hiii I'm Nikki from Houston, TX. I've been playing since Feb 2014 (but like I only was playing on and off until 2015 when i really got into it). I was first introduced through my dance crew in college but everyone faded out of it. lol Actually, what really got me into into it later on was going to my first meet up/jam in ATL when I lived there for a short time after graduating. I'm pretty stoked to travel for MKO again this year and see everyone and hang out with dama peeps who i've haven't met yet in person For me, kendama is a fun thing that really helps me wind down, decompress, and rest my eyes from staring at computer screens all day and night from work. lol IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikki_deo/ bonus IGs to follow: https://www.instagram.com/cho.dama/ https://www.instagram.com/dwightdaly2011/ https://www.instagram.com/mmartart/ #TXkendama #StringCrew
'Ello Everyone. Ryan. Originally from NY (Long Island) and been living in Washington DC for the last year. I've been playing kendama since August 2013 and was first introduced to it during a club gymnastics practice at my university. One of my close friends bought one and would send me videos of him doing some really crazy stuff (earth turns and j-sticks) I thought to myself, "I can't let him be better than me at anything." So I bought my own Kendama and began playing just to get better than he was...and here we are now. I have been very fortunate to have traveled to some big competitions/events over the last year and have met so many wonderful people in the kendama community. I look forward to the upcoming MKO 2016 and the many events to follow! This is only the beginning.
Yooo! My name is Seth Tosta and I really don't play that much Kendama. My son, Logan, is the reason we as a family are so passionate about Kendama. He has been playing for almost 4 years and it has really changed our lives. We feel fortunate to be involved with such a cool community. My IG is @sethtosta must follow the 2 coolest kids ever at: @averytosta @logantosta Sincerely, Seth Tosta
Zuup family! I'm Elias Salbu (Just call me Elijah), and I LOVE this wooden toy that we all do tricks with! Proud to call myself the owner of Kendama Norway (www.kendamanorway.com), and to be spreading the dama love both nationally and internationally! Been doing kendama for about 2 years now, and still going strong! Please go follow @kendamanorway on Instagram and check out our dope damas at our website! Love from ya boyz in Norway <3
Hey y'all, my name is Cody Furin. Living out here in Henderson, Nevada (like 10 mins away from Las Vegas). Got turned onto Kendama from a friend and now have been playing for close to 2 years! Been a pretty big photo/video nerd since ever so making Kendama films makes me happy as hell. Co-founded a lil Kendama clique out here called KENDERSON (check out our 1st place edit for the KUSA Squad Goals contest: ) Follow on insta: @KendersonDama Jus wanna say I'm excited as heck to be apart of downspike! Shoutout Matt Ballard, Jake Wiens, Emil Boda, & Colin (the kings of Kendama films IMO). Also shoutout to the vegas homies @KenCastle for constantly lacing crazy bangers.
Hi, I am Alan T. from Atlanta, GA USA. I learned to juggle before most of you were alive and got turned on to kendama at the 1995 International Jugglers Festival in Las Vegas, NV. The kendama is one of many juggling props and skill toys I play with; so my advancement is glacially slow compared to all of you young kendama purists. My catch phrase is: "Your other hand is bored!" and I like to promote 2 handed play. I don't have an Instagram; but if you are in Atlanta look us up at: http://atlantajugglers.org/
Hey my name is Ben, only been playing Kendama for a little over 3 months at this point. Really wish I had heard about it and gotten into it sooner! I live in Port Angeles, WA (way up Northwest) and been here only about a year. I've juggled and done other skill toys in the past, but Kendama is definitely something extra special. I have WAY too many hobbies and jump from one to the next a lot, but I'm hoping Kendama is one I can really stick with and get "good" at. Also I want to be able to share Kendama with others, I think there are a ton of reasons to. (My 4 kiddos are pretty young, but they love it too.) instagram: @cutthenoise Been documenting my (beginner) kendama journey on YouTube: www.youtube.com/cutthenoise (if anyone subscribed I'd be super stoked) I also make some super quirky indie folktronica style music from time to time and share it on soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/backward-binoculars Not a lot of Kendama players around here (yet) so I hope to connect with folks online and also share it more here!
Hey, I'm Austin Bachman, currently in Reno, NV. I'm better at making videos than playing kendama, which doesn't say too much, but I love both and having fun is what matters! Shot and edited those old, super long CVK vids and most of Joey Swisher's edits. Junior in computer science and engineering at UNR, I ride bikes and rock climb a little. Always trying to up my filming/photography game. IG: @A_Bachman Go give @daveyhibler and @chefcarnahan a follow for some non-dama related inspiration.
Yo! My names Kristoffer Cabal. I live in San Diego, CA. I've picked up Kendama around 2008 thanks to my brother Ryan and started REZ Kendama late 2014. Kendama has given me the opportunity to share my craft/skills and connect me with this amazing community. Personal IG: @kcabal REZ IG: @rez_kendama
YEE! My name is Tj Kolesnik. Currently living in San Diego, California but originally from Lake Tahoe, NV. I picked up a Kendama summer of 2010. I saw it first in high school, got one of my own from my neighbor, and then ended up really getting into when Turner Thorne and I started jamming together (around the same time he was put on Kendama USA 2011 Pro Team). I was just recently announced as the newest Kendama USA Professional as of 2016. My latest adventure for Kendama was the Make Waves World Tour. I play Kendama because of its simplicity, yet challenging fun, to inspire our everyday youth, and to travel the world to see new places, meet new players and to learn many aspects of life. Let's connect! IG: @teejkolesnik Snap: @tjkolesnik Twitter: @teejkolesnik Peep the latest video shot / cut by Jake Wiens <3
What's up guys!? My names JayR, repping that san jo slay california squad! I been playing for almost 2 years and don't see myself stopping anytime soon. I'm an older player being 30 years old but you're never too old to have fun, that's what kendama is about to me. It's about having fun and progressing daily!
Kendama Fam!!! I'm Eric Wiens from Chattanooga Tennessee. I am the W in RWB. I've been playing kendama for 6 years after my brother Jake gave me a silver Shin Fuji for Christmas. I've been turning for going on 20 years old (damn that makes me feel old) and figured it would be cool to make Kendamas and that we would be pretty good at it. So me and two of my best friends formed RWB (Russell Wiens Brocato) and I like to think we manufacture some of the best damas in the world with the help of Shane and Nick. I play everyday and want kendama to spread to new people. IG: @ericwiens and @rwbmfg Www.rwbmfg.com Last "edit" I was in:
Ayo I'm Mars (@lavenderforkchamomilebasketsin) and I live in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I've been playing kendama since 2014, and I got into it when my yoyo brother won an ozora at a competition and let me play with it. I've been hooked progressing my skills with kendama since and can't seem to put it down! Go follow local JH slayers @kucdama and @minibupp4
YOOOOOO Wassup, Austin Donovan-West here. Been seshin' the dam since September of '08 and haven't stopped ever since! 22 years old, born and raised on Long Island, NY, but I did spend 4 years upstate in Albany, NY for college. Started playing when a few of the skater kids brought kendamas into high school my freshmen year, thought nothing of it, then my best friend was like "Yo, I'm getting a kendama, they're sick! You gotta get one too!" "Ok, yeah, I guess I'll get one if you're getting one." Now here I am several years later, extremely thankful that this piece of wood has fallen into my hands and seriously become a passion of mine that will follow me into the afterlife! Watching the evolution of kendama in America since it first came here has been absolutely incredible; can't wait to see what the future has in store for all of us! Extremely hype that the founding father of American kendama, Colin Sander, and his brother Cheech, have shown us that their love for the game has not gone anywhere and brought to us this awesome website. Thank you guys! IG: @AustinDonovan SC: @AustinDonovan
Hey guys, my name is logan phair and I am from Bellingham WA, I have been playing for about 2.5 years now amd play for Cwcs. I am stoked on meeting new dama players, sick edits, and perfect sphere tamas. My insta @logan_phair Go follow @bellinghamkendamateam and @cw.cs
Hi. I am a sixteen year old kid originally from San Fransisco and currently living in Australia. I have been playing kendama around about a year now. My friend (who has a background in skiing) introduced it to me and I was hooked instantly. I love kendama for it's simplicity, yet also the fun that you can have with it. I am very excited to spread kendama throughout Australia, and meet new people. Unfortunately, I currently do not have an Instagram account.
Whats up guys! My name's Nathan St-Arnaud from Vancouver, Canada. And according to my Instagrams first picture of my blue tk I started playing kendama back in 2011. Seems longer but here we are. And here we are indeed, this right here is what i love about kendama, players coming together from all over the world talking, spreading and shredding kendama. That is what its all about. Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/instagromtre/ And also https://www.instagram.com/roddama/ maybe this guy too... https://www.instagram.com/heshisfresh/ also i heard this guy is on here already https://www.instagram.com/htimsxela/ Shred on my dudes
Hey guys! My name is Ricky Røge, been playing kendama for 3 years now, currently repping for KRAES Kendama. I live in Denmark and besides school and kendama i produce music, rap and dj a lot. IG: https://www.instagram.com/buttkraken/ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/toninofficial kraeskendama.com
Aroha family! I'm the other Max (not Norx) and I'm originally from Hawaii but I currently live in a small city called Kochi in Japan. I've been playing dama for a solid three years now. I started playing after watching some KUSA videos on youtube so I'm all about the street side of dama but I am also a member of JKA and licensed to Dan Test. I help translate for a lot of JKA events here in Japan and also Co-MC'd Catch&Flow 2016 Prelims with Gun Chan. I started a small group where I live called 103DAMA. (pronounced TOH SAH DAMA) Check us out on youtube and give us a follow so we can change our domain name. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCHSa9oiOQgbu5HBxzYizmQ We don't pump out too many bangers but we love the dama vibe and try to get more and more kids hooked on it. check me out on IG: @maxdesu and out 103DAMA twitter https://twitter.com/103Dama Snapchat: (though i rarely post) max.desu and YOCCHORE!