10 Reasons to Watch American Ninja Warrior
Now starting its seventh season on United States television, the show American Ninja Warrior began on G4 and has moved to NBC's primetime channel. Contestants compete in a series of obstacles hoping to advance through city finals, then more difficult Stages 2 and 3, and finally Mt. Midoriyama.
Now on to the list!
1. Great Fitness Role Models
One thing about this show, everyone who participates is in great shape. You have to be to compete. Any extra body weight will hurt you. From gymnastics to parkour, to rock climbing - every athlete has to have a great combination of strength, balance, and endurance.
If you're not motivated to get up off the couch and exercise, you're probably in the minority.
2. Great Backstories
The show does a really nice job of highlighting its top competitors and letting everyone into their lives. With great nicknames like The Professor, The Weatherman, and The Spartan to name a few, you really get to connect with the contestants.
Here are some notable competitors from 2013 according to Wiki:
Tennessee Titans safety Jordan Babineaux, freerunners from Jump City: Seattle Brian Orosco, Michael "Frosti" Zernow, David "Flip" Rodriguez, Drew Drechsel, Jake Smith and Brent Steffensen (the first American to complete stage 2). His run ended on stage 3 the "Ultimate Cliffhanger" obstacle, Sasuke (TV series) & ANW veteran David Campbell, stunt-woman Jessie Graff (first woman in ANW history to make it to a regional finals [8]), personal trainer/former American Gladiator "Venom" Beth Horn, world champion freerunner Tim "Livewire" Shieff, Harlem Globetrotter William "Bull" Bullard, "Artix" (a.k.a. Adam Bohn) from the video game studio Artix Entertainment, Olympic Gold Medalist runners Dee Dee Trotter and Lauryn Williams, Olympic Silver Medalist heptathlon athlete Hyleas Fountain, 7th grade English teacher Colby Frontiero, Emergency Room physician Noah Kaufman, MD who reduced another competitor's dislocated shoulder [9] (Alan Connealy,) former National Guardsman & ANW veteran Ryan Stratis, professional MMA fighter Jason Soares, Olympic silver medalist gymnast Terin Humphrey, former professional snowboarder Graham Watanabe, professional UFC MMA fighter and The Ultimate Fighter season 14 winner John Dodson, and former NFL player Shawne Merriman.
3. Epic Crashes
Much like Wipeout, when contestants exit the course, they can go out rough. This year we've seen a few dislocated shoulders, an achilles injury, and one guy smashing his face into the warped wall.
The Best 2012 ANW Wipeouts
- The Best 2012 Wipeouts | American Ninja Warrior - YouTube
American Ninja Warrior 2012 featured some of the most wicked wipeouts ever to happen on the course. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/ANWsub About American Ninja Warr...
4. Age is Only a Number
Grandpa ninjas!! The show has featured multiple contestants older than fifty years of age and they are all in phenomenal shape. Talk about being a great role model for a whole generation of people.
The oldest to complete the qualifying course was is Kevin Antoinne at 53 years old. See another inspiring run from older competitor Michael Moore below.
Michael Moore's 2014 Qualifying Run
- Michael Moore at the 2014 Dallas Qualifiers | American Ninja Warrior - YouTube
Fifty-six year old Michael Moore is seeking to become the oldest competitor ever to complete the course. Only the infamous Warped Wall stands in his way! SUB...
5. The Women Have Now Come to Play
In the first five seasons, no woman had completed the city qualifying course. So far, in 2014, three women have tackled the course. Kacy Catanzaro, who is only 5' tall, became the first to complete the course in the Dallas Qualifying. Michelle Warnky and Meagan Martin would follow in subsequent episodes.
Catanzaro followed up her six event qualifying run by conquering the ten-event city finals in the July 14th episode on a course where only a six of twenty-nine male contestants could finish.
What's really impressive for five-foot-tall Catanzaro is that the warped wall obstacle is 14 feet to the top.
Meagan Martin 2014 Denver Qualifying
- Meagan Martin at the 2014 Denver Qualifiers | American Ninja Warrior - YouTube
Rookie phenom Meagan Martin uses her superior rock climbing skills to become the third woman ever to complete the ANW Qualifying course. SUBSCRIBE: http://bi...
6. The Top Athletes are Absolute Freaks
To see what some of these guys can accomplish is amazing. A lot of them are parkour specialists, others are just incredible rock climbers. Just watch the first video below by Ethan Swanson to see a great example, especially around the fifty second mark.
Ethan Swanson 2013 Submission Video
- American Ninja Warrior 2013 Submission - YouTube
My submission video for American Ninja Warrior 2013. I had to use the G4 Music according to the submission rules. Thanks for all of the great comments everyo...
Kevin Bull at the Venice City Finals
- Kevin Bull at the 2014 Venice City Finals | American Ninja Warrior - YouTube
Rookie walk-on Kevin Bull uses clever tactics to conquer Cannonball Alley and become the first ANW competitor to finish the course. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/...
7. Costumed Heroes
Every season, people come up with some great outfits to run the course in. So far this season, we've had a gold disco suit, a guy competing in a professor's outfit, and the spartan.
The Best 2012 ANW Costumes
- The Best 2012 Costumes | American Ninja Warrior - YouTube
See the most creative costumes our contestants wore on American Ninja Warrior 2012. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/ANWsub About American Ninja Warrior: NBC and Esq...
8. Schadenfreude
scha·den·freu·de
noun, often capitalized \ˈshä-dən-ˌfrȯi-də\
: a feeling of enjoyment that comes from seeing or hearing about the troubles of other people
Admit it, you want to see someone crash and burn. As much as you want to get behind some of the competitors, there are others where you're just like, "man, I can't wait to see this fall."
9. National Pride
So far, only six men have completed Mt. Midoriyama and only two are American. If anything, to give the contestants some more support should help the Americans take the lead.
- Meet The 6 People Who Have Actually Completed The Ninja Warrior Course
So the grand finale of Australian Ninja Warrior was a bit of a bust hey. If it makes you feel better, the course has only ever been successfully completed 7 times in 31 seasons, so the chances of crowning a winner were always looking pretty grim. The
10. Every Year, Someone Seems to Go Further
The bar seems to get pushed a little further each year, not only for the women, but for the men. Sooner of later, an American will join the three Japanese men who have completed the course.
Below are the 2012, 2013 Finals, and a clip from 2014's USA vs. the World. Should be interesting to see the 2015 ones later this Summer.
Eventually, someone's going to make it. It should be a great moment that you'll want to see.
2014 USA vs. The World - Stage 3
- Brian Arnold at Stage 3 of American Ninja Warrior USA vs. The World 2014 | American Ninja Warrior -
Brian Arnold makes it look easy and becomes the first American ever to complete Stage 3 of Mt. Midoriyama. Watch more from Esquire Network: http://bit.ly/1pZ...
2013 Finals - Brian Arnold
- Brian Arnold at the National Finals Stage 3 | American Ninja Warrior - YouTube
Brian Arnold is set to make American Ninja Warrior history as he takes on Stage 3 of the National Finals in Las Vegas. Find out how he fares on the Roulette ...
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