Dance & Performance
Kendama
A wooden handle and a ball, and your knees lift it onto the spike
A kendama is a wooden handle with three cups and a spike, tied by a string to a ball with a hole. Beginners think it is in the hands, but it is in the knees: every catch needs a soft bend or the ball bounces out. A beginner one is inexpensive. Start by landing the big cup, then cup switches, flips and the spike.
First stepBuy a beginner kendama, bend your knees on every catch, land the big cup ten times in a row, then try switching to the small cup.
Barriers
Cost to start
Under $50
Going deep → $50–300
Alone or with people
On your own
Effort
Light
Without a teacher?
Self-taught
One session takes
Under 30 min
Where
At home
Why people take it up