Watching “American Ninja Warrior” is sure to bring a smile to your face. This NBC show is now in its 17th season and has a large fan base that closely follows the journeys of these skilled ninja athletes. Following Vance Walker’s impressive consecutive victories in the last two seasons, the show is returning to its roots. While Mount Midoriyama is no longer part of the competition, classic obstacles like the quad steps, log grip, block run, spin cycle, and more are making a comeback to challenge a new wave of Ninjas and test the muscle memory of the seasoned veterans. Host Akbar Gbaja-Biamila mentioned, “As we honor the past, we are also looking ahead to the future.”
Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, a host on the show since 2013, admires the progress of these Ninjas who keep improving year after year. Due to their exceptional skills, “American Ninja Warrior” revamped its format this season by transforming the National Finals into a bracket-style tournament featuring side-by-side and head-to-head races. According to Gbaja-Biamila, the show has transcended being just a TV program; it has evolved into a full-fledged sport and established itself as a unifying culture. This sentiment is echoed by Gbaja-Biamila, as the sport’s popularity has grown globally, earning Ninja a spot in the modern Pentathlon at the 2028 Olympics.
Matt Iseman, who joined the show in 2010, recognizes Ninja as a welcoming space for everyone, especially individuals with a passion for athletics who may not have been drawn to traditional team sports. Iseman highlighted that many Ninjas were homeschooled and are actively involved in charitable work. These athletes have had to cultivate traits like responsibility and discipline, which directly benefit their Ninja training. Iseman expressed his excitement about being part of this community and witnessing this new generation of Ninjas evolve into admirable individuals. He emphasized the pivotal role of the earlier athletes who nurtured this community into something extraordinary. Iseman feels privileged and proud every day he spends in the host tower.
Zuri Hall, who started as a sideline reporter in 2019 and is now a host with Gbaja-Biamila and Iseman, loves American Ninja Warrior because its competitors remind her of the people she grew up around in Ohio. “I really take a lot of pride in Midwestern values that stress community, family, faith, loyalty, love, and kindness,” explained Hall. These are qualities that all Ninjas embody. “American Ninja Warrior was the first space in Hollywood for me that really felt like home,” said Hall. “To be able to come together every year with these guys and this Ninja community is such a gift.”
An outsider could question what keeps audiences coming back year after year, and the answer is easy: it’s the people. In times when turning on the news can be a scary and frustrating experience, American Ninja Warrior offers viewers and competitors a safe place to celebrate who they are and to push themselves to be better than they ever thought they could be.
American Ninja Warrior airs Monday nights at 8/7c on NBC
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