T
he fitness industry
is taking inspiration
from our childhood
playground activities,
thanks to the highly
watched Australian Ninja
Warrior TV series.
After first being aired in Japan as Sasuke
and spreading across 18 countries as
Ninja Warrior, it has finally made its way
down to Australian shores.
Ninja Warrior consists of an obstacle
course that athletes must try and
complete, or at least get as far as they
can, usually by a certain time. With
hurdles such as the warped wall, salmon
ladder, and chimney climb, even the
best of the best athletes have trouble
making it to the end —with not one
contestant winning the first ever season
of Australian Ninja Warrior.
But it is not only serious athletes that are
taking on obstacle training. The short
and intense first season of Ninja Warrior
has seen fitness professionals already
starting to incorporate obstacle sections
into their gym to cater to this growing
market, with others following suit.
And while many obstacle-based
challenges have actually been around
for a while (think Tough Mudder and The
Spartan Race). It is thanks to this series
that this type of obstacle training has
been catapulted into the mainstream
gym industry, and with good reason.
Ninja Warrior has opened the doors for
fitness professionals to offer something
a little different from the typical,
conventional gym.
Gone are the days where gym-goers
want to follow the same boring routine
in the gym. Rather than blasting music
through your headphones keeping to
oneself, Ninja-inspired gyms promise to
put the fun and excitement back into
fitness, while still getting results.
Obstacle training is part functional
training, meaning that there is a focus
on everyday actions that replicate our
natural primal, human movements.
There is a lot of hanging and body
weight exercises, as well as manoeuvres
—where short, intense and powerful
movements are needed. It is a great mix
of cardiovascular and strength training
so your clients can get their heart racing,
while still building muscle and burning
fat.
But it isn’t just physical benefits that your
clients will benefit from. Ninja Warrior
Training is also a mental game.
It is about knowing the right techniques
to use and when, as well as pumping
yourself (and others) up while tackling
the course.
In fact, it is fair to say that obstacle
training is not just a solo endeavour.
While each individual may have their
own personal goals, such as beating
their personal best time or conquering a
specific obstacle, there is an emphasis
on community. Fitness professionals can
offer clients a workout that naturally
builds camaraderie because of a shared
main goal—to finish the course.
As seen by the crowd cheering on
Australia’s fittest men and women as
they tackled the Ninja Warrior circuit,
it is definitely not a solitary activity. It
requires a supportive and encouraging
community, which cannot be
underestimated.
However, while obstacle training may
be something new for people to try,
it actually isn’t something that we are
completely unfamiliar with.
Ninja Warrior has brought us back to our
arguably more active childhoods where
PROGRESSIVE CALISTHENICS
CERTIFICATION (PCC) WILL TAKE
YOUR SERIOUS TRAINING TO
SERIOUS NEW LEVELS.
Master the key calisthenics movements of the push up, the
pull up, the flag, muscle ups, handstands, pistols and more.
If you, your clients and/or your members are looking for
the toughest, most brutally productive training techniques,
then you’ll want to be front and centre at the Progressive
Calisthenics Certification this November.
Perth and Sydney workshops:
November 2017
For full workshop details, including payment plan
options, visit fitnessnetwork.com.au/pcc
or call us on 1300 493 832
WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - SPRING 2017
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