Since the early 2010s, kendama in North America has grown from a niche skill toy scene into a thriving global culture. Few people have contributed to that growth as consistently and intentionally as Chad Covington, co-founder of Sol Kendamas, creator and host of Battle at the Border, the new owner of Kendama Co, a sponsored kendama player, freestyle judge, and educator.
Through hosting competitions, teaching kendama to new people at festivals, doing demos as a special guest across events in Japan, and documenting progression online, Chad has helped define what it means to grow kendama through community-first leadership.
Chad’s kendama journey is rooted in creation, community, and connection. As his dedication to the craft deepened, so did his desire to contribute something meaningful to the scene. That drive led to the creation of Sol Kendamas in 2014, a brand built around spreading positivity, connecting with artists, and design that with intention to further progress kendama as a whole.
In 2025, Chad expanded his work by becoming the owner of Kendama Co, continuing his commitment to shaping the industry from both a creative and historic background. These roles allow Chad to further support players who are dedicated to the game, events that grow the community, and support educators while actively working to make kendama more accessible to new audiences.
Chad’s approach has primarily been focused on the longevity of kendama through building brands, hosting events, attending events, sharing media online to promote kendama and inspire others, and being a part of the community in as many aspects as possible.
In 2012, Chad launched Battle at the Border (BATB), which has since become the longest-running annual kendama event in North America. What began as a fun weekend with a few kendama players in a garage in Clarksville, TN evolved into one of the largest annual gathering of kendama players from across the world centered on connection, creativity, and shared experience.
BATB is designed not only for competitors but for players of all levels. Battle welcomes first-time attendees, veterans, and the most iconic brands in the game. The event emphasizes meeting new people, supporting progression, and leaving inspired to create more within kendama.
By hosting BATB year after year, Chad has helped foster real-world relationships in a scene that increasingly exists online, proving the continued importance of in-person events in kendama culture.
Chad’s competitive career spans across many mediums of play. Online edit contests in early 2010's, in-person team events as a Kendama Co sponsor, and a competitor in every top level Pro Open and Freestyle competition across the world. Chad has a handful of podium finishes at events over multiple eras of kendama.
Notable achievements include:
Multiple 1st-place freestyle wins at UYYC Kendama
Podium finishes at Dama Dreams, Park Dama, Sakura Classic Nashville, and more
Early success in pro-level online edit competitions, helping define an emerging competitive format
This long-term competitive presence gives Chad a rare perspective, one that bridges early online contests with today’s live, international kendama scene.
In addition to competing, Chad is widely respected as a freestyle judge, having judged some of the most influential kendama events in the world:
European Kendama Championship (EKC) — Utrecht, Netherlands
Catch & Flow — Tokyo, Japan
Brew Battle — Calgary, Canada
Orange Juice Open — Los Angeles, California
Minnesota Kendama Open (MKO) — Minneapolis, Minnesota
Judging internationally has allowed Chad to witness firsthand how kendama evolves across cultures. These experiences continue to inform how he approaches event hosting, teaching, and brand direction for the future growth of kendama.
One of Chad’s most lasting contributions to kendama has been his dedication to public teaching and performance. Over several years, he has performed kendama demos and taught beginners at Japan Festivals and cultural events across the Southeast United States, including:
Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival
Memphis Japan Festival
Culture Festivals in Jackson, Mississippi, Knoxville, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia
At these festivals, Chad introduces kendama to thousands of people, many encountering it for the very first time. His teaching style focuses on approachability: encouraging play, celebrating first successes, and connecting kendama to personal expression. These festivals and events are the perfect place to introduce kendama, because the majority of attendees are already interested in Japanese culture, or are open to learning something new. 
Chad believes kendama grows most effectively through human connection and in-person interactions. His philosophy includes:
Bringing a kendama everywhere
Encouraging those who are interested to give it a try
Helping beginners land their first spike
Sharing personal experiences and progression
Documenting growth through Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok
Hosting local jams focused on fun over competition
Supporting brands and players actively teaching kendama
This mindset has helped countless players feel welcomed into the community and encouraged others to begin teaching and promoting kendama themselves.
In 2024, Sol Kendamas received the Pop Culture Impact Award at The BIRLIES during NAKO in Minneapolis. The award recognized the brand’s role in shaping kendama’s cultural presence beyond competition through design, education, and community engagement.
For Chad, the recognition validated years of behind-the-scenes work aimed at making kendama feel inviting, expressive, and meaningful.
Outside of kendama, Chad finds inspiration through being active and exploring other creative outlets. His interests include hiking, photography, running, lifting weights, making coffee, road trips, collecting Kentucky vintage, and studying Japanese.
He previously worked as a barista at Chocolate Holler in Lexington, Kentucky, which was an experience that reinforced his appreciation for community, leadership, and mastering a craft. In 2018, Chad graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture, a background that continues to influence how he designs products, systems, spaces, and experiences within kendama.
At its core, Chad’s work is about showing what’s possible. By hosting events, teaching publicly, judging internationally, and building brands, he hopes to inspire others to contribute in their own way, whether that is running local jams, teaching beginners, organizing events, or sharing different media of kendama online.
Kendama grows strongest when more people choose to create.
Through Sol Kendamas, Battle at the Border, and continued education efforts, Chad Covington remains committed to spreading positivity, fun, and connection one spike, one event, and one friendship at a time.
