EKC 2026: Ryoga Kawamoto Becomes Double Champ at an Unforgettable Kendama Weekend
The European Kendama Championship 2026 was packed with energy, insane tricks, and an amazing community vibe. Over several days, kendama players from all over Europe and beyond came together to compete, connect, try new setups, and celebrate kendama culture.
From legendary clips and intense freestyle battles to speed ladders, brand booths, and unforgettable community moments, EKC 2026 had everything a kendama event should have.
Ryoga Kawamoto Wins Freestyle and Pro Open
One of the biggest highlights of the event was Ryoga Kawamoto. He not only won the Freestyle Division, but also took first place in the Pro Open Division, making him the official Double Champ of EKC 2026.
In the Freestyle Division, Naru placed 2nd, followed by Nonoka Kyodo in 3rd. Naru’s performance was especially impressive, as the 9-year-old kendama player showed an incredible level throughout the entire event.
Freestyle Division Results:
- Ryoga Kawamoto
- Naru
- Nonoka Kyodo
Ryoga also took the win in the Pro Open Division. Takuya finished in 2nd place, while Yasu placed 3rd.
Pro Open Division Results:
- Ryoga Kawamoto
- Takuya
- Yasu
Catch Matches and a Legendary Clip from Naru
The event kicked off on Thursday with the Catch Matches. Right from the first day, one of the most legendary clips of the weekend was captured: Naru, a 9-year-old kendama player, landed a trick that left everyone amazed.
Moments like this show what makes kendama so special. It is not only about competition, but also about creativity, courage, and sharing unforgettable moments with the community.
Freestyle Battles, Speed Ladder and Amateur Open
On the second day, the qualifications for the Top 16 Freestyle Round took place. The best players made it through to the next stage, where the final rounds were played as intense 1-vs-1 battles the following day.
Alongside the freestyle rounds, the Beginner and Intermediate Speed Ladder Competitions also took place on the second and third day. In this format, players have to land seven tricks as fast as possible. It was amazing to see so many newer players step up, compete, and show their progress on stage.
The Amateur Open Division was also part of the weekend and brought some amazing performances to the stage.
Amateur Open Results
We were especially proud to see Magdalena, one of our own athletes, take 3rd place in the Amateur Open Division.
You can check out her profile here: Welcome Edit Mag
Cloud Bounce Kid, a player from Spain, took the win in 1st place. France, a player from Romania, finished in 2nd place, with Magdalena completing the podium in 3rd.
Amateur Open Results:
- Cloud Bounce Kid — Spain
- France — Romania
- Magdalena — Czech Republic
It was a great moment for us to see Magdalena represent, perform under pressure, and land on the podium at EKC 2026.
Booths, New Shapes and Our Stand
On the second and third day, several brand booths were open, giving visitors the chance to buy new products, try different setups, and connect with brands from the scene. We also had our own booth at the event.
At our stand, we presented our newly released Ken-only PEAK shapes as well as our golden Higgs collab setup. It was great to see so many people stop by, test the new shapes, talk kendama with us, and share their feedback.
An Incredible Event with an Amazing Vibe
Overall, EKC 2026 was an incredible event with lots of people, great energy, and a positive vibe everywhere. Weekends like this show why kendama is more than just a skill toy. It brings people together, creates friendships, and gives the community moments that will be remembered for a long time.
A huge thank you to everyone who made the event possible, and to everyone who competed, judged, cheered, visited the booths, or simply enjoyed the atmosphere.
EKC 2026 was a full success — and we are already looking forward to the next kendama event.