Hi! We have been playing kendama with my flatmate for over 3 months now. We started with a regular royal kendama, we now have 8 including some decent ones (sweets, krom, israel). The problem is our progression seems to flatten: we are stuck at lvl 3 tricks (juggles, flips, lighthouse/spike...). Do you have any advice on how we could progress? Where were you 3 months in? What's a normal progression curve like? What's the best paint type to progress (i guess sticky?)?
Cuahion clear or satin/silk paints allow for tama adjustment s more than sticky types. My suggestion aboit your trick progression is pick a trick and stick with it. I can do a few expert level tricks and still struggle with some middle type. Study other people and how they do things and with time tricks seem to unlock. You seem to be able to do movea or motions easier and faster.
Short version: more practice = more progress Everyone progresses at their own rate and most have tricks which they prefer. If you're looking for something a bit more regimented use the JKA Dan tests to work on consistency. After that they have some pretty good challenges in their SLC and Aerial levels. On the forum you might have a look at these threads I pulled up using the Search function. Working in progress tricks. Playing less helps you progress faster? I've currently hit a wall Advice for new and old players Trick Progression Favorite paint type Paint - Immediate Play, Long term slay Stickiest paint you've ever played Best paint
My advice is a bit more philosophical, so as to encourage your better kendama growth in the long term. Jake Wiens has this motto: "You play you." Don't force yourself to progress at the rate that you see others progress; there are going to be people who are more talented in kendama than others so don't try and track their speed and progression. Learn the tricks that you want to learn and at your own pace.
The first thing that hit me when reading your post was that your goal seems to simply be "progression". To each their own, I guess, but that doesn't sound fun to me. The goal should be to continue having fun playing, so don't lose sight of what makes it fun for you. When the western kendama boom happened roughly ten years ago, I realized that I didn't like any of what I saw. Having discovered kendama through its more traditional roots, the new vibe wasn't for me. So, to keep it fun, I spent eight years almost completely ignoring the progression of kendama, and anything coming out of the western world. I kept it OG and practiced it for my own enjoyment and relaxation. All the bullshit just made it less enjoyable for me. However, at a certain point I noticed that I wasn't playing as much anymore. Very off and on. I think what kendama represented to me had been replaced by other things. The fun was kind of gone, and therefore the progression as well. I decided to try and get more into product and keep up with the times a bit for the first time ever. It soon became more of an actual hobby, making it fun again, and consequentially making my progression skyrocket compared to before. I'm still not super hyped on the whole "community" thing, but I manage to sift through it and focus on the things that keeps it interesting to me. My point is, If I had set out with the goal of just progressing as fast as possible, I would have gotten sick of it almost immediately. By always putting enjoyment first and foremost, and ignoring what everyone else is doing, you'll find that progression comes naturally, without having to force it or even pay attention to it.