Game of Ken rules

01Format

Game of Ken is a 1v1 battle played with the classic Game of Ken rules: the letters K-E-N, 2-2-3 tries with prove it, and 3-3-5 in the final. It is one category for every player: there are no levels, beginners and pros are in the same bracket.

The bracket

• Single elimination bracket, drawn at random after check-in. If the number of players is not a power of two, some players get a bye in round 1, also drawn at random.
• 4 matches are played at the same time, each with its own judge. The semi-finals, the third place match and the final are played on the main stage.

A match

1. Spinning the ken or rock, paper, scissors decides who sets first.
2. The setter says the trick out loud (for example "juggle spike") and has one attempt to land it. If the setter misses, it is the opponent's turn: they call a trick and have one attempt to set it.
3. Once the setter lands the trick, it is set. The opponent then has 2 tries to match it.
4. If the opponent matches it, the game goes on. If they miss both tries, they get a letter: K, then E, then N.
5. The setter keeps setting as long as they land their trick.
6. The first player to spell K-E-N loses the match.

The last letter and prove it

• A player on K-E has 2 tries to match. If both miss, they choose: a third try, or "prove it".
• Prove it: the setter must land the trick again, with one attempt. If the setter lands it, the opponent takes the N and loses the match.
• If the setter misses, no letter is given and the game continues, but that player cannot call prove it again in this match.

The final: 3-3-5

• In the final, a player has 3 tries to match for the K and 3 tries for the E.
• On the last letter they have 5 tries, or 4 tries and one prove it.

02What counts as a match

• The trick must be the same as called and as done by the setter: same catches, same order, same number of flips or spins, same direction, same hand.
• Stance and style are free. Small differences in how high the tama goes do not matter.
• The judge decides if the setter landed the trick as called. If the trick landed is different from the call, it counts as a miss.
• Each attempt must start within 30 seconds of the previous one.

03Repeated and banned tricks

A trick cannot be repeated in the same match. A new trick may reuse elements that were already played, but it must be significantly changed. Adding a small element at the start or the end, or only swapping the cup, does not make it a new trick. The judge decides if two tricks are too similar.

Examples

• After border balance, flip in: "border balance, flip in, transfer, earth turn" is not allowed; "border balance, 1.5 juggle" or "border balance, 1.5 juggle ghost stunt fast" is allowed.
• After yank spike: "yank spike, transfer" or "big cup in, yank spike" is not allowed; "juggle in, yank spike", "swing in whirlwind, yank spike" or "2-tap juggle in, yank spike" is allowed.
• A series like "big cup in, yank spike", then "small cup in, yank spike", then "base cup in, yank spike" is not allowed. A series like "juggle in, yank spike", then "swing in, yank spike", then "2-tap juggle in, yank spike" is allowed.

Banned tricks

• Open-ended tricks, such as finger roll, cannot be set.
• Tricks that can happen by mistake, such as multiple flips to C-whip, cannot be set.
• To avoid tricks landed by mistake, the setter must say the trick out loud before doing it. A trick that was not called, or that is landed differently from the call, does not count.

04Time limit and ties

Matches have a 12-minute cap. At the cap, the player with fewer letters wins. If both have the same number of letters, the match goes to sudden death: players take turns setting, and the first letter loses.

05Entry 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).

06Kendama 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.

07Judges

• 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.

08Fair 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.

09Prizes

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.

10Changes 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.