Have you ever had a driving desire to become a ninja?
If so, there’s a place in Eden Prairie that can help you get there. In fact, they not only train budding ninjas, but hold competitions for them, as well.
Obstacle Academy held a Ninja Sport Championship qualifier on Jan. 29. More than 80 athletes put their ninja skills to the test during the competition.
Described as a “premier ninja warrior and obstacle course training gym,” Obstacle Academy opened in Edina in 2016 before moving to Eden Prairie in 2020.
More ninja gyms have opened in recent years with ninja becoming more popular. Gym manager and ninja team coach Sara Heesen credits the NBC show “American Ninja Warrior” for that popularity.
“The show’s been around 15 years, so (it) kind of spawned the ninja gyms,” she said. “But now we’re getting to the point where there are kids who’ve been doing this and have seen this on TV their whole life.”
“American Ninja Warrior” not only influences future ninjas, but coaches and athletes have also competed. “Most of our coaches have competed on (the show),” she said. “We also have eight kids who have competed on either American Ninja Warrior Junior or who (were) called to compete this year.”
Obstacle Academy offers classes for kids and adults so anyone can become a ninja. There are a range of classes for beginners to elite athletes. There are classes for those just looking for an activity, to those looking to take it seriously.
“We have kids who have been training since they were 3 or 4 playing around and talking about how they want to be on the show and they’re kicking adult’s butts now,” Heesen said.
Obstacle Academy is located at 7615 Golden Triangle Dr.
The first course of the competition is broken into two waves. All 80+ athletes compete on separate courses for males and females. 
For the finals, the top 10 men and top 10 women compete on three different disciplines: speed, burnout, and hybrid. 
Cameron Baumgartner demonstrated obstacles on the men’s course before athletes began round 2. Athletes compete on three courses and consistency determines the winner. 
The speed course measure athletes’ efficiency. On the burn out course, once their feet leave the ground they don’t come back down again until they burn out. 
Jeramiah Boyd competed in the hybrid course during Obstacle Academy’s Ninja Sport Championship on Jan. 29. Boyd placed 5th in the men’s division. 
Eagan’s Paris Juarez started training after watching fellow ninja athlete Sara Scholback on “American Ninja Warrior.” “I decided to try out for the youth team they had available, and I ended up getting onto the competitive team, and ever since then I’ve just been cruising around here,” she said. Juarez placed 8th in the women’s division. 
Jackson Twait competed on the hybrid course during Obstacle Academy’s Ninja Sport Championship on Jan. 29. Twait placed 6th in the men’s division. 
Cora Schuller, from Elko, started ninja training at age 11 after watching “American Ninja Warrior.” “I basically asked my parents every time we’d watch it where can I do this?” she said. Schuller started at Conquer Ninja Warrior before moving to Obstacle Academy. Schuller placed 6th in the women’s division. 
While considered an elite training facility, Obstacle Academy also holds recreational competitions for beginners. “Those are meant for people who just started and have some learning to do,” said gym manager Sara Heesen. “It’s a unique sport, so most of the time if people are familiar with it, they have a lot of questions about it. It’s fun, we have a little bit for everyone.”
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