Contest rules
Rules
Twin Rivers Yo-Yo & Kendama Jam 2026 · Sat, Nov 28, 2026 · Kansas City, MO
Contest rules
Contest Ruleset
Yo-yo and kendama divisions are judged separately, each against the same toy. Freestyles use a typical three-part judging sheet, Kendama Freestyle uses its own criteria, the ladders are scored by the tricks you land, and Star Duels are decided by the audience.
Freestyle Format
- Routine lengths are listed with each division on the Register page.
- Your routine starts with the music and ends when the music stops.
- Music must be suitable for all ages. No explicit lyrics.
Trick Ladders
- Judges call tricks in order, from easier to harder.
- You get three tries per trick.
- Land the trick to move up. Miss every try and your run ends.
- Ties are broken by a sudden-death trick.
Duo
- Both players stay on stage for the whole routine.
- Any mix of toys: two yo-yos, two kendamas, or one of each.
Safety
- Look before you throw. Keep every trick inside the stage area.
- Warm up only in the practice area.
Judging & Conduct
- Judge decisions are final, and the audience poll is final for Star Duels.
- Respectful conduct is required. Unsportsmanlike behavior may mean disqualification.
These rules can change before registration opens. Questions? Email contest@example.org.
Judging
How Freestyles Are Judged
Each judge scores three categories for every freestyle, comparing you only with players of the same toy. Scores are averaged across the panel.
Difficulty
- How hard the tricks are, and how many different kinds you show.
- Harder combinations and smooth transitions score higher than repeats.
Execution
- Clean catches, control, and recoveries.
- Drops and unplanned stops cost points. Pick it up and keep going.
Performance
- Use of the stage and connection with the audience.
- Musicality: hitting the beats and changes in your song.
- Construction: how the routine fits together from start to finish.
The Kendama Freestyle criteria and points are this demo's own, not any organization's official rules.
Divisions
How Each Division Works
Yo-Yo Trick Ladder
Called tricks from easier to harder. Land each one within your tries to move up the ladder.
- Trick ladder · 8 tricks · 3 tries per trick
Trick list · 3 tries per trick
- Sleeper
- Breakaway
- Trapeze
- Man on the Flying Trapeze
- Double or Nothing
- Brain Twister
- Split the Atom
- Kwyjibo
Kendama Freestyle
A panel of judges scores each routine on set criteria.
- Panel judged · 3 judging criteria · 100 points
- 90-sec freestyle
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 40 |
| Execution | 30 |
| Flow & style | 30 |
| Total | 100 |
Kendama Trick Ladder
Called tricks from easier to harder. Land each one within your tries to move up the ladder.
- Trick ladder · 10 tricks · 3 tries per trick
Trick list · 3 tries per trick
- Big Cup
- Small Cup
- Base Cup
- Spike
- Around Japan
- Around the World
- Lighthouse
- Earth Turn
- Bird
- Lunar
Duo
A routine of your own tricks, judged as a whole.
- Freestyle
- Duo · 2 players · entry fee per duo
- 2-min routine
Star Duels
Head-to-head battles. Win a battle to move on to the next round.
- Bracket · single elimination battles · audience vote · one-minute routines · 3rd place by vote totals
- Winners picked by the audience: YouTube chat poll on the stream
- One-minute routines, head to head.
- Music is random. You hear it when the crowd does.
- Wait off stage until your turn is called.
- You can't repeat the same routine twice. Repeating a routine is an instant disqualification.