Kendama Tricks: step-by-step video tutorials

Interactive dictionary

Step-by-step video tutorials, sorted by difficulty and category. Filter, search and discover each trick with its tutorial video.

Level

Kendama tricks for beginners

The three cups (big, small, base) and the spike are the foundation. Combos like moshikame or around the block are part of any official test. If you are starting kendama, learn these in this order.

#1Cup

Big Cup

1/10 · Beginner

Throw the tama upwards and catch it in the big cup of the ken (the face). The first trick you learn and the base for everything else.

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#2Cup

Base Cup

1/10 · Beginner

Same as big cup but the tama lands in the base cup (the one at the bottom). Changes the string angle and forces a different pull.

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#3Cup

Small Cup

1/10 · Beginner

Catch the tama in the small side cup. Harder than big cup because the landing area is significantly narrower.

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#4Cup

Moshikame

2/10 · Beginner

Continuously alternate between big cup and base cup with a swinging motion of the ken. Basic rhythm trick of kendama, present in every official test.

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#5Trick

Clack Back

2/10 · Beginner

Hit the tama backwards with the big cup to bounce it back to the same cup with an audible "clack". Works hand response.

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#6Trick

Bungee

2/10 · Beginner

Let the tama fall until the string tightens and when it bounces back, catch it in the big cup. Works elastic rebound control.

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#7Trick

Baseball

2/10 · Beginner

Hold the ken horizontal like a bat and hit the tama through the air so it lands on the small or big cup at the end. Visual and fun.

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#8Trick

Karate Chop

2/10 · Beginner

The tama hangs at rest and you hit it with a sharp ken movement so it spins and lands cleanly in one of the cups.

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#9Rotation

Orbit

2/10 · Beginner

Make the tama do a horizontal loop around the ken before landing in the big cup. Introduces controlled rotation.

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#10Spike

Big Cup Spike

2/10 · Beginner

Start with the tama in big cup, throw it up and catch by spiking the ken tip into the tama hole. First real combo of kendama.

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#11Cup

Big Cup Combo

2/10 · Beginner

Chained variant of big cup, base for further combos. Works clean throwing and stable receiving.

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#12Cup

Small Cup Combo

2/10 · Beginner

Same idea as big cup combo but using the small cup. More demanding on wrist orientation.

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#13Spike

Spike

2/10 · Beginner

Throw the tama up and as it falls, catch by spiking the ken tip into the hole. The other basic pillar alongside big cup.

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#14Balance

Penguin Catch

3/10 · Beginner+

Hold the ken inverted (tip down) and catch the tama in one of the side cups. Changes the standard grip and opens the door to more advanced tricks.

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#15Balance

Candlestick

3/10 · Beginner+

Hold the tama in your palm with the ken hanging straight down (like a candle). Starting position for many intermediate tricks.

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#16Around

Around Prefecture

3/10 · Beginner+

Short combo passing the tama through two cups in sequence. Introduces "around" sequences that travel the ken in multiple steps.

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#17Around

Around The Block

3/10 · Beginner+

Route through the three cups (big, small, base) ending in spike. Classic combo of the "around" repertoire and standard beginner test.

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#18Around

Around Japan

3/10 · Beginner+

Around variant passing through big cup then ending in spike. One of the most internationally recognised sequences.

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Intermediate level kendama tricks

Here come the first serious combos: around the world, earth turn, airplane, swing spike. Also the first tricks with rotation and basic stalls. The kendama quality starts to matter.

#19Balance

Airplane

4/10 · Beginner+

Hold the tama by the string and catch the ken by spiking the tip into the tama hole. Called airplane because the ken "lands" on the tama.

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#20Balance

Jumping Stick

4/10 · Beginner+

The ken starts resting on a surface and with a string pull you launch it up to catch in your hand. Works string control.

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#21Spike

Swing Spike

4/10 · Beginner+

Swing the hanging tama and use the swing moment to spike the ken tip. Dynamic version of the classic spike.

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#22Around

Around The World

4/10 · Beginner+

Full combo through big cup, small cup, base cup ending in spike. One of the classic intermediate level challenges.

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#23Rotation

Flying Top

4/10 · Beginner+

The tama spins in the air like a horizontal top before falling into the cup. Showy trick combining rotation and catch.

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#24Rotation

Earthturn

5/10 · Intermediate

The tama does a full turn in the air on the vertical plane (like Earth's rotation) and lands in big cup. Iconic intermediate trick.

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#25Balance

Airplane Straight Air

5/10 · Intermediate

Airplane variant where the ken is launched straight up before landing on the tama. Works a clean path without oscillations.

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#26Trick

Frying Pan

5/10 · Intermediate

The tama lands sideways on the big cup (like an egg in a pan) and from there you chain another movement.

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#27Trick

Slip-On Stick

5/10 · Intermediate

The ken slides along the string until it fits in the tama by the tip. One of the cleanest ways to spike without throwing.

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#28Trick

Rising Dragon

5/10 · Intermediate

Combo starting from candlestick, throws the tama and catches with a flashy ascending movement.

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#29Trick

Ladybug

5/10 · Intermediate

The tama does a short spin and lands resting on big cup with a soft movement. Preliminary position for more complex tricks.

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#30Balance

Stunt Plane

6/10 · Intermediate

Advanced airplane variant with an acrobatic ken turn before landing on the tama. Requires total swing control.

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#31Flip

Ken Flip

6/10 · Intermediate

Throw the ken so it makes a full turn in the air and catch it by the handle. Fundamental trick opening a whole branch of advanced combos.

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#32Trick

Flying V

6/10 · Intermediate

Combo where the tama rises following a "V" pattern before landing. Works two-handed coordination on vertical plane.

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#33Rotation

Mars Turn

6/10 · Intermediate

Earth turn variant with extra spin or on a different plane. The tama does a more demanding rotation before falling into cup.

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#34Trick

Gunslinger

6/10 · Intermediate

Trick with inverted ken grip (gunslinger style) ending in spike. Requires getting used to a non-standard grip.

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Advanced and professional kendama tricks

Technical stalls like lighthouse, UFO or bird, multiple rotation combos like whirlwind, and tricks combining flips with stalls. These appear in competitions and require years of practice.

#35Trick

Vacuum

7/10 · Advanced

The ken tip slides along the tama surface until it enters the hole (like a vacuum). Technical move that looks like magic when done well.

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#36Around

Around Europe

7/10 · Advanced

Extended around combo passing through more cups and positions than around the world. Lower advanced level challenge.

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#37Rotation

Penguin Earthturn

7/10 · Advanced

Earth turn executed starting from penguin grip (inverted ken). Combines rotation and unusual grip.

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#38Trick

Scooping Goldfish

7/10 · Advanced

Move where the tama seems "fished" by the cup with a delicate, soft gesture. Lots of wrist control.

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#39Around

Around USA

7/10 · Advanced

Another major around sequence, with more cups and a demanding final transition. International standard for consistency evaluation.

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#40Stall

Turntable

8/10 · Advanced

The tama rests on the top face of the ken and spins on itself like a turntable before the next move. Technical and visual stall.

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#41Stall

Hanging Spike

8/10 · Advanced

The tama hangs upside down from the ken by the hole, in balance. From there you execute the next move or hold as a stall.

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#42Spike

Downspike

8/10 · Advanced

Spike executed in a downward direction, with the ken descending towards the tama. Completely changes classic spike mechanics.

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#43Stall

Hanging Airplane

8/10 · Advanced

Airplane ending with the tama hanging in hanging stall position. Combines string control and fine balance.

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#44Balance

One-Turn Airplane

8/10 · Advanced

Airplane with a full ken rotation before landing on the tama. Qualitative leap over basic airplane.

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#45Stall

Lighthouse

9/10 · Pro

The tama stays in vertical balance on the ken tip (like a lighthouse). Iconic stall and one of the most recognisable kendama challenges.

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#46Stall

UFO

9/10 · Pro

The tama rests sideways on the ken with a rotation that gives a flying saucer effect. Stall requiring center and rotation combined.

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#47Stall

Bird

9/10 · Pro

The tama rests by the hole on one of the cups, with the ken in "bird" position. Stall with very recognisable aesthetics.

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#48Stall

Bird Over the Valley

9/10 · Pro

Bird variant with a bridge between two support points. The tama is balanced crossing a "valley" between two cups.

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#49Rotation

Whirlwind

10/10 · Pro

Multiple rotation combo where the tama spins several times before landing in a specific position. One of the most seen pro tricks in competitions.

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#50Flip

Kenflip Lighthouse

10/10 · Pro

Lighthouse preceded by a full ken flip. The tama must land in lighthouse stall right after the ken rotation. Pure pro-level challenge.

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Frequently asked questions about kendama tricks

How many kendama tricks exist?

Hundreds of tricks have been catalogued, from basics like big cup or spike to professional combos with multiple rotations. This dictionary grows over time and covers the full learning curve from beginner to pro.

Which is the easiest trick to start with?

Big cup is the entry trick. You throw the tama up and catch it in the big cup of the ken. It is the first trick in any official guide and the basis for everything else.

In what order should I learn tricks?

First the three cups (big, small, base), then spike, then simple combos like moshikame or around the block. From there you can jump to rotation tricks (earth turn) and stalls (lighthouse).

Is there an official level system?

Yes. KENTEI is the official Japanese test that defines levels from Medal Challenge (beginner) to Master (pro). We map each trick to its KENTEI level when applicable.

How long does it take to learn basic tricks?

Basic tricks usually take days or weeks of regular practice. Intermediate combos can take months. Advanced tricks and stalls like lighthouse can require years to perform consistently.

Which kendama is best to learn?

For basic tricks any beginner kendama works. For stalls and balance tricks, a matte anti-slip finish like Antiskid or sticky helps a lot.

Can you learn kendama without a teacher?

Yes. Most players learn self-taught with YouTube videos and online communities. Progression is well codified and tutorials are accessible. All it takes is regular practice.