Davide Leonardi is an Italian player from Rome, born in 2001 and playing kendama since 2015, known for his creativity and for trying out new tricks and ideas. His Pro Model for Krom, the Danish brand founded by Thorkild May, combines that sense of freedom with a setup that is also built for competition.

• BrandKrom Kendama
• ModelDavide Pro Mod
• ShapeFreestyle
• WoodMaple ken, bamboo tama
• Tama62 mm, clear matte I+D lacquer
• IncludesMini bearing, spare string, a tool for changing it and model stickers

Design

A kendama has three parts: the ken (the handle with the spike), the sarado (the crosspiece with the side cups) and the tama (the ball). The graphic, created by Davide with designer Kate Weinberg, sets two elements against each other: water in blue, representing flow and free movement, and fire in red, symbolising drive and the will to compete.

Shape and materials

The ken uses Krom’s Freestyle shape, balanced and with room to string tricks together into long lines. It is made of maple, a dense, stable wood. The tama is bamboo, an unusual material for kendamas, which normally have a beech tama. It is finished with the matte version of I+D, Krom’s clear lacquer designed to give grip in balance tricks. The string is attached with a mini bearing, a small swivelling part that stops it from twisting, and Krom guarantees a maximum weight difference of 7 g between ken and tama.