Downspike
Kendama Entertainment Network

A community for the balanced lifestyle.

Has western kendama play become more "sloppy?"

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by Emil Apostol, Jun 16, 2021.

  1. Emil Apostol

    Emil Apostol DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Location:
    Philippines
    I notice a lot more clips on Instagram with people getting hype on sloppy clips. For example, saw this one where a person went for a whirlwind, then grasped both tama and ken on the landing. By my book, that's not clean. That isn't even landed.

    It's not just kids, either, but this new class of beginners who have a lot of bad habits (string adjusting, blatant handing, cup adjustments, etc.). I have a feeling it roots out of an unwillingness to call out these bad habits and correct them early.
     
    Jun 16, 2021
    PieDama, 5kwid and goenKendama like this.
  2. goenKendama

    goenKendama Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
    Location:
    Metro Manila, Philippines
    Could be a number of things but these stand out to me:
    A. No one wants to be the "bad guy" by correcting someone's errors (the new player may think it but also onlookers may try to put heat on the corrector too saying something like "don't be so hard on them they're just learning" etc.
    B. There seems to be a belief that new players (and maybe older players too) are too fragile to handle constructive criticism
    C. That tendency for the OTT (over the top) hype at any cost that seems to be common in comment sections.

    While it might not be fun for the deliverer of the corrections or the receiver of the corrections I feel like the long-time/skilled players kind of 'owe' it to the newer players to help them become better and glossing over or praising bad habits/moves/tricks isn't giving these players what they need to get there. But of course as always, YMMV.
     
    Jun 16, 2021
    5kwid and Emil Apostol like this.
  3. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    I've seen this on Reddit posts (handy lunar tricks).

    I usually just downvote and move on. (no downvote button on instagram though...)

    I don't really care if people post slop, but eventually they'll figure out if they want respect from skilled players they'll need to clean it up.
     
    Jun 17, 2021
    5kwid, xplodit and Emil Apostol like this.
  4. Emil Apostol

    Emil Apostol DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Location:
    Philippines
    Fair enough. Clean tricks are what differentiate a dedicated kendama player from someone who likely will not stay long with the game.
     
    Jun 17, 2021
    PieDama and 5kwid like this.
  5. Emil Apostol

    Emil Apostol DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Location:
    Philippines
    All good points sir.

    This reminds me about an anecdote about the history of the Japan Kendama Association. I'm not too sure about the names, but the founder of the JKA had a friend who believed that kendama should be "formless" in the sense that there should be no rules and everyone should play how they like. Not to say that all western players are sloppy; we still have some cardinal rules like no handed lighthouses. Still, it can't be denied that some rules which were once strict doctrine are now bent and broken in the name of self-expression in kendama.

    Radical examples are Adrian Esteban who touch the string with their other hand to make string tricks possible, and Jokbert of Krom who actively uses both hands when playing kendama in his very "chaotic" style.
     
    Jun 18, 2021
    5kwid likes this.
  6. JHard502710

    JHard502710 Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2018
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    Enh. My opinion is just my opinion, but, it’s a toy essentially. Yes a skill toy, but still a toy. Everyone plays with toys differently. I’ve never wanted to be the person that crushes someone’s imagination. Now if someone wants to start competing in Kendama comps then they should def be aware of the rules and what’s allowed and whatnot. But a lot of people play for fun and just want to show off the toy they have found so much joy with and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I hype up all my friends tricks even when they are beginning snd touching string, I eventually will let them know if they want to compete ever or get to a harder level they will need to learn how to do things without those extra/added movements. But till then, just have Fun with it :)
     
    Jun 24, 2021
    Ryan6f7 likes this.
  7. PieDama

    PieDama n00b

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2021
    Location:
    Exeter, UK
    I also have a pet peeve with this. Sadly the community nowadays isn't the same as it was in 2015 or so when people would get called out left right and centre for handed/incomplete tricks etc.
    If I'm ever at a jam and see that people are handing tricks in games of ken & follow, I'll call them out. Purely because it's easier to offer constructive feedback in person as well and there's no misunderstanding of tone like there may be over the internet.
    Another pet peeve of mine is people (some pro's) going for, let's say a juggle downspike and the Tama doesn't rotate properly, so they end the trick on a Sara grip spike and still take it/get hyped over it.
    Like to me, you missed that trick because you and I both know it's not the trick you were going for.
    Also fasthands that aren't fasthands (when you can clearly hear two clicks or see that the Tama has touched the sarado before changing grip) and they still celebrate them, that's a big no no for me.

    Sorry for the rant, but these kind of threads always get me going haha
     
    Jun 25, 2021
    Emil Apostol and JHard502710 like this.
  8. Caleb Jeffries

    Caleb Jeffries Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016

    Smith with the truth. That’s exactly what I do on Reddit.

    Calling people out on IG is a different story. If it’s a newbie or someone I don’t know well enough, I just move on.

    If it’s a friend or a player I respect, I’ll leave a sublet comment so they know that someone noticed. It’s rare this happens among the top level players for obvious reasons though.
     
    Jul 7, 2021
    Emil Apostol likes this.