A challenge not just for the tough & brave

MANILA, Philippines - It’s not a game show just for the able-bodied and strong, nor is it a challenge just for the tough and brave. American Ninja Warrior is beyond that. It is the “world’s most daunting athletic competition.” The action-packed series is a brutal obstacle course that needs to be completed and conquered to win $500,000 at stake.

Currently on its fifth season in the US, the show, however, has yet to find its winner who has to carry out all the adrenalin-pumping physical challenges, complete the punishing obstacle courses and ultimately conquer the title American Ninja Warrior.

There is only one chance and if the contestant blows it, then he will most likely try out again for the next season. Thousands have tried but only three have gone as far Mount Midoriyama, yet still unsuccessful.

Mount Midoriyama is a towering, 70-foot structure that the contestant needs to conquer to test his ultimate strength as a modern-day ninja. The structure is similar to the Japanese version of Sasuke, which also has a series of obstacles.

Since the show started airing in 2009, American Ninja Warrior has seen thousands of the most muscular and energetic of contestants, both male and female, hurdle the battle. Season 2 even aired its finals in Mount Midoriyama in Japan, but the finalists failed in the third stage of the obstacle course.

In the third season, the Top 15 contestants were grouped to five in the Ninja Warrior Boot Camp — Red Dragons, White Tigers and Blue Monkeys. This season saw returning contestants who made it to the first and second stage, but failed in the third stage, which is the Cliffhanger.

The fourth season, which aired last year, had regional competitions that aired in Venice Beach, California; Dallas, Texas; and Miami, Florida. It was in this season where Mount Midoriyama was recreated in a four-stage course in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For Stage 1, top 100 competitors with enough courage were chosen to endure such physically daunting challenges as Giant Swing, Jumping Spider, Half-Pipe Attack, Warped Wall, Step Slider, Spin Bridge, Rolling Log and Rope Ladder.

Stage 2 — which had the Double Salmon Ladder, Unstable Bridge, Metal Spin, Balance Tank and Slider Drop — yielded only one contestant who went as far as Stage 3, which had the Hang Climbing obstacle.

Thus, there was no winner again in Season 4 and the title of American Ninja Warrior remains elusive to contestants. Still, players who boast of their agility and endurance did not lose hope in winning the ultimate title. No wonder in the next season, viewers saw common faces again and hear familiar names being called out.

Season 5, which started airing this year, commenced last June. There were returning players (the so-called veterans) and there were new ones who attempted to try their luck in the challenges. The qualifying finals were held in Baltimore, Denver, Miami and Los Angeles.

There is a new obstacle course that’s like no other in each of the regional competitions. The ultimate finals to be held in Las Vegas, site of Japan’s recreated Mount Midoriyama, is yet the biggest challenge so far. Hopefully, this new season will produce the first champion of the series.

American Ninja Warrior, which airs on AXN, is hosted by actor-comedian Matt Iseman (who is also a medical doctor) and former National Football League player and sports analyst Akbar Gbaja Biamila, with erstwhile ESPN reporter Jenn Brown as co-host.