From ‘Tacky’ to ‘Natty’: The A-Z of Kendama Slang Explained
The world of kendama is unique with lingo as it is in with its tricks. For those new to the scene, it can be a tad overwhelming hearing terms like “wet tip” or “slayer” and not knowing their meaning. But fear not! Embracing the kendama lingo is a rite of passage, a fun aspect that deepens your connection to this dynamic community.
Whether you’re a casual player or a kendama aficionado, staying updated with the latest jargon is crucial. It’s not just about understanding; it’s about belonging, about being part of the rhythm that drives kendama enthusiasts worldwide.
With this guide, we aim to bridge any gaps in your kendama vocabulary.
About Kendamas:
- Battle/Grind: The long term of tries and frustration that goes into landing a trick.
- Base Cup Hole: The drilled out section on the base cup.
- Cop/Copped: To buy a new kendama.
- Freshie: A brand new kendama that is ‘fresh’.
- Hand Check: A photo of a player’s hand holding the current kendama they are playing.
- Honed: A perfectly broken-in kendama that helps you sharpen your skills.
- Ken: The main body that contains the 3 cups, and the spike.
- Mash-up: A custom kendama made up of parts from different brands.
- Natty: A full wood kendama that doesn’t use any paint.
- Tama: The ball that is paired with the ken.
- Sarado: The piece of the ken that contains the big cup, and small cup.
- Seshed: A well-played and worn-out kendama.
- Set-up: A kendama that is set up with a player’s personal preferences such as string length, paint type, etc.
- Slayer: A kendama player.
- Sword: The handle piece of the ken that contains the base cup, and spike.
- Stringer: String trick, or string + banger.
- Goon/Goony: When a trick or someone looks silly and goofy when performing, but the execution is amazing.
- Tacky: Sticky finish of tamas or kens.
- Grippy: A finish of tamas or kens with a lot of grip.
- Glossy/Icy: Slick and shiny finish of tamas or kens.
- Spectra/Spec: A Kendama turned from spectraply wood.
About Tricks:
- Banger: A difficult and stylish trick.
- Clean: When a trick is landed smoothly.
- Dirty/No-hole: A stall trick that doesn’t use the bevel to stall on.
- Dub: A trick that rotates the ken or tama twice.
- Flow: A style of playing kendama play that is steady and continuous.
- Lighty: A Lighthouse.
- Lace: To spike after a long trick line.
- Line: A combination of multiple tricks in one.
- Lofty: When a trick is performed high and slow.
- Loon: A Lunar.
- Quad: A trick that rotates the ken or tama four times.
- Rint: A clean trick.
- Slay: To repeatedly land difficult tricks on a consistent basis.
- Slaps/Slapper: When a lunar or lighthouse trick makes a slap sound when it lands on the tama.
- Soft: A trick that is deemed easy by experienced players.
- Trip: A trick that rotates the ken or tama three times.
- Tech: A very technical and complex trick.
- Wet Tip: When the trick is spiked but immediately falls out of the bevel.
General Kendama Slang:
- Sick/Nasty/Disgusting: Really good/cool/awesome.
- Hype/Stoked: Intense excitement for something.
- Fresh: Describing something new or cool.
- Drop/Dropped: A product or video that has been released.
- Dope/Dank/Epic/Fire/Lit: Something cool and high-quality.
[…] The design and paint finish of your kendama can significantly impact grip and playability. A sticky paint finish can offer better control and responsiveness, ideal for mastering complex tricks. In contrast, a smooth finish might suit those looking for a different kind of challenge. The design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about finding the right balance between function and form. To explore the world of kendama paint finishes and designs, click here. […]