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Kaizen CRAFT - Slim & 2.0

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by teejkolesnik, Nov 7, 2016.

  1. teejkolesnik

    teejkolesnik Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    San Diego, Ca
    Kaizen CRAFT is LIVE! Here's the direct link!

    The Kaizen Craft is developed for the pro player who demands the absolute best. Every single piece is proudly made in the USA by Kendama craftsmen who pay attention to the finest of details. Designed by players, manufactured by players, and built to be shredded by players. This is our Craft.

    https://shop.kendamausa.com/collections/kaizen-craft-kendamas
     
    Nov 7, 2016
  2. rTTn

    rTTn Slayer

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    Oct 11, 2016
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    Denver, CO
    Will these be a limited run item or something that will stay as part of Kendama USA's product line for a while?
     
    Nov 7, 2016
  3. Almostgets

    Almostgets Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    The 'Go
    Any feedback on these from those that have played them?
    Which would be better, if either, for a newer player (still trying to land my first lunar). Are they for pro players like the site suggests? Will there be painted ones?
     
    Nov 8, 2016
  4. Ben Lowe

    Ben Lowe Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Port Angeles, WA
    I haven't played one, but from what I've heard the 2.0 seems very good all around. Slim is getting tons of love but it seems a bit more unique and I'd only get it if I knew I liked slimmer style kens. I'd lean toward 2.0 as a beginner myself...
     
    Nov 8, 2016
  5. Almostgets

    Almostgets Slayer

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    Is a sweets f3 slimmer style? I know it's got the offset string hole, and the cups seem slightly larger.
     
    Nov 9, 2016
  6. teejkolesnik

    teejkolesnik Slayer

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    It's much different than the sweets f3. It's honestly hard to compare it to anything because it's unlike anything that's on the market right now. Back when the first Premiere Line was announced (first ever production of Kendamas Kendama USA released) is anything I can really compare it to.

    If you love slingers and want a kendama that's balanced for lunars, the Slim is your pick. Plus, if you have slightly bigger fingers, the Slim can help out in that way too.
     
    Nov 9, 2016
  7. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Yikes.... alright for the record I highly disagree with TJ here, I really helped push the Slim design into its current form, and the premiere line was NOT an inspiration for it haha. Yea, the premiere was skinny, but thats basically where the similarities between the two ends.

    What we did talk about during the design process was creating an elegant jammer, with some throwback to the older KUSA pro model shapes (mainly, the slim handle area that stays slim until juust above the slip stall. The rest of the shape was then designed to match this aesthetic, but also play super well). Thin, well proportioned, a truly refined and beautiful shape. I love the slim.

    The 2.0 on the other hand was built for shred. Wyatt was super honed in on optimizing the 2.0 shape, same with Dave. The process was basically: draw up a CAD design, send it to the CNC to cut a few pieces, run through all the finishing processes (cups, spike hole, string holes, sanding, etc), and then jam the hell out of the result for a little while. Chat about the results, make tweaks tothe CAD file, do it all again.

    We even went as far as selecting starting blanks that were the exact same in weight, and kept an eye on the weight of the final pieces we were testing, so that we knew what we were feeling was shape-dependant more than piece of wood-dependant. Some tweaks were small, aesthetic changes meant to enhance beauty. Other changes were more crazy and experimental. Super wide bird ridges, extra swoooopy sarados, or monstrous cups.

    "Player designed" is kind of an understatement for these. It was an amazing process to be a part of, especially with world-class players like Wyatt and Dave collaborating on the design.

    If you like Craft, stay tuned. Theres more ;)
     
    Nov 9, 2016
  8. EWiens

    EWiens Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Chattanooga TN
    Looks like KUSA put out a video to help answer the many questions about the 2.0 vs. the Slim

     
    Nov 9, 2016
    Ben Lowe likes this.
  9. Cobikaze

    Cobikaze Honed Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    The slim is so damn beautiful. Do I burn it or slay it? That is my daily dilemma hahaha.
     
    Nov 9, 2016
  10. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Burn then slay
     
    Nov 9, 2016
  11. Cobikaze

    Cobikaze Honed Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA

    Come to think of it, I haven't burnt that much for myself... hmmmmm so so tempting.
     
    Nov 9, 2016
  12. teejkolesnik

    teejkolesnik Slayer

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    Oct 11, 2016
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    Haha I think you miscommunicated my reply... I wasn't referring the new CRAFT to be an inspo from the Premiere line... Which is why I said it's highly unlike anything on the market right now. For comparison, I referred to the Premiere line, merely due to the skinny handle.

    Just wanted to clear that up with you. When you said "Yea, the premiere was skinny, but thats basically where the similarities between the two ends..." That's basically where my similarity between the two ends.

    <3
     
    Nov 10, 2016
  13. Almostgets

    Almostgets Slayer

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    Oct 12, 2016
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    Been waiting to hear if there's going to be more from Craft. Thanks for that.
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2016
    Nov 11, 2016
  14. Steezdiaz

    Steezdiaz Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    I picked up a slim, it should be here next week! I'm beyond stoked to say the least :D
     
    Nov 11, 2016
  15. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Hope you dig it! I've been on mine nonstop
     
    Nov 12, 2016
  16. Yourdy

    Yourdy Honed Member

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    Sep 21, 2016
    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    Smith…you freaking poet you.
     
    Nov 12, 2016
  17. Thomas Ishikawa

    Thomas Ishikawa Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2016
    Location:
    Indianapolis, IN
    I just got the slim in the mail today (only played with it for like 30 minutes though).
    The first thing I always do before I jam is to weigh the ken and tama. This is really a bad habit of mine but it truly does turns me off when one is way heavier than the other. I got 65g for ken and 77g for tama which is not bad.

    In regards to the actual kendama, the hype is real. Right out of the box this thing slays.
    Pros:
    • These cups are huge: They're as big as the OG RWB ken which I really like but keeps a slim sword for people that don't like the beefy kens and spike.
    • Lunar Balance is super solid: I thought the larger cup sizes would throw off lunar balance but balance is pretty nice. It might be due to the pronounced angles from the slip stop + the back end they were able to control the center of balance.
    • Quality of the product is A+: It feels solid in the hand with a bit of texture from the maple wood (not slippery) and defined edges which I love. Even the burn mark on the big cup and base cup is super clean.
    Cons (Remember, this is MY opinion):
    • This sword is pretty thin: I thought the new RWB Classic and HG were pretty skinny but this one is skinnier. I am getting about 11.3mm for the craft, 12.1mm for the RWB Classic, and 12.4mm for the HG when measuring below the sarado. Compare it to the 13.1mm Kaizen, you're seeing about a 13% decrease in thickness.
    • The depth of the cup is somewhat concerning: It's awesome that they went with deeper cups but it also makes it feel more prone to chipping from drops and instas so that's something to be aware of when purchasing.
    Conclusion:
    Overall though I think this is something KUSA really needed in their Kaizen product line to really attract the advanced players. I've always been a Negative Nancy towards their product because their lineup and quality was not the greatest (great price though) but the Craft has blew my expectations.
    I'll destroy this one first and get the 2.0 right after because I feel like that one will fit my style (and fat fingers) more.
     

    Attached Files:

    Nov 12, 2016
  18. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Love this review, you went into some depth! I feel like it's worth mentioning though - we set the QC guidelines for some sliightly fatter cup rims than normal, so there's more wood there to help stop chipping, even if the cups are a little deeper in the middle.

    Of course, its still wood, so if you beat on it a lot it might chip. Thats how damas go. Happy destroying!
     
    Nov 12, 2016
    Thomas Ishikawa likes this.
  19. Orangeisrad

    Orangeisrad Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2016
    WELP. I told myself I wouldn't be picking up any kusa damas just because the paint doesn't interest me much.

    I'm a diehard Sweets Homegrown fan. Easily my favorite damas.

    It's looking like I'm gonna have to get a Craft.

    I love nattys, they just feel better in my hands. I think the Craft is gonna give me another outlet for American made damas.

    So, yeah. I'm sold. Now just to fight off this tendinitis. Need to decide to get a Craft or a gopro now haha.

    PS. I don't have anything against kusa they were my first kendama! Sweets is local and I've just always fell in love with their products. :)
     
    Nov 13, 2016
    Joel Clayton likes this.
  20. Steezdiaz

    Steezdiaz Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016


    Mine arrived this morning... I love it! I jammed it for about 30min and then threw one of our Trainer Tamas and some SlayBands on because you know...you gotta protect your investments. I'm notorious for dropping mine and our house is like all hardwood flooring so this should prevent chips haha. Probably doesn't need it because this thing feels solid construction-wise. Glued the tip but now I'm regretting it because I want it to dry faster so I can keep messing with it haha.

    First impressions, shape is awesome. I went with the thin which I'm really loving. I have huge hands so it really helps slingers. The string length out of the box is really nice too it's about a hand below the base cup which is actually what I prefer. It's nice to have the extra length so the string will last longer because I'm constantly swapping tamas around :D

    The wood is great feeling and the tama's grain is really noticeable paired with the shape of the cups it grips nice compared to other natty's I've gotten right out of the box. The raw tama (not pictured) had some good weight to it, but with the LunaTac trainer tama on there it's almost perfectly balanced. Can't wait to see how it breaks in over time, slay on friends! :D
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2016
    Nov 14, 2016