Spinning the Beigoma

Let’s practice with the Beigoma.
It could be a bit difficult in the beginning, but with a bit of training you will soon be able to do it well.


* Winding the string on the Beigoma

The Beigoma is a bit more difficult to wind than other Komas.
Even adults need some time to learn how to wind it correctly.
It is not possible to spin the Beigoma without winding it first, but once you can wind it, you will also be able to spin it well.


1. Press the fringes of the string end onto the surface of the Beigoma.
(so that the fringe parts stick out a bit )



2. Wind the string counterclockwise around the Beigoma once.


3. Continue to wind around the knots, but now the important point is to wind the next two turns rather tight.
(* But please be careful: The Beigoma has to be wound counterclockwise, whereas the Tetsuwa-goma for example, which is explained on a different page, must be wound clockwise.)


4. Once you came until here, please continue to wind with normal strength.


5. Once completed hold the Beigoma as shown in the picture.

The wrong position of the string, as shown in the pictures below, can easily become the reason for failure.
Please try to adjust to the right position.



This is the correct position of the string.
Please be careful.



Watch how to wind the string in the video.


* Now let’s try to spin the Beigoma

To right away spin it in the Bey-toko is too big a hurdle, let’s first just spin it on the floor where there is not much explanation needed.

Just throw straight and pull back straight, and if the string is wound well it should spin alright.

At this point I would like to explain again, that the way to hold the Beigoma is different than holding a Tetsuwa-goma, which is explained on a different page.
The right way to hold the Beigoma …


… is like this.


Watch how to throw in the video.

* Placing the Beigoma on the Bey-toko

Once you succeed in doing this well, you have practically mastered the Beigoma.

2. Start position like in the picture

Main points
* stand with your left shoulder forward
* body posture is very low
* put the right foot forward
* look at the Bey-toko


2. Keep the Beigoma horizontal and throw it into the Bey-toko.

3. Pull at the right moment

4. Once the Beigoma goes into the Bey-toko you have succeeded.


Watch in the video how to spin the Beigoma in the Bey-toko.


* Let’s try to play with the Beigoma

When a match begins, one may say "Fight" or "Ready … Go!" and that would be in Japanese "yo-i, hazime!" or "isse-no-de" I think.
But for Beigoma contests in Japan one shouts "chi-chi no chi ! " This is probably a special Beigoma term and normally a Japanese person would not understand that.
I am sorry, but I really don’t know where it comes from.


* Winning or losing

1. All contestants throw their Beigoma on the last syllable of "Chi-chi no chi ! ".
(Those who cannot get their Koma into the Bey-toko drop out from the contest.)

2. Once the Beigoma got into the Bey-toko arena the contest begins.
But from now on you have to leave the outcome to the Beigoma and nobody is allowed to touch them.

3. The player whose Beigoma keeps spinning longest wins.
If your Beigoma is pushed out from the arena you lost.

4. End of contest



* Defeat, when a Beigoma gets out of the Bey-toko ring.
* One Bey-toko can be used by any number of players,
but too many is not good. In my experience up to 3 players is about right.