The new Ninja Warrior 2020 season has already been running for 5 weeks. This week, the preliminary rounds will come to an end, and the best athletes will then compete against each other in the semifinals.
Of course, there are familiar faces from previous years, but in the preliminary rounds, some newcomers could also convince with strong, athletic performances. This year's show was filmed - like so many things - under the difficult conditions of the Corona pandemic. Keeping to the distance rules is sometimes visibly difficult for participants and presenters alike. No wonder - like hardly any other sport, the Ninja Warriors are one big family.
This year, too, the spectators can expect - in addition to the impressive athletic performances - a lot of heart and great emotions. Sometimes there are only seconds between success and defeat. Find out what skills are needed in the Ninja course in our guide.
Obstacles in Ninja Warrior
Loyal fans will recognize some familiar obstacles in the new season. But as with every new season, there are also some new obstacles to discover in 2020.
Whereas in American formats - such as the Titan Games with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - brute strength is often the deciding factor between victory and defeat, the obstacles on Ninja Warrior require a combination of different athletic skills. Light, fast athletes often have advantages here over pure strength athletes.
In the preliminary rounds, the athletes compete on very similar obstacles. Again, there are always small variations built into the courses, but the basic requirements are of course similar.
In the arrow jump, the athletes have to jump over several platforms to a rope and use it to overcome a slight incline.
After that, an unstable hanging exercise (in various designs) leads to the cargo net. Over obstacles like the block run 2.0 or the dominoes it goes on to exercises like the springs or the basketball baskets. New this year are the dangling boards. The tunnel jump 2.0 demanded a lot from many athletes.
On the other hand, most athletes are well prepared for obstacles such as the Sky Ladder or the Devil's Steps.
At the end of the preliminary round, the wall or the mega-wall awaits, at the end of which the buzzer concludes the round.
Preparation for the show: Ninja Warrior training halls in trend
What skills are needed in the parcour?
Shimmy, jump, run, swing - the creative obstacles in the Ninja Warrior Parcour often require a combination of skills.
Most obviously, of course, a trained upper body and, above all, a lot of strength in the arms and back are required.
A good torso stability, often summarized under"Core Strength", enables the holding of different positions. For the jumps, a good kick-off speed, good quickness and a high explosive power are conducive . The approaches to the jumps are often very short, with only a few steps the athletes have to achieve a high acceleration and then jump off with the necessary quickness or explosive power.
For the landings, agility, body tension and balance are often crucial. Some obstacles can only be reached by jumping, and athletes must then catch and hold their weight with their arms. Here, grip strength, which is especially trained in climbing, is essential.
Some jumps have to be performed using jumping cloths or trampolines - balance, body tension and coordination are extremely important for success here.
To succeed on the Ninja Warrior course, a wide range of athletic skills is required.
Building a foundation with Functional Training
A good foundation for training - especially to compete in the Ninja course - is therefore Functional Training. Here, the basic skills for the course are created. In Functional Training, complex movement sequences are trained, often supported by unstable weights that activate the important, deep-lying support and postural muscles.
Balance, coordination, reaction, explosive and quick strength are also part of Functional Training. The varied workout can be trained alone or in a group and creates a first, sensible basis for all those who are looking forward to conquering the Ninja course and maybe conquering Mount Midoriyama at the end!
Conclusion
The obstacles in the Ninja Warrior course demand a variety of athletic skills from athletes. You can acquire good basics with functional training. Then you can start training the specific skills needed to conquer the course at Ninja Warrior Germany.
Find your suitable functional training equipment at an unbeatable price now!
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Editors fitnessmarkt.de (DG)
Photo credit: #297973710 Prostock-studio / stock.adobe.com
Published on: 3 November 2020