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Plus size dama comparison

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by AdrianEsteban, Feb 2, 2017.

  1. goenKendama

    goenKendama Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
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    Metro Manila, Philippines
  2. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    The JKA chose the size at least in part to match the handsize of Japanese school kids. So bring on the midsize damas plz! I have respect for what the JKA has done in the past, but see absolutely no reason to be beholden to their ways moving forward. There certainly should be some sort of standard, but it should also be allowed to evolve over time.

    I think your analogy of the hockey goalie's stick is flawed. A gigantic stick can create an absolute advantage for the team, guaranteeing a win (so long as the other team doesn't have an equally large stick). If they have to beat up the goalie to score a goal, then I think most people would say"this game is no longer about who is better at hockey".
    In the same way, if two people are competing against each other using LBB kendamas, I don't think anyone here would say "this game is no longer about who is better at kendama".

    Maybe a better analogy is golf: the technology in golf clubs has advanced in the last 50 years, from wooden drivers and shafts, to steel, carbon, titanium, etc. The PGA sets restrictions within this evolving industry, but they have definitely moved on from the days of wooden clubs.

    At any rate, I think there is an ideal range for playability that players will naturally gravitate towards.

    So perhaps an even better analogy is a snowboarding contest: the idea of heading to a contest and having to get your board checked to make sure its the right size, shape, and composition is laughable. As long as you show up with something you can strap both feet to and ride down the hill, you're good to go. Would snowboarding be 'better' if there was a strict standard for what equipment is used, and what tricks will be performed? I can't imagine so.

    All of that said, I do actually think a heavily restricted contest would be interesting in its own right. I think a lot of players would be excited to compete in a contest that has an oldschool tricklist, and a requirement to use a fresh red TK16 (or whatever). I don't think that contest should be the mainstage of what kendama culture currently looks like, but it has still has its place.


    Slaydawgs are the same height as a JKA ken (~16cm), but they have a wider sarado (~7.3cm compared to ~6.95cm), and a larger tama to match it. So they're only like... sorta a midsized dama? Cups are big on them though.
    (The GLOKEN box is 17cm tall, 7.5cm wide, just in case anyone is interested in what the maximum dimensions are)


    Lastly, for what its worth, Van Jam has grown to be a reasonably well known and attended event, and I don't really care what people play with. LBBs are just fine, and they're probably the largest anyone has used, I'm not really sure what someone would show up with as a bigger dama? Maybe a viking, but I honestly don't think you'd have an advantage playing a viking vs someone on a cushion cleared LBB or a slaydawg or whatever. Maybe a few tricks are easier, but many will be harder (this relates to my guess that players will slowly gravitate towards an 'ideal' size).

    Either way, Van Jam is not really about the contest. Yea, someone will try too hard and win, but the jokes on them because everyone else is chillin & having a great time already :cool:
     
    Nov 29, 2017
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  3. azleonhart

    azleonhart Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    The ice hockey argument stops here.
    Nobody in their sane mind would wanna challenge a Canadian on ice hockey; it’s one of the few pre-installed softwares all Canadians get at birth.




    I’ll stand corrected and say that hopefully the JKA standard can be updated to a kendama that is scaled to fit Western hands (17-18cm in height?).
    A small difference in scale would definitely help with this use case.
     
    Nov 29, 2017
  4. Sirwillcode

    Sirwillcode Slayer

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    This was a great post to read while on the porcelain throne. Rwp. But @htimSxelA for the win.
     
    Nov 29, 2017
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  5. Instagrom3

    Instagrom3 Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    when i was younger i worked in construction and had a bit of an accident with my hands.
    this caused me to develop tendonitis and subsequentally, mostly because i refused help, i have prolonged pain and tightness in my hands that must be stretched out daily for my hands to have normal range and motion.
    because of this problem playing regular sized kendamas is sometimes very painful and i can only play for a hour or so before my hand begin to hurt. however because of recent advances in kendama technology and making larger oversized kendamas i.e.: LBBs, Slaydawgs, Craft plus etc etc. i can safely play these for an entire day if i like. it simply fits well and doesn't stress my hands out. so i guess for me i prefer them because it doesn't hurt me. :D
     
    Nov 29, 2017
  6. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    For what its worth, from the GLOKEN history page:

    --------------------------------
    "According to the designer, JKA models such as old-Fuji or old-Sakura were modeled on S-17 type. At the time, ken(handle) was designed to be 16.8cm height, however, JKA members measured its shortened ken, the JKA model was made at the height of 16cm."
    --------------------------------

    From the sounds of this, pre-JKA players actually preferred something closer to 17cm in height.
     
    Nov 29, 2017
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  7. Sir Spike

    Sir Spike Slayer

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    Been waiting for @htimSxelA to jump in! He always knows what to say!
     
    Nov 29, 2017
  8. ttocsic

    ttocsic Slayer

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2017
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    and I respect his opinion more than anyone else on DS!
     
    Nov 29, 2017
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  9. Jasper B.

    Jasper B. Slayer

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    So true...
     
    Nov 29, 2017
  10. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

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    @Sir Spike @Carlos Habbenero @KendamaJas you guys flatter me haha, thanks!
    I try to keep up on the kendama scene as best I can, but this forum would be a lame and lonely place if I was the only one around. The more posts from everyone, the better!
     
    Nov 29, 2017
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  11. Congarranza

    Congarranza DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
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    Camarillo, CA
    LBB is my favorite!

    8E7EA96B-AC66-4EC2-B079-E4344CEF2964.jpeg
     
    Nov 30, 2017
  12. ttocsic

    ttocsic Slayer

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    Sep 28, 2017
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    So, I got my flow and I have to say that the size feels amazing! even tho I have tiny hands.
     
    Dec 2, 2017
  13. jpriest

    jpriest Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2017
    Loving my Flow as well!
     
    Dec 2, 2017
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  14. Emil Apostol

    Emil Apostol DS Legend

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    Jan 4, 2017
    Location:
    Philippines
    On the subject of plus-sized damas, how are the sol flows? My local shop has a few for a good price, and I've been eyeing them for a while now.
     
    Dec 2, 2017
  15. dcc

    dcc Member

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    Dec 4, 2016
    Location:
    Fairfax, VA
    Getting mine tomorrow, so I'll let you know what I think of them
     
    Dec 3, 2017
  16. jpriest

    jpriest Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2017
    They are only slightly bigger. Like 5% bigger I think? I got the mahogany cups flow and the grain is amazing and the feel of the Ken feels nice and smooth in my hand. Only complaint is the tama is slightly heavy but I might switch it out with an OG grain theory tama.
     
    Dec 3, 2017
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  17. ttocsic

    ttocsic Slayer

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2017
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    I LOVE mine sooooo much (walnut stripe) def my fav jammer rt now and I got it two days ago! It is already decent for lightys (the loon balance is pretty bad, tho). Hit my first dub slinger on this baby and I no I'm going to hit a lot more firsts in the future!!! And, my hands are tiny (I'm a 5 foot 14 year old) but it still feels great in my hand. bevel is wide, tracking is good, stalls and slingers are insane, cop a flow! @Emil Apostol
     
    Dec 3, 2017
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  18. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
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    Vancouver
    Personally I don't like the feel of walnut, but they're good damas. For durability reasons, I would recommend the mahogany cups. Ash and oak are both chippy, but ash might have better grip on the tama in the short term
     
    Dec 3, 2017
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  19. Emil Apostol

    Emil Apostol DS Legend

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    Jan 4, 2017
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    Well noted! Might cop a Mahogany Flow Complete. :)
     
    Dec 3, 2017
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  20. ttocsic

    ttocsic Slayer

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    Sep 28, 2017
    Location:
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    mine is almost full maple, so it seems very durable so far.
     
    Dec 4, 2017
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