This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
Published on July 7, 2020, American Ninja Warrior has become a sensation globally, attracting hundreds of participants and a massive viewership. The obstacles used in the game are a series of physical barriers that competitors must navigate while being timed.
The obstacles contest is a series of physical barriers that an individual must navigate while being timed. Some require the competitor to run, climb, crawl, swim, jump, and balance elements with the objective of testing speed, agility, endurance, and mental disposition.
Obstacles in American Ninja Warrior ¶
Below are some of the obstacles used in American Ninja Warrior:
Rolling Barrel ¶
Competitors run across a slow spinning barrel, maintaining their balance and ensuring they get over it within the shortest time possible.
Spider Jump ¶
Competitors use a mini-trap to move across two walls, using their hands and legs to ascend the barrier, requiring stability and strength.
Tarzan Rope ¶
Competitors make their way across a bunch of ropes using their hands to make it to the next obstacle, staying at the bottom of the barrier.
Spinning Log ¶
Competitors run across a free-spinning log, with weight distribution being the key to conquering this barrier.
Devil Steps ¶
Competitors ascend 20 feet up and down the steps, requiring grip strength, making it one of the hardest barriers in the American Ninja Warrior.
Curtain Slider ¶
Competitors run and grab the silk to slide and then use the momentum to grab another silk to get to the platform.
Arm Rings ¶
Competitors grab onto two rings and then use the momentum to move the rings across the rack, with the left rack going up and the right one going down.
Salmon Ladder ¶
Competitors use upper body strength and momentum to move the bar up to five rungs, making it one of the most iconic obstacles in the American Ninja Warrior.
Spinning Wheel ¶
Competitors grab on to the wheel and hold on as the wheel turns, requiring strength and stability.
Captain's Wheel ¶
Competitors grab a bar placed before them and make an effort to reach the first wheel, rotating it until its most extended spike is locked onto the post.
Double Twister ¶
Competitors jump from a springboard to hold on the first set of hurdles and then transition to the second set of barriers, swinging and spinning at the same time.
Diamond Dash ¶
Competitors run across four diamond-shaped discs, maintaining their balance and landing on the centre of the disc to avoid a forward or backward flip.
The Hinge ¶
Competitors hold onto the board in front of them and rotate it on a 90-degree direction clockwise, then make a 180-degree jump to the next board.
Walk the Plank ¶
Competitors crawl up a see-saw board, which starts to tip gradually, and then time their jump from the board to grab a bar and slide down a track.
Quintuple Steps ¶
Competitors run across five angled podiums that are five feet wide, maintaining balance and speed.
Log Grip ¶
Competitors hold onto a log and slide through the track, with the logs having holes where the participant would grip in seasons three and four, and handholds in seasons six.
Final Obstacles in American Ninja Warrior ¶
Below are some of the final obstacles used in American Ninja Warrior:
Spring Forward ¶
Competitors move from one bar to another and then descend to the landing platform, with each bar connected to a spring at the end.
Unstable Bridge ¶
Competitors grab onto a bridge that is suspended on all four corners and use their arms to move across and jump to the next bridge suspended in the middle.
Cargo Climb ¶
Competitors climb up a cargo net, relying on the gripping power of their fingers and toes, requiring excellent cardiovascular and strength training.
Spider Climb ¶
Competitors use their feet, hands, and strength to climb up the 30 feet chute, moving upward and not forward, with a basic concept similar to a spider.
Ninjago Roll ¶
Competitors roll a 150-pound cylinder across a long curved track, promoting The Lego Ninjago Movie.
Rope Ladder ¶
Competitors climb up the cargo net, requiring strength and agility, and has been the final obstacle for every finals course in season four.
Creating American Ninja Warrior Obstacles for Kids ¶
Since American Ninja Warrior is sensational, most kids want to be ninjas, and like in the real contest, the variety of obstacles created for them should test different abilities such as agility, jumping, balancing, crawling, teamwork, strength, and jumping.
Some American Ninja Warrior obstacles you can build at home for your children include a balance beam, quintuple steps, and log grip.
