Ninja-based athletics boom in popularity

Rosemary Gratien of the Always in Motion competition team swings on an obstacle during the 2026 World Ninja League World Championships in Greensboro, NC. Nearly 2,000 athletes from 10 countries competed in the event.

The sport of ninja originated in 1997 with the creation of Sasuke, a Japanese-based television show detailing obstacle course racing.

The sport gained notoriety in the United States when the television show American Ninja Warrior first aired in 2009. The obstacle course competition series has become a regular fixture on NBC, currently airing its 18th season.

What started as entertainment through American Ninja Warrior has progressed into a rapidly growing youth and adult sport that tests technical, speed, strength and endurance skills.

Patrick Pepin competes at the 2026 World Ninja League Championships.

The popularity boom has led to the opening of an estimated 400 dedicated ninja-inspired obstacle and training facilities in the United States.

Along with hosting camps, birthday parties, family nights and open gyms, many ninja facilities are represented by competition teams. Youth leagues and national competitions are rapidly increasing across the country while the sport continues to garner international recognition.

In 2023, the International Olympic Committee voted to replace equestrian show jumping with obstacle racing as part of the Modern Pentathlon. The multi-discipline sport will include fencing, freestyle swimming, obstacle, running and laser-pistol shooting at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Sage Larson, an 11-year-old who is a member of the competition team at Always in Motion Ninja & Parkour in Dulles, was first introduced to the sport while attending a birthday party.

While trying several other sports and activities like soccer, lacrosse, ice skating, swimming, dancing and gymnastics, ninja and obstacle course racing became her favorite.

Now in her fifth year of competing, Larson has blossomed into one of the top performers in her age division. She spends a significant portion of her summer and weekends during the school year competing in tournaments and attending camps.

Penny Chirlin competes at the 2026 World Ninja League Championships.

Larson, who will travel with her family to Ireland in August to represent the United States in the 2026 Obstacle Course Racing World Championships, enjoys the individual aspect of competing and the sport's tight-knit community.

"I like how it's different from all of the other sports, and that it is hard to get really good at it," Larson said. "Most sports are like team sports where you are trying to score, but ninja is different every time. I love the obstacles so much, and it's fun trying new obstacles."

Rick Elsbury has witnessed the growth of the sport as part owner of Always in Motion, a 20,000-square foot facility in Dulles Town Center that opened in March of 2025.

"Ninja has continued to grow because people realize it is something they can participate in, not just watch on television," Elsbury said.

"Ninja combines strength, agility, problem-solving and perseverance in a way that feels exciting and different from many traditional sports," Elsbury continued. "It also appeals to a wide range of ages and abilities, and the supportive community keeps athletes coming back as they build confidence and achieve things they once thought were impossible."

Always in Motion recently won three categories (Family Entertainment, Fitness Center/Gym and Kids Activity/Party Place) in the Loudoun Times-Mirror's Best of Loudoun awards. It was also a finalist in the Best Camp/Summer Program category.

Elsbury noted that Always in Motion will have 50 to 60 kids in attendance per day during summer camp. The facility is also home to a competition team that includes more than 30 athletes.

Always in Motion is a member of the World Ninja League, which organizes competitions nearly every weekend during the league season that spans from late August through March. Always in Motion is one of multiple gyms in the Northeast region that hosts competitions.

"I would like to see ninja continue developing into a more widely recognized sport, with clearer pathways for athletes to progress from recreational participation to competitive opportunities at the local, national and international levels ... Ultimately, I want young athletes to be able to pursue ninja as far as their talent, commitment and ambition can take them," Elsbury said.

Sage Larson competes at the 2026 World Ninja League Championships.