Battle at the Border
2025 Competition Date TBD
Battle at the Border’s name was a product of its geographic, the border of Tennesee and Kentucky. It has covered a wide variety of competitive formats over the years and was one the earliest innovators of competitive freestyle. It’s wholesome and energizing atmosphere attracts a wide audience, and has been known to make large announcements about players and products in the industry as an added bonus to its attendees. Not only has it become one of the most anticipated annual events, it also holds a place in kendama history as the longest running US competition.
Est. 2012
Competition Status: Active
2024
Location: Nashville, TN
Venue: Rocketown Main Building
Host(s): Chad Covington, Sol Kendamas
Am Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Ethan Finger
2nd - Bailey Walden
3rd - Reed Fisher
Freestyle (Single Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Nonoka Kyodo
2nd - Zack Gallagher
3rd - Kelvin Wong
Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Alex Mitchell
2nd - Hiroto “Motty” Motohashi
3rd - Johnny Kress
2023
Location: Nashville, TN
Venue: Rocketown Main Building
Host(s): Chad Covington, Sol Kendamas
Am Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - George Salinas
2nd - Jaret Black
3rd - Juwan Shields
Freestyle (Single Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Alex Mitchell
2nd - Zack Gallagher
3rd - Zach Magnuson
Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Zack Gallagher
2nd - Edwin Tickner
3rd - Jarod Porter
2022
Location: Nashville, TN
Venue: Rocketown Main Building
Host(s): Chad Covington, Sol Kendamas
Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Liam Rauter
2nd - Alex Mitchell
3rd - Zack Gallagher
Freestyle (Single Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Teodore Fiorina
2nd - Zach Magnuson
3rd - Logan Tosta
Am Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Jan Cantuba
2nd - Nolan Reeves
3rd - Dylan Marr
2021
Location: Online, streamed from Sweets Studio
Platform(s): Twitch, Zoom
Host(s): Chad Covington, Matthew Jorgenson, Sol Kendamas, Sweets Kendamas
Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Liam Rauter
2nd - Nick Gallagher
3rd - Edwin Tickner
2020
Location: Nashville, TN
Venue: Rocketown Main Building
Host(s): Chad Covington, Sol Kendamas
Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Alex Mitchell
2nd - Dylan Westmoreland
3rd - Jacob Trebil
Open (Single Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Eli Ingrum
2nd - Bradley DeDeckere
3rd (tie) - Dan Lambert
3rd (tie) - Owen Jensen
Freestyle (Single Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Logan Tosta
2nd - Liam Rauter
3rd - Dylan Westmoreland
2019
Location: Nashville, TN
Venue: Rocketown Main Building
Host(s): Chad Covington, Sol Kendamas
Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Liam Rauter
2nd - George Marshall
3rd - Zach Magnuson
4th - Jacob Trebil
Tag Team Freestyle (Single Elimination)
1st - Liam Rauter, Alex Mitchell
2nd - Adrian Esteban, Lyndon Whalen
3rd - Kevin DeSoto, Zach Magnuson
2018
Location: Nashville, TN
Venue: Foundry
Host(s): Chad Covington, Sol Kendamas
Open (Double Elimination)
Bracket
1st - Bonz Atron
2nd - Liam Rauter
3rd - Jake Fischer
Freestyle (Single Elimination)
1st - Lukas Funk
2nd - Parker Johnson
3rd - Austin Donovan
4th - Max Norcross
2013
Location: Elkton, KY
Venue: Todd County Central High School
Host(s): Kendama Co, Chad Covington
Speed Ladder (Advanced Division)
1st - William Penniman