Jun 6, 2026
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Missouri History Museum
5700 Lindell Blvd, St Louis, MO, 63112
Let’s go.
I have never been to a yoyo event, and haven’t yoyoed with people in person in over 20 years.
Definetly jumping on this opportunity, and hope to see some of you there that live close enough
For any of you over 40, they will have an over 40 division where you can do any style you like
Official UYYC 26 sponsor hotel! We are really excited to work with the Clayton Plaza hotel and for only $139 plus taxes you get free parking and a free breakfast buffet included.
Book your stay now!
Clayton Plaza Hotel
Thanks to UYYC GOLD SPONSOR Yoyo Officer for hooking us up with an epic prize box!
UYYC
UYYC 26 is adding its first ever OVER 40 division to the event schedule! We just updated the contest website with the divisions and schedule for the 2026 contest on June 6; which is the perfect opportunity to hone your routine on stage before Nationals! Just 1 minute freestyles for the OVER 40 division so there is enough time to get through the order. Also feel free to pick your best style whether it’s 1a-5a; join the UYYC stage for your 1st freestyle run through then hit the stage in Vegas!
UYYC
2026 UYYC Kendama Ladders!
BEGINNER
Around the Block
Big Cup Spike
Orbit
Airplane
Candlestick
Lighthouse, In
Swing Spike
INTERMEDIATE
Hanging Spike
Airplane Jumping Stick x2
Juggle Big Cup, Spike
Swing Small Bird, Flip to Spike
Downspike
Around the World
Whirlwind
MASTER
Inward Lunar, Flip In
Turntable, In
UFO
Penguin Swing Spike
Candlestick Swap Spike
Spacewalk In
Stunt Plane Fasthand
ADVANCED
Juggle Spike
One Turn Lunar, Lunar Flip, Flip In
Gooncircle Spike
Airplane, 1.5 Swap Spike
Handlestall, Bird, Nightingale, Spike
2-Turn Lighthouse, Double Lighthouse Flip, In
Whirlwind Both Ways
UYYC prize drop! 
That’s right it’s a Bob Ross Toaster! Not just any toaster this bad boy imprints the image of Bob Ross on every slice of toast!
This year we are having our 1st ever OVER 40 division and what better prize for 1st place than waking up to some Bob Ross sliced toast everyday!
The 2026 United Yoyo & Kendama Contest is coming this June 6 to the St. Louis History Museum which boasts a state of the art sound and lighting system in a 300 seat auditorium!
UYYC Kendama & Yoyo judges include the legendary Sebastian Brock, CJ Atkinson, Coffin Nachtmahr, and emcee Graeme Steller. Graeme is actually the very same emcee that hosts PNWR & the US National Yoyo Contest!
And making an appearance for the 2nd year in a row is Mr Todd Yoyo Fox! Todd is filming UYYC freestyles for Yoyo Contest Central on YouTube. Todd also has two events he is organizing this year…..Rocky Mountain Regionals and Colorado States!
The on-line registration for UYYC will go live April 1st and you can register at UYYC.org all the way until June 1st. However, everyone is welcome to register at the contest; but at that point your freestyle song is coming from Todd’s playlist!
Register early and pick your freestyle music! Here are the divisions that require music upload and we recommend signing up for online:
Kendama Freestyles - 2 min freestyle
1a division - 2 min freestyle
X division - 2 min freestyle
Over 40 - 1 min freestyle
Sport Division 13 & over - 1 min freestyle
Sport Division 12 & under - 1 min freestyle
NOTE:
*Kendama Ladders are on June 5 at the pre-party and are free to all who show up!
*OVER 40 1 minute freestyles will have same scoring as 1 minute prelims at Nationals. This way players get the best opportunity to prepare for Nationals!
#UYYC Kendama #yoyo #nationalyoyoday
#cityfoundrystl #MOHistoryMuseum
On the last day of UYYC on Sunday, June 7; join us for a morning of chess themed events!
*10am - 1pm Grab breakfast at the chess themed Kingside Diner!
*12pm - 2pm visit next door at the world Chess Hall of Fame Museum with multiple floors of art galleries and a fantastic chess gift shop!
*1pm - 4pm play chess on the outside tables with Nymzo chess pieces and visit the StL Chess Club across the street!
*1 city block of chess, coffee, food, and art just steps away from Forest Park!
*last day before you head back home relax with everyone from the contest!
NYMZO.world
#kingsidediner #stlchessclub #wchof #nymzoworld #UYYC
Hey yes let’s go! June 6-8 in St Louis….. like 1 hr south from Springfield Illinois on I-55 to downtown!! Will see you there…..
UYYC poster drop…..
The JUMBO size posters just arrived and we wanted to share a sneak peek with everyone!
The concept of this poster developed from the idea of the Yoyo being invented as a weapon.
So many urban legends revolving around the “History of the Yoyo” that we just ran with that idea……..and here we are with a 3A Zilla!
Much thanks to UYYC designer Jacob Lundak of Darkline Designs for coming up with all of this year’s designs. This particular poster drop is super limited to only 30 pieces he designed and are available only at UYYC!
Each piece is printed in a movie style format on full color glossy 18x24 posters. The posters are meant to be framed and matted in a 24x36 frame or can go directly into an 18x24 frame. And if you come by the UYYC table grab a metallic paint pen and get an autograph from one of this year’s judges!
Looking forward to this contest!
the Yoyo Fox
……………
UYYC.org is sponsoring Todd’s travel to StL so he can film the freestyles for the National Yoyo League! After the event you will be able to see all of the Yoyo and Kendama freestyles on the Yoyocontest Central YouTube channel.
We are surrounded by so many talented players in the community and not just Yoyo but Kendama, chess, and finger-boarding. “There is a lot to unwind!”
With just 48 days until UYYC we can’t tell you how excited everyone is to have Todd returning to StL!
Todd Rollenhagen is the string maker of Foxtails Yoyo strings and also the organizer of the Rocky Mountain Regionals and the Colorado State Yoyo Contest!
The 2026 Colorado State Yoyo & Kendama contest will be held on Sunday August 23rd at The People’s Building in Aurora, CO and is organized by Todd Rollenhagen and Damon Dutton, founder of Colorado Kendama.
Todd has a jam packed schedule this year and if you’re at one of these contests make sure to say hi!
*Rocky Mnt Regionals 5-16
*UYYC 6-6
*Colorado States 8-23
foxtails_yoyostring
milehighyoyo
rmr_yoyo
coloradostateyoyo
Coloradokendama
uyyc……VENDORS 
This is what to expect in the vendor room at this year’s UYYC. The merging of four hobbies: Live chess, finger boarding, kendama, and yoyo!
The UYYC contest table will feature stickers, shirts, and posters with this year’s designs from DarkLine Designs. Featherspin Throws is vending this year with exciting new releases available at UYYC and team member Jacob Lundak!
PLIES, the premiere finger boarding magazine and the USA Finger Boarding League will be in attendance with a miniature skatepark for sessions and custom fingerboards!
The St. Louis Chess Club will have a table with free giveaways and chess instructors to teach and moderate free 5-minute blitz games!
The chess boards featured at UYYC are from New York City’s NYMZO.world; a modern interpretation of classic chess boards.
NYMZO.world
So why Chess & Yoyo do you ask? We think there is a connection from keeping your mind focused and calm with chess strategy to honing tricks on stage with yoyo, kendama, or finger boards! Interestingly enough the first real superstar of both chess and yoyo was….……Napoleon!!
HISTORY of CHESS & YOYO
The most well known "crossover” chess and yoyo player was ……….Napoleon Bonaparte!!
The YoYo: It is widely reported by historians that Napoleon played with a yo-yo to relieve stress. Urban Legend even suggests he was seen playing with one before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815!
Chess: Napoleon was an avid chess player. There is even a chess opening named after him…….the Napoleon Opening. Of course it’s a bit of a weak move because it brings the Queen out too early!
