Big History. Four Contests. One Epic Day.
Join us Saturday, June 6 at the Missouri History Museum for a UYYC that’s literally one for the history books. Falling perfectly on National Yo-Yo Day—which also happens to be the birthday of legendary Duncan Yo-Yos founder Donald Duncan—this year’s event is set to be unforgettable.
To celebrate, artist Jacob Lundak designed a killer official shirt that plays on the ancient “yo-yo as a weapon” urban legend, featuring the king of myths repping all four of our 2026 disciplines: Yo-Yo, Kendama, Chess, and Fingerboarding. Pick up this limited-edition shirt at the venue or online at FingerSk8.com.
Exclusive On-Site Drop: Check out the official event poster below! Showcasing all 22 of our amazing sponsors, this 11×17 full-color print by Jacob Lundak is strictly limited to 100 copies and available only at the contest.
🎤 Meet Your UYYC 2026 Host: Graeme Steller!
A legendary four-discipline contest deserves a legendary voice on the mic. UYYC is absolutely thrilled to announce this year’s Master of Ceremonies: Graeme Steller!
Making the trip all the way from New York, this year marks Graeme’s very first time in St. Louis—and we are ready to show him how the Midwest throws down. Graeme is a true veteran of the scene, honing his craft since 2008, and is proudly sponsored by the iconic One Drop Yo-Yo Company. He is no stranger to the biggest stages in the world, having commanded the mic as the emcee for the Pacific Northwest Regional (PNWR), the US National Yo-Yo Contest, and the World Yo-Yo Contest.
We couldn’t be more excited to have his world-class energy guiding us through every spin, flip, checkmate, and kickflip live at the Missouri History Museum. When Graeme grabs the mic, you know it’s time to make some noise!
⚖️ Meet the Judges: Sebastian Brock
UYYC 2026 sees the triumphant return of a true community icon: artist, yo-yo, and kendama player Sebastian Brock!
Renowned globally as one of the most creative and consistently flawless 1A players to ever do it, Sebastian’s competitive resume speaks for itself. He has captured both European and US National Championship titles, and at the peak of global competition, ranked as high as 2nd and 3rd in the world! A proud UYYC alumnus since 2017, Sebastian’s unique blend of creative and competitive energy is deeply woven into the very fabric of this event. Our competitors better bring their absolute best, because a legend is sitting at the judge’s table!
🤼♂️ Meet the Judges: CJ Atkinson
Get ready to step into the ring with one of the most uniquely talented minds in the community: CJ Atkinson!
CJ is a yo-yo and kendama powerhouse turned professional wrestler. Combining his two greatest passions, he founded Turnbuckle Yo-Yo Co., a brand completely inspired by the high-flying world of wrestling. CJ’s deep industry roots include invaluable behind-the-scenes work with Recess and co-designing the famous DUNK yo-yo alongside Jake Bullock.
Back for his second year in St. Louis as a UYYC judge, CJ’s massive competitive career makes him the perfect fit to serve as our Head Kendama Ladder and Freestyle Judge.
🔥 Don’t Miss Out: If you’re heading out to the contest, make sure you catch the Friday night pre-event! It’s your ultimate chance to tackle the Kendama ladders and unlock some heavy new tricks directly from CJ while he’s in town.
🛹 Meet the Judges: Coffin Nachtmahr
UYYC is ecstatic to welcome back the one and only Coffin Nachtmahr to the St. Louis area for his second consecutive year!
Coffin is the mastermind behind the boundary-pushing brand OhYesYo!, and his presence in the community is nothing short of legendary. His style and personality are just as eclectic as they are electric, seamlessly bridging the gap between the yo-yo world, high fashion, art, and music. This year, Coffin brings his unmatched eye for creativity to the panel as a judge for both our Yo-Yo and Kendama freestyle and ladder events.
If you haven’t had the privilege of crossing paths with him yet, you can get a glimpse into his incredible journey by watching [Throw], the Emmy Award-winning documentary centered around his life and passion
🎬 Head of Film Crew: Todd “YoYoFox” Rollenhagen
A world-class event needs world-class media coverage, and we’ve locked in the absolute best. UYYC is proud to welcome Todd Rollenhagen as our Head of Film Crew for the 2026 contest!
Throwing since 2020, Todd is a dedicated player constantly pushing the boundaries of his own unique style. Beyond his skills on the string, he is a massive pillar of the community—serving as the creator of Foxtails Yo-Yo String and a key organizer behind the Mile High Yo-Yo Club, the Colorado State Yo-Yo Contest, and the Rocky Mountain Regionals. This year, Todd is bringing his elite media talents to St. Louis to capture every legendary moment live for the YoYo Contest Central YouTube channel. When you see him behind the lens, make sure to show some love!
🎨 Meet the Artist: Jacob Lundak
If you love the look and feel of UYYC, you have Jacob Lundak to thank. Yo-yo player, graphic designer, father, and a proud member of the StL Yo-Yo Club, Jacob has been deeply rooted in the community since he first stepped onto the competitive stage at Moyostates at just 14 years old.
Sponsored by Featherspin Throws, Jacob is the creative mastermind behind all of last year’s incredible UYYC artwork—and he has completely outdone himself for 2026. This year’s stunning visual layout dives deep into the rich history of the sport, exploring the ancient mythos and legends of the yo-yo’s origins. From the event apparel to the official poster, Jacob’s brilliant vision is what gives UYYC its electric identity!
On top of the shirts and posters, Jacob also designed two exclusive UYYC fingerboards in a heavy-hitting collaboration with USAFBL x PLIES. You can check out all of his incredible 2026 merch designs right now over at FingerSk8.com!
The Team: Marcus Early, Assistant Event Organizer
Big events require a powerhouse crew, and Marcus Early is officially on board for UYYC 2026!
A dedicated member of the StL Yo-Yo Club since 2023, Marcus brings a wealth of passion to the organizing team—plus some serious street cred as a Nationals-level yo-yo dad. We are honored to have him step up as Assistant Event Organizer this year, working hard behind the scenes to make sure this year’s St. Louis throwdown is our smoothest, biggest, and most unforgettable contest yet!
The Visionary: Christopher Ananda, Event Director
Meet the founder behind the movement! Christopher Ananda has been championing the yo-yo community since 1999.
From starting weekly local meetups to creating Moyostates in 2006, Christopher has always been about growing the scene. In 2016, he and Blake Freeman joined forces to merge the Kansas and Missouri state contests under the UYYC banner, building a decade-long legacy of incredible events for players and families alike.
A true legend in the sport, Christopher was recently honored by the National Yo-Yo League with the National Merit Award in Las Vegas for his 20+ years of community service. UYYC 2026 is the culmination of that lifelong passion—welcome to the show!
