# Getting Started in Kendama...Took The Plunge
**URL:** https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-kendama-took-the-plunge/62339
**Category:** Kendama
**Created:** [December 21, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-kendama-took-the-plunge/62339 "2013-12-21T14:54:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Totalartist](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Totalartist)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-kendama-took-the-plunge/62339/1 "2013-12-21T14:54:35Z")
Wow, my first time posting in the kendama section. I had a hard time figuring out whether to bump an age old thread or start a new one. š After I chose an old one, a warning popped up stating that I might want to start anew.
My first impression of kendama was playing one that belonged to someone at a club meet. I gave it a try, and I liked it, because it felt like a nice little escape. That was months ago, and I finally bought some variety recently. I think Iām done buying them for a long time though, because I donāt anticipate it will catch on like yo-yo. It is pretty fun though.
So far, I have the big cup, small cup, base cup thing down and working on the spike. You know how I amā¦had to find some variety to keep things interesting. I decided to start with a stained Sweets. I like natural wood, but the stain added a little extra to the look. I also got these cute YYE colored minis to match the yo-yos, and found these weird metal ones onlineā¦pretty heavy. That should hold me awhile.
[http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2881/11231901594\_92d851e1d6\_z.jpg](http://www.flickr.com/photos/totalartist/11231901594/)
[BlackFriday2](http://www.flickr.com/photos/totalartist/11231901594/) by [The TotalArtist](http://www.flickr.com/people/totalartist/), on Flickr
[http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/11479801134\_a5a86216d5\_z.jpg](http://www.flickr.com/photos/totalartist/11479801134/)
[IMG\_9016](http://www.flickr.com/photos/totalartist/11479801134/) by [The TotalArtist](http://www.flickr.com/people/totalartist/), on Flickr
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### Author:  [@NathanC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/NathanC)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-kendama-took-the-plunge/62339/2 "2013-12-21T14:58:28Z")
Are those the aluminum ones machined by Landon Balk? They look so cool. Still hoping for a splash anoād one. That would be amazing.
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### Author:  [@Totalartist](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Totalartist)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-kendama-took-the-plunge/62339/3 "2013-12-21T15:30:01Z")
Wellā¦I have not confirmed it, but suspected it. I got them on the āauction siteā and asked āthe sellerā who made them, because the maker/brand was not listed. The seller replied stating that they were made by a machinist who makes yo-yos in the United States. :-\ So, they were kind of secret squirrel about it.
So, I got them fairly cheap for what they were described and figured they must be some prototypes or something wrong with themā¦so I was dying to see. When I got them, I could tell both had been playedā¦one very very little, and the other a tad bit more. So, someone at least tested them out.
Next thing I know, Iām on Youtube and looking up metals and stumble on the Landon Balk video of him machining kendamas. So, then Iām thinkingā¦machinist, makes yo-yosā¦USA. So, it might be him, because they look the same, but I just canāt prove it. Iād hate to post that it is someoneās work and it is really notā¦so Iāll just say, maybe. :-\ I thought to message him and ask, but figured if the maker wanted it knownā¦it would be known by now. I think they might be part of a test run.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxF0OrkOGoo)
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### Author:  [@AzrinRain](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AzrinRain)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-kendama-took-the-plunge/62339/4 "2013-12-22T03:21:20Z")
@TotalArtist, welcome to kendamas!
Remembering a quote from Guy Wright, kendamas are pretty intense and suspenseful. And hugely rewarding (e.g. āDid I just spike/land that?ā). You somehow donāt quite get the same amount of thrill in yoyos.
There arenāt many folks who make full-sized aluminium kendamas around. Landon Balk is probably one, and I know KendAlex makes some as well.
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### Author:  [@Totalartist](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Totalartist)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-kendama-took-the-plunge/62339/5 "2013-12-22T05:52:02Z")
Thank you. Yeah, the metal is taking a lot of damage especially being so heavy. Iām on the list for the next KendAlex run. š
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### Author:  [@AzrinRain](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AzrinRain)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-kendama-took-the-plunge/62339/7 "2013-12-23T01:35:26Z")
All ya gotta do is ask Santa nicely :wink:
All the best in your endavours, and welcome to kendama!