Freestyle rules

01Format

Freestyle is played in the classic freestyle format: each player shows their own tricks, lines and style in a run to music chosen by the DJ, and the judges decide the results. It is one category for every player: there are no levels.

Qualifiers (Day 1, 18:00, only if needed)

• If more than 16 players enter, each player does one 60-second run.
• The judges score every run. The 16 best go to the finals.
• If 16 or fewer players enter, there are no qualifiers and everyone goes to the finals.

Top 16 finals (Day 2, 18:00)

• Each finalist does one 90-second run on the main stage, in an order drawn at random.
• The judges score every run on the criteria below and rank the finalists. Their decision is final.
• Qualifier scores do not carry over to the finals.

02Judging criteria

The judges score every run from 1 to 10 in each of these criteria (40 points per judge). The total of all judges decides the ranking.

03During a run

• One kendama per run. Switching kendama is allowed only between runs.
• The run starts when the host or judge says so and ends at the buzzer; tricks finished after the buzzer do not count.
• If the string breaks, the head judge decides if the run continues from where it stopped or is played again.
• Ties are broken by the Difficulty score; if still tied, the head judge decides.

04Entry and check-in

Check in at the registration desk at least 30 minutes before your category starts. Players who are not there when their name is called three times, over about 2 minutes, lose that round or attempt.

Every player can enter up to 3 categories. Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Pro Open are levels, so a player can enter only one of them. Game of Ken and Freestyle are the same category for every player, with no levels: anyone can enter them, with or without a level category.

• Allowed: Beginner + Game of Ken + Freestyle.
• Allowed: Game of Ken + Freestyle.
• Not allowed: Beginner + Intermediate (two levels).

05Kendama and equipment

• Bring your own kendama. Any brand and any standard size is fine; no glued, magnetic or modified parts that make catches easier.
• Bring a spare string. You may switch to a backup kendama only between matches (heats, battles or rounds), never during a match.
• If the string or the kendama breaks during a match, that attempt is played again. You get up to 3 minutes to fix it; only in this case may you go on with a backup kendama.

06Judges

• Each category has a head judge. Each station or match has at least one judge.
• Judges decide if a trick is landed. Their decisions are final, unless they are changed after a video appeal.
• Video appeals: a player can ask for a video review of a call only right after the attempt, before the match goes on. Appeals made later, or after the match has ended, are not accepted.
• A video appeal is decided by the organisers: the call is changed only if both Andrei Bogdan and Radu Vlase validate the appeal. Otherwise the judge's decision stands.
• Only the player can ask the head judge about a call or make a video appeal, calmly.

07Fair play and safety

• Play only in the marked contest areas and keep a safe distance from people around you.
• Respect other players, judges, volunteers and the public. Unsportsmanlike behaviour can lead to disqualification from the whole event.
• Players under 18 need the consent of a parent or legal guardian; players under 14 must have an adult with them at the venue.

08Prizes

1st place: $1,000; 2nd place: $500; 3rd place: $300.

• Prizes are handed out at the award ceremony of the category's day. Winners must be present or send someone in their name.
• Cash prizes are paid in US dollars or in Romanian lei at the exchange rate of the National Bank of Romania on the payment day, in cash at the event or by bank transfer within 30 days.
• Any tax the organiser has to withhold under Romanian law is deducted from cash prizes. Winners may be asked for an ID to receive a cash prize. Prizes for minors are handed to the parent or guardian.
• Kendama prizes depend on what our partners provide and may differ in brand and model.

09Changes to the format

Depending on the number of players, the organisers may change the number of attempts, the size of the final or the time limits. Any change is announced at check-in, before the category starts. These rules can be updated before the event; the version on this website is the one that applies.

Full conditions: Terms and conditions.