Kendama is an ancient Japanese hand-eye coordination trainer. Professional snowboarders, skateboarders, BMX riders, mountain bikers, & more from around the world have realized over the last 10 years that playing kendama significantly enhances their ability to rip.
Beyond being a safe downtime hobby for the adrenaline junkie, kendama increases balance, focus, and attention to detail. Some say playing with a kendama has the ability to slow down time in your brain, which can be helpful before doing something at high speeds with high risk.
As professional BMX rider Reed Stark always says, "I'll never jump off a roof before knowing if my brain is moving at the right speed." Reed can be seen playing his kendama for hours before any competition. It gets him off his phone, keeps his mind clear, and he can play it while others are competing.