Lunatac Teams
At LunaTac, we're constantly looking for ways to help the Kendama community grow. One of the ways we make this happen is by sponsoring team players. Because we do things differently around here, we're sponsoring two different teams at this time. Our sponsorships are also non-exclusive, because we believe in community over competition among kendama companies.
Our first team is "The Slayers", who are talented players who inspire others to new heights of play. Then we have "The Influencers". These are people in the Kendama community who have a voice, who are giving back, creating great content and furthering their local or online scene in positive ways. Watch and read about each team member below!
INTRODUCING The Slayers
Feather
Hailing from the birthplace of kendama, Japan, Feather is known for his lunar insanity. He makes mind-blowing lunar combos look like they're easy. If you follow his Instagram, you'll be inspired daily with new clips that will make you want to practice your lunars more! When he's not playing kendama, he spends his days with his wife and daughter.
gET TO KNOW FEATHER:
Q. What music are you jamming to lately? A. Nujabes!
Q. Any other hobbies? A. Cooking and drinking Japanese SAKE
FIND HIM ONLINE:
Sam CANNON
From the mountains of Idaho, this wild beast of a kendama player has emerged. Sam is constantly destroying dama dares and pulling off lines that make your jaw hit the floor. When he's not schralping on the mountain side, he'll be landing lunars in the lodge, or exploring the wilderness with his pet dog Scout.
GET TO KNOW SAM:
Q. How did you discover Kendama? A. I first saw my buddy Kyle with one at a festival. I actually made fun of him for playing with it, I also tried it out and I couldn't get it to save my life. Then I saw one at Caleb Jeffries house picked it up and after awhile I got my first orbit and from that point on I was hooked. My first kendama was a momma kendama that Caleb had gifted to me. I played it stringless for the first two months.
Q. What's your favorite candy? A. Everything, mainly sour stuff.
FIND HIM ONLINE:
@skpcannon (also on Snapchat under the same name)
KYLE LEE DILLER BRIDGES
A young gunner out of Southern California, Kyle, also known as kdillah has been catching our eye since day one. He's constantly putting out kendama bangers on his Instagram feed, stories, and snapchat! He'll start lacing some face-melting combo and just when you think he's done he throws in something else you didn't expect.
GET TO KNOW KYLE:
Q. When did you start playing Kendama? A. July 4th 2014
Q. What's your go-to trick to throw down in a game of D.A.M.A.? A. 1-2-3 inward lunar flips or boarder spin
FIND HIM ONLINE:
@kdillahkillah (also on Snapchat under the same name)
MARCUS TODD
This guy is living the dream. Quit his job to travel full time in an RV with his wife and three little girls. With roots in Minnesota, he discovered kendama through the rollerblading scene when he spotted one in a video where they traveled to japan. His play style is super unique and we love watching the innovative and out of the box tricks he thinks of!
GET TO KNOW MARCUS:
Q. Favorite quote? A. The best day to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today. Chinese proverb.
Q. What is a "fun fact" not many people know about you? A. Took home fifth in the all conference rope climbing comp in fifth grade.
FIND HIM ONLINE:
Jake BISHOP
Born in Chico, California, he soon moved out to Hawaii where he lived for 10 years before moving back to Chico. When he first saw kendama it was on Youtube. Soon, he caught the kendama wave as it swept across Hawaii and has been slaying ever since. Besides Kendama he also enjoys juggling, hiking, cliff jumping and hanging out with friends.
GET TO KNOW Jake:
Q. What's your go-to trick to throw down in a game of D.A.M.A.? A. Trip whirlwind
Q. Favorite Candy? A. WARHEADS
FIND HIM ONLINE:
INTRODUCING THE INFLUENCERS
MICHAEL JOSEPH REEVES
Mike is from a small rural town called Salem in Connecticut . He discovered kendama 5 years ago, when a friend brought one to school. He picked up a blue Ozora and the rest is history. He's currently studying business and entrepreneurship in college and is all about building kendama community, in his local scene and online.
GET TO KNOW MJR:
Q. Any other hobbies? A. Snowboarding, skateboarding, etc.
Q. What music are you jamming to lately? A. Hip hop, indie, some mellow electronic music and much more.
FIND HIM ONLINE:
ALEX GUZMAN
Alex has a true joy for Kendama that is contagious. If you watch him lace a new trick, you'll be smiling right along with him. He loves getting technical with stalls but also flowing those string tricks for days. When not playing dama, you can find rock climbing, skiing or surviving as a full time student. Luckily, he currently resides in Southern Oregon, a great place for exploring the outdoors and enjoy kendama all the while.
GET TO KNOW ALEX:
Q. What was your first Kendama? A. Blue Kendama USA classic was the first kendama I ever owned. I saw it in a craft store by the register a few weeks later and impulsively bought it. As I walked out of the store I thought, "dang, that might have been a waste of money." But that wasn't the case. Haha :)
Q. Favorite trick to throw down in a game of D.A.M.A.? A. Swing Slinger to spike, base cup, 1 turn to insta light flip, tradespike.
FIND HIM ONLINE:
@guzmastergriswold, Rogue Dama (Southern Oregon Facebook Group)
Charlie ECK
Charlie loves giving back to the kendama community. Whether he's making videos with his local crew, hosting events, or doing random Facebook live giveaways, he's always spreading that #damalove.
GET TO KNOW CHARLIE:
Q. Favorite TV Show? A. Shark Tank!
Q. Favorite Kendama wood? A. Hick (Ken) Maple (Tama).
FIND HIM ONLINE:
JAX RODAMMER
It was love at first sight when it comes to Kendama for Jax. He's into team sports like baseball and basketball, but loves the personal physical and mental challenge that Kendama brings. He's from a small town in the mid-west, but is known worldwide for his technical style and landing tricks so clean it's scary.
GET TO KNOW JAX:
Q. What music are you jamming to lately? A. The new albums of logic and chance the rapper.
Q. How did you discover dama? A. My neighbors cousin came over from California and brought some kens about 2 or 3 years ago and that was the first time a saw one and played with one.
FIND HIM ONLINE:
JORDAN MICHAEL FOX
Jordan was scrolling Instagram one day when he stumbled upon a video of someone playing Kendama...that someone just happened to be Stephen. He picked up his own dama and the rest is history. Jordan now oversees the local community building scene here in Chico, home of LunaTac Kendama Innovation.
GET TO KNOW Jordan:
Q. Favorite Quote? A. "Before I do anything I ask myself 'would an idiot do that?' And of the answer is yes, I do not do that thing." - Dwight K. Schrute
Q. What's a little known fact about you? A. My Dad wanted to name me after Larry Bird, but after my mother's immediate rejection of that idea, settled on naming me after Michael Jordan.
FIND HIM ONLINE:
