Half-Swirl Aeroplane Tutorial (Was: VOTW 14-05-2012)

[KenSan]

I've been trying these over the last couple of days and am starting to make some good progress. I had tried them earlier in the year and it was pretty ugly!

I was originally having trouble just making a decent catch of the tama, and hitting my finger in the right place, but have now got that part quite clean. I am finding though that the ken is getting quite wild when trying to land the aeroplane part. I guess this could be down to my release of the ken not being clean.

I did however find that when I swapped to a heavier Kendama that the ken became a bit more controlled. Would anyone else agree that a heavier ken would be preferred for this sort of trick, or just more practice with whichever kendama I happen to be holding?

[The Void]

Hard to know without seeing you try, but a clean release should be the key.

[Kev]

Totally agree with Void, and would add that during the learning process for me there was definitely a period of time when the ken was very out of control virtually all the time (no doubt due to a poor release). I think there's a thread from someone else on here from a while back saying the same thing.

Practice is the answer, the wobble will go.

Personally I prefer a heavier ken and swirls are certainly easier for me when infuse one.

Good luck!

[KenSan]

On further diagnosis and a few landings with my lighter ken, I noticed there were not enough knees involved (timing) and that when catching the tama, I was not moving my hand away sufficiently (there's a lot going on here actually) enough to avoid the ken coming back round, thus possibly clipping the string and flailing wildly.

Doesn't mean I've got, it but I'm getting it

[The Void]

Ah yep, string clips are fatal. You'll get it.