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Mko attendees: Craft?

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by Almostgets, Nov 1, 2016.

  1. Almostgets

    Almostgets Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    The 'Go
    whats the word on these new damas. Seems like kusa has slims and regular. How do they play, what's the type of wood, size, differences? Anything
     
    Nov 1, 2016
  2. Cobikaze

    Cobikaze Honed Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Copped a maple slim. I would consider it most similar to an HG. The boarder balance is absolutely ridiculous. They have two burn lines on the big cup rim and the base cup rim for tracking. I haven't actually jammed it yet because I might keep it fresh and wood-burn it up to put on the site. cobikaze.bigcartel.com Overall the shape is fantastic and it has a super high quality feel to it. Super excited about these, as I really like to support KUSA. Now they finally have damas up to par with some of the other big companies (Sweets, RWB, GT).
     
    Nov 1, 2016
    rTTn likes this.
  3. Cheech_Sander

    Cheech_Sander Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2016
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Cups are also deeper. They're pretty gorgeous.
     
    Nov 1, 2016
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  4. Kristian Aynedter

    Kristian Aynedter Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    copped a fresh maple slim. instantly fell in love. american made. great balance for lunars and lighthouse, and still has a great sling as well. plus, they are a great looking kendama. highly recommended!
     
    Nov 1, 2016
    TamLeS, SouthpawTRK and Cobikaze like this.
  5. Yourdy

    Yourdy Honed Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    The Kaizen Craft line has been long in the works for Kendama USA, and I'm stoked that they will soon been available via interwebz. Every player on our team (Pro, Tribute, Tribe, Warehouse Homies) contributed in making these a reality by providing helpful feedback with our beta testing and initially pointing out what needed to be improved based off our previous models.
    So rather than presenting you with only one kendama shape, this time around there are two separate shapes, the Kaizen 2.0 and the Slim. Available (at least in this first batch) in either ash or maple, both play tremendous right out of the package as all dimensions were thoroughly decided upon and tested extensively. The reason behind having two distinctive shapes is so that you have more ability to customize your kendama with your style of play as well as to evolve the future of kendama.
    Really happy how these turned out, please keep us posted what you guys think of them :)
     
    Nov 1, 2016
  6. teejkolesnik

    teejkolesnik Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    San Diego, Ca
    I'm just gonna leave this here...

    Kaizen Slim - ASH IMG_4457 2.JPG
     
    Nov 2, 2016
  7. Nick Lectura

    Nick Lectura Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Santa Cruz, CA
    Didn't attend MKO, but I played an Ash Slim yesterday and it is NICE. It has good lunars and slingers. I hit an inward lunar cushion within the first 10 seconds of going for it, as well as doing dub and trip slings consistently. RWB did a good job with these. The ash tama also had that nice natty tack to it. 2.0 is on the left and Slim is on the right.
    craft.PNG
     
    Nov 2, 2016
    SouthpawTRK likes this.
  8. Dillonjohns79

    Dillonjohns79 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Missoula, MT
    how much do you think they'll sell for?
     
    Nov 3, 2016
  9. Steezdiaz

    Steezdiaz Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    Can't wait until I'm posting one of these in the "Purchases you just made" thread :D
     
    Nov 3, 2016
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  10. sethtosta

    sethtosta Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    My son and his best buddy Gavin can't stop talking about them. I can't speak to all the details in how they play, my son said they just "SLAY!!'l
     
    Nov 3, 2016
  11. Ben Lowe

    Ben Lowe Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Port Angeles, WA
    I think I saw someone say that they were priced at $60 at MKO. Not sure if that will change when they are available for everyone.

    Man, all these big companies string us along so much with their new products!! Krom did it with the Slaydawg, Sweets is doing it with their new pro mods, and kusa with the Kaizen Craft!! Just a small drip feed to keep everyone hyped I think!!
     
    Nov 3, 2016
  12. Trevorm891

    Trevorm891 n00b

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
    Here's some information. Kaizen Crafts are fire. They (in my opinion) are by far better than a homegrown and are an all around dama. Both wood types and kinds are 60$ each US. There are 2 Choices. Slim and 2.0. You can choose between 2 wood types including ash and maple. I've been jamming my maple 2.0 and it is definantly a good dama to cop. It's breaking in so nicely. 100% American Made and much work is put into the craft. Hope this helps! ;)
     
    Nov 3, 2016
    htimSxelA likes this.
  13. Ben Lowe

    Ben Lowe Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Port Angeles, WA
    For those of you who have played both, what are your impressions on the benefits of the two different shapes?

    Or as another way to ask the question: I haven't played enough different kendamas to know what overall shape I'd like most, and it seems like essentially 2.0 is chunkier and slim is....slim, so why would I want one over the other?
     
    Nov 4, 2016
  14. RyanArthurWalker

    RyanArthurWalker Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Washington, DC
    60$

    I didn't buy one but I really enjoyed how the Kaizen 2.0 played. I like a solid ken so I was immediately drawn to the K2.0. I love the design and the over all feel of the Ash. Big ups to Kusa.
     
    Nov 4, 2016
  15. Cobikaze

    Cobikaze Honed Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA

    Slim for me means better lunar balance and faster ken flips. Based on preference I just really like the feel of a slim better. Its more like an HG. The 2.0 is more like a classic ken shape.
     
    Nov 4, 2016
  16. Joel Clayton

    Joel Clayton Honed Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2016
    Location:
    St. George, UT
    I got my slim maple yesterday and I have to say these things are amazing!!!

    the tricks it is especially good for rn is whirlwinds, slingers, jumping sticks and spacewalk swaps. as well as juggles.

    I am getting a maple 2.0 soon in the mail and I'm way pumped.

    The craft is a kendama everyone should have, it will boosts your skill level to the moon and back.
     
    Nov 26, 2016