| Age: 32 | Started Playing: June 2012 |
| Birthday: March 8 | Favorite Trick: Dub inny whirlwind, typhoons, late kens, and candles |
| Hometown: Houston, Texas | Hobbies: Beatboxing, drumming, MTG, dancing, climbing, disc golf |
Kevin DeSoto is one of the most competitively accomplished and influential players in the history of modern kendama. A cornerstone of Sol Kendamas since the earliest days of the brand, Kevin’s career spans more than a decade of elite competition, innovation, and leadership within the global kendama community.
Hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, Kevin emerged during the formative years of American freestyle kendama and quickly became recognized as a pioneer of competitive freestyle in the United States. His approach blended technical precision, speed, and competitive intensity at a time when freestyle kendama was still finding its identity domestically. That foundation helped establish Las Vegas as one of the earliest hubs for high-level freestyle play.
Kevin was instrumental in shaping Sol Kendamas’ competitive identity. The original KD Pro Model became the first-ever professional model released by Sol Kendamas, setting the tone for player-driven innovation within the brand. Through later pro models and the iconic “Slice of Paradise” Sol Vibe design, Kevin continued to influence kendama aesthetics and performance-oriented design.
Across his career, Kevin has amassed one of the deepest competitive resumes in kendama history:
115 in person competitions attended (as of 2025)
91 total Top 8 finishes
49 podium placements, including 16 wins, 12 second-place finishes, and 21 third-place finishes
11 double podiums and 1 triple podium across separate divisions at the same event
These results place Kevin among the most consistently successful kendama competitors of all time.
Beyond competition, Kevin’s contributions extend into education, judging, event hosting, and MC work. He has represented Kendama USA, Sweets Kendamas, Kendama Co, and Sol Kendamas at camps, toy fairs (including Toy Fest West), national tours, and grassroots events. He is also a co-founder of the Ken Castle Collective, a Las Vegas based kendama team that helped foster local talent and community growth.
Kevin’s presence continues to shape kendama culture through judging major international events, hosting competitions, and co-hosting Battle at the Border. His impact is equally felt on-stage, behind the scenes, and within the communities he has helped build.
In his own words, Kevin plays kendama because it gives him a reachable goal, meaningful competition, lifelong friendships, the chance to travel the world, and the support needed to navigate life’s challenges. Kendama didn’t just shape his career, it shaped his life.
🥇 1st — Kengarden at District LV: Freestyle
Las Vegas, Nevada
🥇 1st — Kendama LV 1 Year Competition: Advanced Speed Ladder
Las Vegas, Nevada
🥈 2nd — Kendama LV 1 Year Competition: Freestyle
Las Vegas, Nevada
🥇 1st — Dunk Exchange: Advanced Speed Ladder
Las Vegas, Nevada
🥇 1st — Willy P’s Shredstock: Advanced Speed Ladder
Atlanta, Georgia
🥉 3rd — Tacoma Takeover 2: Freestyle
Tacoma, Washington
🥈 2nd — Taco Throwdown 2: Pro Open (Las Vegas, Nevada)
🏅 Honorable Mention — Grip New Year’s Video Contest (Online)
🧢 4th — Balance Kendama × Kendama USA Competition: Pro Open (Salt Lake City, Utah)
🥇 1st — Battle at the Border: Pro Open (Nashville, Tennessee)
🥈 2nd — Battle at the Border: Freestyle (Nashville, Tennessee)
🥇 1st — Learning Express Battle: Advanced Speed Ladder (St. George, Utah)
🥈 2nd — Orange Juice Open: Freestyle (Los Angeles, California)
🥇 1st — Summer Squeeze: Speed Trick B (Los Angeles, California)
🥉 3rd — Summer Squeeze: Pro Open (Los Angeles, California)
🥈 2nd — Taco Throwdown 3: Pro Open (Las Vegas, Nevada)
4th — Queen City Kendama Open: Pro Open (Cincinnati, Ohio)
5th — National Kendama Retreat: Freestyle (Big Bear, California)
4th — COTK Halloween Battle: Pro Open (Portland, Oregon)
5th — Minnesota Kendama Open: Pro Open (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
🥈 2nd — KROM Takeover LV: Freestyle
🥇 1st — Orange Juice Open: Freestyle
🥇 1st — Sakura Classic Nashville: Speed Trick B
🥉 3rd — Sakura Classic Nashville: KEN Battle
5th - Murrieta Kenfest 2017: Pro Open (Los Angeles, California)
5th - Tacoma Takeover 3: Freestyle (Tacoma, Washington)
5th - Dama in the D4: Pro Open (Wyandotte, Michigan)
5th - Dama in the D4: Freestyle (Wyandotte, Michigan)
🥈 2nd — Sakura Classic SF: Freestyle
San Francisco, California
🥉 3rd — Tacoma Takeover 4: Pro Open
Tacoma, Washington
🥉 3rd — Dama in the D5: Pro Open & Freestyle
🥇 1st — Camp Kendama: Champ of the Camp (Hudson, Wisconsin)
🥉 3rd — Asia Kendama Championship: Pro Open (Osaka, Japan)
🥈 2nd — Minnesota Kendama Open: Freestyle
🥇 1st — Orange Juice Open: Pro Open
🥇 1st — Beast of the East 5: Advanced Speed Ladder & Freestyle (New York City)
🥉 3rd — Battle at the Border: Freestyle
🌍 Top 16 — European Kendama Championship: Freestyle (Copenhagen, Denmark)
🥉 3rd — Dama to the Death: Freestyle (Orlando, Florida)
5th — Battle at the Border 5th: Freestyle (Nashville, Tennessee)
5th — Sweets Online Pro Invitational 1: Pro Open (online)
4th — Sweets Summer Series 1: Pro Open (online)
5th — Sweets Summer Series 2: Pro Open (online)
🥇 1st — Brew Battle: 7 to Spike & Freestyle (Calgary, Canada)
🥉 3rd — Throwback Kendama Open: Pro Speed Ladder (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
🥉 3rd — North American Kendama Open: Pro Open (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
🥉 3rd — Brew Battle: Pro Open & Freestyle (Calgary, Canada)
Throwback Kendama Open: Pro Speed Ladder (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
🥈 2nd — Murrieta Kendama Fest: Pro Open & Freestyle
🥈 2nd — Salt Laced City: Pro Open
5th — Battle at the Border: Freestyle (Nashville, Tennessee)
5th — Las Vegas Kendama Open: Pro Open 5th freestyle (Las Vegas, Nevada)
5th — California Kendama Cup: Pro Open (San Diego, California)
4th — VanJam 10 - 4th pro speed ladder (Vancouver, Canada)
🥉 3rd — Race to Lace: Pro Speed Ladder (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
🥉 3rd — Salt Laced City: Pro Open
5th — Tower Cup: Freestyle (Chicago, Illinois)
5th — North American Kendama Open: Pro Open (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
5th — Las Vegas Kendama Open: Pro Speed Ladder
Judging Highlights
2016 — Las Vegas Kendama Open
Pro Open Finals Judge
2017 — Battle at the Border
Freestyle Division Judge
2020 — North American Kendama Open
Freestyle Division Judge
2020 — Catch and Flow
Freestyle Judge
2021 — Catch and Flow
Freestyle Judge
2022 — Catch and Flow
Freestyle Judge
2025 — Chimera Freestyle Kendama World Championship
Freestyle Judge
MC Appearances
Battle at the Border — 2024 — Nashville, Tennessee
Las Vegas Kendama Open — 2024 — Las Vegas, Nevada
North American Kendama Open — 2024 — Minneapolis, Minnesota
Battle at the Border — 2025 — Nashville, Tennessee
North American Kendama Open — 2025 — Minneapolis, Minnesota
Las Vegas Kendama Open — 2025 — Las Vegas, Nevada
Events Hosted / Co-Hosted
Chillin n’ Grillin’ — 2015 — Las Vegas, Nevada
Chillin n’ Grillin’ 2 — 2015 — Las Vegas, Nevada
Dama at the Dojo — 2015 — Las Vegas, Nevada
Chillin n’ Grillin’ 3 — 2016 — Las Vegas, Nevada
Dama at the Dojo 2 — 2016 — Las Vegas, Nevada
KD’s B-Day Battle — 2019 — Las Vegas, Nevada
KD’s B-Day Battle — 2020 — Las Vegas, Nevada
Battle at the Border (Co-Host) — 2024 — Nashville, Tennessee
Battle at the Border (Co-Host) — 2025 — Nashville, Tennessee
Education & Camps
National Kendama Retreat — 2016 — Big Bear, California
Counselor
National Kendama Retreat — 2017 — Big Bear, California
Counselor
Camp Kendama — 2018 — Hudson, Wisconsin
Counselor