10 Easy Kendama Tricks for Beginners

Learning kendama is all about starting simple, building control, and improving one trick at a time. If you are new to kendama, you do not need to learn advanced tricks right away. The best way to begin is with easy kendama tricks that teach timing, balance, hand-eye coordination, and tama control.

In this guide, we’ll go through 10 easy kendama tricks for beginners. These tricks are beginner-friendly, fun to practice, and useful for building a strong foundation before moving into more advanced kendama tricks like lighthouse, lunar, juggles, and freestyle combos.

Before you start, make sure you have a beginner-friendly kendama with good grip, comfortable cup sizes, and a balanced shape. If you are still choosing your first setup, you can read our guide on how to choose your first kendama.

What Are the Best Kendama Tricks for Beginners?

The best kendama tricks for beginners are tricks that help you understand basic movement, cup control, spike timing, and balance. These tricks may look simple, but they are the foundation for almost everything you will learn later.

Here are 10 beginner kendama tricks to start with:

• Big Cup
• Small Cup
• Base Cup
• Spike
• Airplane
• Earth Turn
• Around Japan
• Orbit
• Lighthouse
• Candle Stick

Practice these tricks slowly and focus on control instead of speed. The goal is not only to land the trick once, but to land it consistently.

Beginner Tip: Use Your Knees

One of the most important beginner kendama tips is to use your knees. Many new players try to pull the tama up using only their arm, but kendama becomes much easier when your whole body moves smoothly.

When you bend your knees and lift gently, the tama moves in a softer and more controlled way. This helps you catch the ball, line up the hole, and land tricks more consistently.

For almost every beginner kendama trick, remember this simple rule: pull with your knees, guide with your hand, and stay relaxed.

1. Big Cup

Big cup is usually the first kendama trick beginners learn. It teaches you how to pull the tama upward and catch it in the largest cup on the kendama.

How to Do Big Cup

1. Hold the ken with the big cup facing upward.
2. Let the tama hang straight down.
3. Bend your knees slightly.
4. Lift smoothly with your knees and guide the tama upward.
5. Catch the tama in the big cup.

Beginner Tip

Do not swing the tama too hard. A soft and straight pull makes big cup much easier. Try to keep the tama close to the kendama instead of pulling it far away from your body.

2. Small Cup

Small cup is similar to big cup, but the landing area is smaller. This makes it a great beginner trick for improving accuracy and control.

How to Do Small Cup

1. Hold the kendama with the small cup facing upward.
2. Keep the tama hanging straight down.
3. Use your knees to lift the tama gently.
4. Keep your eyes on the tama as it rises.
5. Catch the tama in the small cup.

Beginner Tip

Small cup can feel harder than big cup because the cup is smaller. Focus on a smooth pull and keep your hand steady when the tama lands.

3. Base Cup

Base cup is another classic beginner kendama trick. Instead of catching the tama on the side cups, you catch it on the cup at the bottom of the ken.

How to Do Base Cup

1. Hold the kendama so the base cup faces upward.
2. Let the tama hang below the ken.
3. Bend your knees and lift smoothly.
4. Guide the tama toward the base cup.
5. Catch the tama on the base cup.

Beginner Tip

Base cup may feel different because your hand position changes. Keep the kendama stable and avoid turning your wrist too much while the tama is in the air.

4. Spike

Spike is one of the most iconic kendama tricks. The goal is to land the hole of the tama directly onto the spike. It is a beginner trick, but it takes patience and practice.

How to Do Spike

1. Hold the ken with the spike pointing upward.
2. Let the tama hang straight down.
3. Use your knees to pull the tama upward.
4. Watch the hole of the tama as it rises.
5. Guide the spike into the hole and land the trick.

Beginner Tip

Tama tracking is very important for spike. A kendama with clear color contrast or tracking design can help you see the hole more easily. If you are choosing a beginner kendama, look for a tama design that helps you follow the ball in the air.

5. Airplane

Airplane is a fun beginner kendama trick where you hold the tama and swing the ken into the hole of the ball. It is a great trick for learning swing control and timing.

How to Do Airplane

1. Hold the tama with the hole facing upward or slightly forward.
2. Let the ken hang below the tama.
3. Swing the ken gently forward.
4. Guide the spike toward the hole of the tama.
5. Land the spike into the tama.

Beginner Tip

Do not swing too fast. A slow and controlled swing makes airplane much easier. Try to keep the tama steady while the ken moves toward the hole.

6. Earth Turn

Earth turn is a classic kendama trick that starts from spike. After landing spike, you toss the tama into the air, let it rotate once, and catch it back on the spike.

How to Do Earth Turn

1. Start by landing spike.
2. Gently toss the tama upward from the spike.
3. Let the tama rotate one full turn.
4. Watch the hole as it comes back down.
5. Catch the tama back on the spike.

Beginner Tip

Start with a small toss. If you throw the tama too high, it becomes harder to control the rotation. Focus on watching the hole and keeping the spike under the tama.

7. Around Japan

Around Japan is a beginner kendama line that connects several basic tricks together. It usually includes big cup, small cup, base cup, and spike.

How to Do Around Japan

1. Start with big cup.
2. Move from big cup to small cup.
3. Move from small cup to base cup.
4. Finish by landing spike.

Beginner Tip

Do not rush the transitions. Around Japan helps you learn how to move the tama from one position to another, so focus on smooth control between each cup.

8. Orbit

Orbit is a beginner-friendly string trick that teaches you how to control the movement of the tama around the ken. It helps build flow and coordination.

How to Do Orbit

1. Hold the ken in a comfortable grip.
2. Let the tama hang from the string.
3. Use a gentle circular motion to swing the tama around the ken.
4. Keep the movement controlled and even.
5. Try to return to a stable position after the orbit.

Beginner Tip

Orbit is not about power. Keep the circle smooth and controlled. This trick is useful for learning kendama flow and can later connect into other freestyle tricks.

9. Lighthouse

Lighthouse is one of the first balance tricks many beginners want to learn. In lighthouse, the ken balances upright on top of the tama.

How to Do Lighthouse

1. Hold the tama with the hole facing upward.
2. Let the ken hang below.
3. Pull the ken upward with a smooth motion.
4. Guide the base cup area onto the tama.
5. Balance the ken upright on the tama.

Beginner Tip

A grippy kendama can make lighthouse easier to learn. Sticky paint is especially helpful for balance tricks because it gives the ken more hold on the tama. If you want stronger grip for balance tricks, the Hun Kendama Black Panther Sticky Paint is a good beginner-friendly option.

10. Candle Stick

Candle stick is a simple but useful beginner kendama trick. Instead of holding the ken normally, you hold the spike area and catch the tama on the base cup, making the kendama look like a candle.

How to Do Candle Stick

1. Hold the kendama near the spike.
2. Point the base cup upward.
3. Let the tama hang straight down.
4. Use your knees to lift the tama smoothly.
5. Catch the tama on the base cup.

Beginner Tip

Candle stick helps you understand different kendama grips. It also makes base cup control more interesting and prepares you for more creative trick variations later.

Best Kendama for Learning Beginner Tricks

If you are learning beginner kendama tricks, your setup can make a big difference. A beginner-friendly kendama should have good grip, larger cups, a stable shape, and a design that helps with tama tracking.

For smooth daily practice, the Hun Kendama Color Block Rubber Grip is a strong choice. Its rubber grip coating gives beginners a controlled feel for cup tricks, spike practice, and early balance tricks.

If you want stronger grip for tricks like lighthouse and lunar, the Hun Kendama Black Panther Sticky Paint is a great option. Its sticky paint helps with balance control while still being suitable for beginners.

You can also explore the full Monster Kendama collection to find a kendama that matches your style and skill level.

How to Practice Kendama Tricks as a Beginner

Learning kendama takes repetition, but practice does not need to be complicated. A few focused minutes every day can help you improve faster than one long practice session once in a while.

Practice One Trick at a Time

Choose one trick and repeat it until the movement feels natural. For example, spend one session only practicing big cup or spike before moving to another trick.

Focus on Clean Movement

Try not to rush. Smooth control is more important than speed, especially when learning beginner kendama tricks.

Use Your Knees

Your knees help control the tama and soften the landing. Most beginner tricks become easier when you bend and lift with your body instead of pulling only with your arm.

Track the Tama

Watch the tama carefully, especially when practicing spike, airplane, and earth turn. Good tama tracking helps you understand rotation and hole position.

Celebrate Small Progress

Every catch matters. Even if you only land a trick once, that is progress. Kendama is about building skill step by step.

Common Beginner Kendama Mistakes

Many beginners struggle with the same problems when learning kendama tricks. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid.

Pulling Too Hard

If you pull the tama too hard, it becomes difficult to control. Use a softer lift and let the tama rise smoothly.

Not Using the Knees

Standing stiff makes kendama harder. Bend your knees and move with the tama to create better control.

Looking Away from the Tama

Your eyes should stay on the tama, especially when trying to land spike or balance tricks.

Practicing Too Fast

Speed comes later. Beginners should focus on slow, clean, repeatable movement first.

Using a Slippery Kendama

A very slippery tama can make tricks more frustrating for new players. If you are just starting out, choose rubber grip or sticky paint for better control.

Beginner Kendama Trick Progression

If you are not sure what order to learn these tricks in, use this simple beginner progression:

1. Big Cup
2. Small Cup
3. Base Cup
4. Candle Stick
5. Spike
6. Airplane
7. Earth Turn
8. Around Japan
9. Orbit
10. Lighthouse

This order starts with basic cup control, then moves into spike timing, swing control, line tricks, flow, and balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest kendama trick for beginners?

Big cup is usually the easiest kendama trick for beginners. It uses the largest cup and teaches basic pulling, timing, and catching control.

How long does it take to learn kendama tricks?

It depends on how often you practice. Some beginners can learn basic cup tricks quickly, while tricks like spike, airplane, earth turn, and lighthouse may take more repetition.

Is kendama hard for beginners?

Kendama can feel challenging at first, but beginners can start with simple tricks like big cup, small cup, base cup, and spike. With the right kendama and regular practice, progress becomes much easier.

What kendama is best for beginner tricks?

The best kendama for beginner tricks usually has good grip, larger cups, a balanced shape, and a tama design that helps with tracking. Rubber grip and sticky paint kendamas are both good options for beginners.

Should beginners learn spike first?

Beginners can try spike early, but it is often helpful to learn big cup, small cup, and base cup first. These tricks build control and make spike easier to understand.

Do I need sticky paint to learn kendama?

You do not need sticky paint, but it can help with balance tricks like lighthouse and lunar. Rubber grip is also a great beginner-friendly option for learning basic tricks.

Final Thoughts: Start with Easy Kendama Tricks

The best way to learn kendama is to start with easy tricks and build your skills one step at a time. Big cup, small cup, base cup, spike, airplane, earth turn, Around Japan, orbit, lighthouse, and candle stick are all great beginner kendama tricks that teach control, timing, balance, and confidence.

Remember to practice slowly, use your knees, watch the tama, and enjoy the process. Every trick you land will make the next one easier.

If you are ready to start learning, browse the Monster Kendama collection and choose a beginner-friendly kendama that helps you practice with confidence.