For several weeks now - finally - one of the popular Ninja Warrior formats has been running again. In this show, the Allstars - familiar faces from the past 5 seasons of Ninja Warrior Germany compete against each other in a direct duel. This time, it's not just against the course - the opponents meet in the parallel double course. After 4 of the 5 preliminary rounds, some top favorites such as Max Sprenger, Kim Marschner, the Ninja dream couple Oli Edelmann and Stefanie Noppinger, Sladjan "Sladi" Djulabic, the "young guns" Leon Wismann and "Ninja chick" Lasse von Freier have entered the final. The surprising elimination hit, among others, "the" Ninja Couple Arleen Schüssler and Benedikt Sigmund, but also strong athletes like René Casselly, Alexander Wurm, Silke Sollfrank and Andi Wöhle had to surrender to the duel against man and obstacle.
Fascination Ninja Warrior
Probably no one can say for sure what it is that keeps enthralling so many people year after year, season after season. Even die-hard sports fans are fascinated and tune in again and again. Maybe it's the sometimes frightening obstacles? Athletes dangling at their fingertips, unerringly "hopping" from bar to bar at dizzying heights with the help of a wobbly ring - while "normal" people might be able to do a few pull-ups, but certainly not a circus-like precision jump - that, too, naturally exerts its appeal. And also that all the athletes on Ninja Warrior, without exception, are "just normal people" despite their sometimes incredible athletic abilities.
Ninja Warrior unites people of different ages and professions. Police officers, sports soldiers, physiotherapists are just as much among the athletes as teachers, educators and computer scientists. One thing all the ninjas have in common, however, is that they lack the star airs and graces that we are used to seeing in conventional competitions among "commercial" top athletes. Ninja Warrior showed - until the current "Allstars format" - mainly the competition against themselves. In the course, the athletes competed primarily against themselves. One more crazy jump - no matter if all the muscles are burning and the sweaty hands are already slipping off the bar!
This battle, above all against one's own physical as well as mental limits, remains the same in the new "Allstars" format. Despite the direct competition against an opponent, the main thing for the athletes is to remain focused and to overcome the pitfalls of the course. A tiny mistake is enough and even real ninja superstars can fail. And - this is obvious in every show - they fail mainly against themselves. The great emotions, the joy when an athlete presses the buzzer for the first time, but also the frustration when a tiny glitch leads to an early exit are more authentic than in any other sporting competition. And this battle against one's own psyche, against one's own limits, can probably be understood by every viewer. Especially in Corona times, we all reach our limits again and again, go beyond them - and like every human being, we fail at these limits just as the athletes sometimes fail on the course!
How does a Ninja train in times of Corona?
Some of the athletes commented on this in the show! The tenor among many: It's difficult. Even top athletes develop a Corona belly over the seemingly endless pandemic period! No wonder - all the usual training opportunities fall away. Ninja Warrior training gyms have been closed for months, as have gyms, climbing gyms, swimming gyms, gymnasiums, and generally any indoor sporting activity!
While some participants have entered the Ninja sport themselves as providers and can thus naturally train in their own training hall, which is closed to the public, the bulk of the athletes naturally have to cope with these adverse conditions.
Even though there are many obstacles in the way of Ninja Warriors - and anyone else who is also passionate about the sport and wants to start training - there are many ways to train.
What skills does a Ninja Warrior need?
If you want to be successful in the parcour, you actually need a variety of skills.
Strength and strength endurance play an important role, but even if both are present in excess, that does not guarantee success.
Grip strength very often makes the difference between success and defeat. Balance and coordination should also not be underestimated.
Climbers and parcour athletes almost traditionally have the edge in the Ninja course. No wonder - pronounced grip strength, a well-trained upper body and insane coordination are a real advantage in the fight against the ninja course.
Train outdoors
Especially with the rising temperatures and many luscious hours of sunshine, training is getting a little easier again - also in view of the upcoming 6th season of Ninja Warrior Germany in the fall. Many gyms are focusing on outdoor offerings - especially popular here are exactly the training equipment that really scores with Ninja training.
Functional fitness on rigs & racks or entire outdoor fitness containers offer fun and variety in the open air. Functional Training trains large muscle groups and complex muscle chains in the entire body instead of isolated muscles. By practicing specific movement sequences, the body's memory is activated. The holistic training also addresses coordination, reaction and balance and trains the mind. Functional Training is definitely more than "dull" strength training, but offers all exercisers varied, challenging full-body training in a class of its own!
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Editorial fitnessmarkt.de (DG)
Photo credit: #89414539 Prostock-studio / stock.adobe.com
Published on: 26 April 2021