kendama british association sakura mugen oozora tk16 juggling diabolo yo-yo japanese toys
bka header

Where and When

The 2011 European Kendama Open Championship was held at the European Juggling Convention in Munchen, Germany, on Wednesday 10th August 2011.
Facebook event page.
jka seal

It's all over! Review/video here.

European Kendama Open 2011

Welcome to the official home of the European Kendama Open Championships.
This year there will be four competitions:

Beginners Division Trick Ladder.
Advanced Division Knockout Competition.
Speed Trick Challenge.
Best Trick.

Download the printable pocket-tricklist here.

Competitors may only enter one of Beginner or Advanced.
Beginners Trick Ladder.

Players are permitted 3 attempts to successfully complete each trick. If a trick is completed successfully, the player moves on to the next trick in the list. If not, then their run is over. The tricks must be attempted in order.

If a player enters the Beginner division, then they can not enter the Advanced division.

In the event of a tie, the player who reached the highest level with the fewest mistakes is the winner.
If the game is still tied after this, then players will compete in Moshikame, each player having one minute to complete as many catches as possible. Their run ends at the first drop, or after 60 seconds, whichever comes first.
Japanese name/English name (Clarification)

1. Oozara/Big Cup
2. Rousoku/Candle
3. Furi Oozara/Swing to Big Cup (String must stay taut until horizontal)
4. Tsubame Kaeshi/Orbit (Orbit must be around the ball, in any direction)
5. Tomeken/Spike (No spin on ball)
6. Ganman/Gunslinger (Ball must stay on spike)
7. Take Tonbo/Flying Top
8. Mura Isshuu/Around The Village
9. Kuuchuu Buranko/Trapeze Acrobats (2 Rotations minimum)
10. Hikouki/Aeroplane (Start position: holding the ken)
11. Nihon Isshuu/Around Japan
12. Toudai/Lighthouse (Hold still for 3 seconds)

Beginners Tricks demonstrated by The Void. Download it from here.
(Video is the same for BKO 2011 and EKO 2011)
Advanced Knockout Division.

This year we are adopting the Japanese competition system for the Advanced division.

Players compete in pairs. A random trick is drawn, and the players attempt it once each. If one player succeeds and the other fails, the successful player gets 1 point. If, after 3 attempts each, no player has scored a point, a new trick is drawn. The first player to 2 points proceeds to the next round.

In the final, the first to 3 points will be the winner.

For the early rounds, tricks are randomly selected from #1-8 on the list. For the Quarter Finals, from 5-12, for the Semi-Finals, from 9-16, and for the final, from 13-20.

If a player enters the Advanced division, then they can not enter the Beginner division.
Japanese name/English name (Clarification)

1. Tsubame Kaeshi/Orbit x 2 (Orbits must be around the ball, in any direction)
2. Maeuchi/Tapback x 3
3. Ken Isshuu/Around Prefecture
4. Hikouki/Aeroplane (Start position: holding the ken)
5. Furiken/ Swing In (Start position: holding the ball)
6. Sekai Isshuu/Around The World
7. Iai Tomeken/Faster Than Gravity (Initial movement must be downwards)
8. Koumori/Bat (Hold still for 3 seconds)
Quarter Final Tricks:
9. Ura Furiken/Reverse Swing In
10. Tama Tsukisashi/Stabbing Heaven (Ball must turn more than 90˚)
11. Haneken/Jumping Stick
12. Chikyuu Mawashi/Earth Turn
Semi Final Tricks:
13. Uguisu/Bird (Hold still for 3 seconds)
14. Saka Otoshi/Falling Down
15. Yooroppa Isshuu/Around Europe
16. Ikkaiten Hikouki/1-turn Aeroplane
Final Tricks:
17. Suberi Dome Gokui/Slip Grip Special (Hold still for 3 seconds)
18. Getsumen Chakuriku/Moon Landing (Hold still for 3 seconds)
19. Uchuu Yuuei/Suicide Aeroplane
20. Yoko Haneken/Rotor Blade

Advanced tricks demonsrated by The Void. Download the video from here.
(Video is the same for BKO 2011 and EKO 2011)

The Speed Trick Challenge

On the days before the Wednesday of the EJC, qualifying trials of the Speed Trick Challenge will be run.

Entrants are allowed two qualifying runs.
The finalists get to fight it out on Competition Day.

The idea: complete 10 set tricks in order, in as fast a time as possible. If you miss a trick, you just keep going until you hit it.

The tricks are:
Japanese name / English name (Clarification)
1. Oozara / Big cup
2. Kozara / Small cup
3. Chuuzara / Base cup
4. Rousoku / Candlestick
5. Swinging Oozara (String must remain taut until ball is above the level of the ken)
6. Tsubame Kaeshi / Orbit (Oozara>Orbit>Ozara)
7. Tomeken / Pull-up-in
8. Maeuchi / Tap Back (Oozara>tap ball with ken>Oozara)
9. Hikouki / Aeroplane
10. Moshikame for 10 catches (Starting with Oozara or Kozara - player's choice)

Speed Trick Challenge Tricks:

The first ten tricks in this video,
or see a demo by 2008 champion Mark:

Yes, it's the same video as last year!
(Video is the same for BKO 2011 and EKO 2011)

Best Trick Competition

While the judges are tallying the scores and positions for Beginner, Advanced and Speed divisions, a Best Trick competition will be run. Music will be played for 10 minutes maximum, and the stage will be open for anyone to come up on stage and attempt any trick. If they succeed, a judge will write down their name and trick. At the end of the 10 minutes, the judge will present a short-list of Best Trickers for the audience to vote on.

Rules

The ball must not be spinning when in the start position.

All tricks must be performed with a JKA-sanctioned or EKA-sanctioned kendama.

For multi-stage tricks, no adjustments may be made to the string with the free hand. Similarly, the ball may not be re-positioned after an initial catch, before moving on to a later stage.

All nationalities may enter.
The highest placed European Player in the Advanced division will be awarded
the title "European Kendama Champion".

The judges' decisions are final.