AMERICAN Ninja Warrior is a hit TV show that features a growing community of elite athletes around the world.
Known for its intensely difficult obstacle courses and high-caliber competition, the show has inspired new facilities where athletes train – including one in Brooklyn, New York.
Ferox Athletics on Noble Street near the East River is home to the East Coast’s largest professional ninja park.
The 40,000-square-foot facility opened in 2022 and features many obstacles and elements similar to those featured on the TV show American Ninja Warrior.
We decided to test our strength on an obstacle course under the guidance of American Ninja Warrior contestant Zack Eichenstein, who built the Ferox facility.
With some secret tips – and after some blunders and stumbles – we were both able to complete the course successfully.
CAITLIN’S EXPERIENCE
I had always wanted to try a giant obstacle course, as I enjoyed them on the rare occasion I got to do one as a kid.
I’m competitive by nature so prior to my arrival at Ferox, I wanted to put myself in the best possible position to perform well.
For me, that meant drinking a ton of water, eating a light meal of a protein bar and grapes, and of course, choosing an outfit that made me feel confident inside and out.
Emotionally, I felt a combination of nerves and anxiety leading up to the big day and found my mind swirling with questions: “Am I physically capable of doing this? What if I fail?”
Upon arrival at Ferox, the anxiety melted away and I couldn’t wait to try out all of the equipment. The facility is absolutely incredible and so expertly built.
Zack was a highly skilled teacher and coach who provided excellent training and tips as he walked us through the course on which we’d be competing.
After a 5-10 minute stretching session, we went through each element of our obstacle course. Rachel and I would each try out the individual elements and then Zack would chime in with tips and advice.
At moments, it was a bit overwhelming to process his advice and to make sure the right muscle groups were engaged while striving to achieve the feat.
Of course, there were some major slips and falls – but that only added to the fun we were having. Who doesn’t love a big belly laugh?
But overall, it was an incredibly exhilarating experience.
I was so surprised and impressed with what I was capable of thanks to Zack’s coaching.
Even the elements that looked super intimidating at first were easily surmountable after receiving guidance.
I’d highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to challenge themselves and enjoy some laughs along the way.
RACHEL’S EXPERIENCE
When I first saw the course on Instagram, I thought it looked so cool and wanted to try it out.
But, as time got closer, I started to get really nervous.
I thought I was going to make a fool out of myself, with Caitlin outpacing me.
I was also nervous about injuring myself.
Once I got to Ferox, the gym felt very welcoming.
Zack was an incredible coach who made everything seem less scary.
We started out with some warmups and then Zack went over every obstacle with us until we were comfortable doing the whole course.
I was really shocked at how well I performed.
The obstacles looked intimidating but I was able to complete them.
It felt empowering to do something out of my comfort zone, especially since I’m not the most athletic person.
It felt good to feel strong and now I’m excited to push myself more at the gym.
TAKEAWAYS
We both left Ferox Athletics feeling empowered and proud of what we were able to accomplish.
On a course that included five obstacles of varying difficulty, we pushed ourselves and proved that we’re stronger than we believed.
Rachel finished the course in 1 minute 33 seconds while Caitlin finished in 1 minute 24 seconds.
Both hit the buzzer at the end and celebrated accordingly with high fives, screams of joy, and, later, Tylenol and Epsom salt baths.