Landed my first Moshekame (spelling?) today and I'm amped. I finally got control over the thing and a bit of consistency landing in the big cup. Using a Dama from another guy at the office, but mine is on the way. So, what tricks can you tell me about that a beginner should put on the list to learn as I go?
As someone who is still a beginner (maybe high beginner) I found this progression to be pretty helpful to me when I started. Hopefully some other more experienced dama players will chime in as well to give their opinions. Roughly this order: (all in ken/normal grip) 1. Big cup 2. small cup 3. spike (pull) 4. base cup 5. around the village (big cup to spike) With that foundation (plus keep working on moshikame in sara grip) you can really do a ton. And you can start stringing stuff together, learning around japan/world, etc.
Just poke around a bit online. Trick tutorials everywhere. I will probably make a video at some point that has these first 5, but for now you can look at some other individual videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC75B99A797CC0DBB https://learnkendama.com/tag/beginner-tricks/ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6K_qxv1NMKIVoBkWftC3_qL6BB5QRUW0 http://kendama.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,905.0.html
Sweets Kendamas: https://sweetskendamas.com/pages/learn Kendama USA: http://kendamausa.com/tricks-and-tutorials/
Got the Lighthouse today from that First playlist. Thanks! These videos are super helpful. I'd love to get the spike but fuck that seems impossible at this point.
You'll get there. So many things seem impossible at first. Before you know it, you'll be doing it. And then the next impossible thing!
I'm starting to see that. I mean the idea of getting a Moshekame seemed beyond impossible. Now though after some practice I can really feel how you can control it. I gotta read through the spike tips and practice that now.
Wow you really improved Mr.Bishop! If you are having difficulties doing spike, try spinning the ball so that you can see where the hole is. That may be easier to spike it. If you are trying to go for no spin, your hands much be very steady. After that you must softly use your knees to pull up the tama. You may need to move your wrist to point where the spike is. Hopefully this helped. Feel free to ask more questions!
Once you get the simple spike down try the swing spike, it feels really good and isn't too hard for a beginner once you get the simple spike down. I would say learn swinging candle stick first though because then you get the arching swing down first
I'm surprised you got a lighthouse before the spike...it's usually the other way around. Not that it's a bad thing at all, I did a double earth turn before I ever did a single. Now I have trouble with just whipping out a double.
Got the simple spike a couple of times this weekend, but still super inconsistent. Part of the problem is I really don't have much control over the Tama (the ball, right?). It really spins on its own, and it seems like a bit of luck when I get the spike. Of course though, the reason I got it in the first place was really focusing on using the knees to softly pull it up under more control, and as well using the knees as the tama comes down. That really in everything I've been trying has made a massive amount of difference. The body flow seems to be almost more important than anything else.
Before you go for a straight pull up spike, let the tama rest on the ground which will perfectly stabilize it. Raise it off slowly, then go for it. If there's any wobble before you pull up, it'll go off course. Good luck!
I think I just worked on big cup and small cup for a bit before I really went for spike. Just wait till you start spiking, and then SWINGING to spike! Very fun.
Yeah im working on cup to cup at the moment. I can hold from the ball and catch the spike but once in a while haha
The Japan Kendama Association has a good basic list of 11 tricks (click on the logo to go there). They are the requirements to pass their Kyu level (basic levels) tests and include video demos. Also listed are the tricks for the Jun Shodan (intermediate level) and Dan (advanced levels).