Kendama Kingdom: BV's First-Ever Kendama Tournament

BV Newsroom

By Zoe Darby

Fair Oaks, CA - May 5, 2026

Kendama has taken Bella Vista by storm, with students in the hallways constantly showing each other tricks and the establishment of a whole club dedicated to kendama. First a trend in the late 2000s and early 2010s, kendama has experienced an unprecedented resurgence, especially on our campus. 

The toy itself originated from Japan. Ken means sword and tama (dama) means ball. It is a traditional Japanese skill toy, but has more recently become a competitive hobby. Tournaments are held around the world, with the annual Kendama World Cup taking place in Hatsukaishi City, Hiroshima. 

On Thursday, April 30th, from 3:00pm to 8:00pm, Bella Vista had its first kendama tournament. Players grouped in the atrium, practicing kendama tricks and watching others compete. Music and cheering filled the air, with snacks and pizza provided as well. The tournament was divided into three categories: beginner, intermediate, and freestyle. Categories are defined by certain tricks, going down by skill level. During the beginner and intermediate portion, players raced through a list of 10 tricks. The player with the fastest completion of the list won. The freestyle section was played with two people facing off. Each player got 45 seconds to run through any tricks they wanted. The player who evoked the best reaction from the crowd was the winner.  

Members practice while waiting for freestyle competitions to begin

This tournament would never have started if it weren’t for Mr. Hovis, BV’s kendama club advisor, wrestling coach, instructional assistant, and Link Crew coordinator. “I first encountered kendama when I was a kid, and there was a group of people who came to my school and were showing off kendama…my mom ended up getting me a kendama at a garage sale.” 

After forgetting about it for years, Mr. Hovis decided to bring his kendama to Bella Vista one day. “Another kid had brought his when he was hurt. I started bringing mine every day, and he started bringing his too. One day I was asked to be a club advisor. It all started with a piece of graph paper and a couple names, and we’ve blossomed into something beautiful.” The club continued to gain members when members of the wrestling team joined the fun.

Junior Michael Cofran, a wrestling team member, poses with his kendama

The kendama club president, senior Will Victorin, found a kendama while thrifting at the bins. He describes it as “a fun game, good to pass the time and play with friends”. 

Mr. Hovis agrees that kendama is a great game for kids. “It lets them look forward to something instead of just mindlessly doomscrolling or playing video games. Having goals to set for yourself and being able to push through those hard times and learn resilience is so crucial. This toy provides all of that.”

Club president Will Victorin during his freestyle

But kendama isn’t just for students! Ms. Lopes, a band director and music teacher at Bella Vista, was also at the tournament. “I’m here because Mr. Hovis is a homie, and he taught me everything I know. He’s a really good coach. I’m here to have a good time and get better at kendama.” Ms. Lopes adds, “If you haven’t tried playing with a kendama, you definitely should. It’s addicting.” 

The kendama club hasn’t just been beneficial for students, it’s also been beneficial for Mr. Hovis himself. “The kendama club has lit a fire in me like never before. I’ve been playing every day for eight months straight now, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop.” 

Hopefully, Bella Vista has many more kendama tournaments to look forward to. Perhaps you should give it a try! It looks like you won’t just have fun, you’ll also find a congenial and exciting community!