to the person, the OG Dave Mateo Dream Dama was divisive when it came to the design and specs. On one hand, some people loved the aesthetic and concept, but at the same time others didn't like the weird 70/30 Silk/Gloss split, the super light Sassafrass tama, or the variable weight of the ken due to the Padauk sarado. This being said, it is a /PRO model/, and they have full discretion with regards to its design and specs. If anything, anyone who wants an ideal mod should either: -Get sponsored, or -Commission a custom dama from a manufacturer.