Utah teen places fourth in Kendama World Cup
Mikey Schelling, left, with his father, Craig Schelling, in Japan for the annual Kendama World Cup in July, 2015.
Mikey Schelling signs autographs at the annual Kendama World Cup in Japan in July, 2015.
Utah teen Mikey Schelling recently took fourth place in the world Kendama contest — after playing the Japanese skill toy for less than two years.
As you all know he didn’t win but 4th place in the World for a 16 year old who has only been playing for just over a…
Posted by Lion Head Kendama on Sunday, July 19, 2015
The annual Kendama World Cup took place in July and was held in Hiroshima, Japan by Global Kendamas Network (GLOKEN). While GLOKEN is an independent association not affiliated with the traditional Japanese Kendama Association, its objective is to get people all over the world to enjoy kendama and communicate with international players, according to a news release.
WHAT IS IT?
The kendama is made of a handle with three cups and a spike — also known as the ken or sword — and a ball with a hole, or tama, joined together by a piece of string. The toy requires balance and hand-eye coordination, with an objective to land different tricks.
One of the youngest contestants to ever enter the Kendama World Cup finals, Schelling, 16, impressively landed a spot in the top five with four other Americans his first time participating.
Mikey Schelling!!!#gloken #kwc2015 #kendama #??? www.GLOKEN.net
Posted by Global Kendamas Network (GLOKEN) on Sunday, July 19, 2015
“I was super super excited on doing this well,” Schelling said in a prepared statement. “I had fun, and I am proud of the top three contestants.”
Schelling has a YouTube channel where he shares his kendama moves, and the majority of his videos receive thousands of views.
He also owns a company with his father, Craig Schelling, called Lionhead Kendama, which started out as a web business and then a kiosk in Ogden’s Newgate Mall while he was a student at Snowcrest Junior High in Eden. The company now has three kiosks in Utah, one in Idaho and one in Oregon. It also offers workshops and assemblies for students in school.
Don’t know how to play? Let Mikey Schelling teach you. Visit his YouTube or meet him at the Standard-Examiner’s Block Party Friday, Aug. . The party is from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Ogden Amphitheater, located at 343 E. Historic 25th St. in Ogden.
Schelling will be on stage from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, check out the Block Party’s Facebook event.
Contact reporter Sonja Carlson at 801-625-4229 or scarlson@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter @sonjacSE and like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SonjaCarlsonSE.
