@RodDama always gets my hyped to play, dub just got so much love for the game, and watching @Jake Wiens flow around is always a pleasure
@Ryan Cabal really opened my kendama world. He introduced me to a lot of people and pushed me to go to kwc 2014
So one of my first days of playing I watched my first ever edit which was @htimSxelA kendama edit 1, I saw what he was doing and wanted to do it so bad. Then a week later I met @Jake Wiens @DaveMateo and @teejkolesnik all at a local event. I already was hooked on dama and meeting this guys just set a goal in my kind which was to do what they did and become a pro. I bonded with @teejkolesnik alot and had a great time, my last words to him were "I will see you when I become your teammate". This night inspired me so much that after almost 3 years I'm still reaching for the goal. Although I'm the last real player here on Maui, I strive everyday to get the dama community back. And its working, new players coming back everyday that we will actually be having a jam soon!
For me it was the grandfather of Kendama himself @Grandpa Sandz and his brother @Cheech_Sander . It was back in the early 2000's. Colin was the first to do the "lace and walk away" bs the Japanese traditional "no look spike, imma land it cuz I'm a 6th Dan". Those were the purest of years. Now it's lifestyle. #downspikebestlife
So many out there but @MattSweets for sure, I wouldn't be playing kendama if it wasn't for the store I work at carrying his brand. I've had the pleasure of meeting him a number of times over the past 4 years, he gave me tips on landing my first lunar and has always been a very down to earth guy! As well as my buddy Dan who used to work at Sweet's shop, he taught me almost everything I know about kendama and challenged me to get better.
A vlogger known as izilly who play and watching him play go me into it. But Colin Sanders style and finesse is what really blew me away
I'm not sure if he's been mentioned, but @RodDama has been a huge inspiration ever since I met him back in February! The whole @TerraKendama crew has also had me hyped to play kendama ever since my first jam night!
all the homies: @Carter Justice @Aditya Kalale @AJ Timek @Gabe Youngstrom @Luke Leetch @Parker Johnson and SWKT. My main motivation to keep playing and get better is to be able to keep up with these guys. Keep slaying
I have no clue if they're on here but Oliver Wierdsma and Will Ouimet at camp minikani inspired me the most with kendama... Oliver showed me what kendama was at first but at that time I thought it was stupid but obviously now I do not share those same thoughts... Will was a "mentor" to me at camp that is part of Kendama Klub (youtube channel... I recommend) and He showed me these awesome tricks that I'm STILL trying to get now and he just tried to be as positive as he could... They are little known names but they brought me into kendama so for that I thank them.
I have to shoutout @Joshua Flow Grove for first showing me kendama after an Oregon Crusaders show in southern Oregon. It wasn't until a year after that I bought my own and became hooked. But his approach and philosophy towards kendama really left an impression and gave me an appreciation for how I play dama and why i play dama.
@Uriel Sanchez for dishing out great tutorials that are simple to understand and down to the point, wake up bro... make more!
@Dwesty has been a huge inspiration to me for a long time. Saw him on youtube a while back and then randomly saw he was sponsored by kendama usa one day. This dude has got some massive skill at dama. and he also wrecks in water polo and tennis. and hes a 3pt champ. Defiantly grateful for him and all he contributes to the community
Too many shoutouts are in order! First and foremost my wonderful and amazing GF @Chelsea May Perez who always pushed and continues to push me to progress, since the moment that we met. Next up, my closest dama buddies Connor, Paul, and Kristi (who I don't think are on DS and should be!) We started and continue to jam together - having close and local dama friends to jam with makes a world of difference! Definitely all the lady slayers out there, who are a constant source of inspiration in a community where we are a distinct minority. So glad to see all the girls who prove that girls slay just as much as the boys! Special shoutout goes to @Haley Bishoff and @Steph Lussier for being pioneers and huge role models for the women of kendama. @Kristian Aynedter and Micah Marsh were big early influences with their encouragement, and support in running the ULS sessions and hyping the general LA scene. And in terms of videos, many of the KUSA edits gave me giant bursts of motivation to play kendama and look at it as an outlet for a positive community and lifestyle in general - particularly @Jake Wiens always inspires me with the way he plays and carries kendama. I also have a special place in my heart for @Nick Gallagher and @Zack Gallagher whose videos are some of the earliest I watched on YT for kendama, and who still are WAYYY too good that it's frightening! All in all, this is such an awesome hobby that has amazing people in it. So hard to only recognize a few!