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How to find a Ninja Warrior gym near you

Ninja gyms are popping up all over the place. Find one close by to kick-start your training.

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Recently, we published an article with some tips on how to become an American Ninja Warrior. One of those suggestions is to find a Ninja Warrior gym to start obstacle-specific training. We thought we’d dive into that subject a bit more to help you reach your goal.

There are literally dozens of resources online now to help fans locate a gym. Just Google “Find a Ninja Warrior gym” and oodles of options pop up. One of our favorites is from Mud Run Guide. It’s a comprehensive list that Mud Run Guide strives to keep updated as new gyms open.

They have a cool interactive map, or you can just search by state.

Location is an important part of selecting a gym, but be sure to take it a step farther than that. Becoming a Ninja doesn’t happen overnight. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in this facility. Call ahead and ask to schedule a tour. Talk about pricing and structure. Do you want lots of classes? One-on-one time with a trainer? Open gym time where you can explore techniques? What keeps you motivated to work hard?

This gym has to be important to you. So make sure it’s going to be the right fit.

Even though there is a plethora of Ninja gyms, with more opening almost daily it seems like, inevitably not everyone can have one right next door.

If you’re really dedicated to this style of training, and you’ve got the space to commit to it, you can also build your own obstacles.

Again, this information is more readily available online than ever before. Some sites are offering blueprints for classic obstacles like the Warped Wall. You can also pop onto YouTube and search for obstacle build videos, which brings up many options.

If DIY is the route that works best for you, then please also invest in safety equipment!

If you’re at the start of your Ninja journey, there’s nothing wrong with starting small. There are many workouts you can do at a regular gym, or in your home, that do not require specialized equipment and will help you build the strength to tackle obstacles when you’re ready.

Kacy Catanzaro and Brent Steffensen offered up some suggestions in this article.

Jessie Graff shared an upper body intensive workout here.

But if you’re not ready for multiple pull-ups in a row, don’t worry. Everyone has to start with the basics. Jessie lays out how to start pull-up training from scratch in this video.

Jessie Graff: Couch to Salmon Ladder (part one)

You're about to master pull ups. Jessie Graff is taking you from couch to Salmon Ladder.

Posted by American Ninja Warrior Nation on Thursday, July 7, 2016

(As a bonus, the video also includes an adorable baby Sammo Hog.)

So there you have it! If you want to start Ninja Warrior-style training, don’t be intimidated. There are options to get this practice into almost everyone’s lives.