Anybody watch
Ninja Warrior? It's the best display of athleticism there is. This competition is nuts. If you haven't seen it, it's on the network G4. It's been around since 1997 in Japan (there it's called
Sasuke) and it consists of 4 stages that increase with dramatic difficulty after the first stage. Essentially they are crazy and borderline sadistic obstacle courses.
Only 2 competitors, since 1997, have ever completed the entire 4 stages! And they don't win any prizes or money either, just glory.
Stage 1 starts with 100 contestants. Here you get comedians, personalities, athletes, firemen, olympians, whatever. I'd say generally, maybe about 20% make it past the first stage. This stage is timed.
Examples:
YouTube - Yamada Sasuke (Ninja Warrior) Fall 2007 Yamada is an all star and makes the current stage 1 look easy.
Stage II is where the best of the best start to compete. More arduous than the first stage, you really need to be agile, speedy, and strong to past this. This stage is also timed.
Examples of the 2nd stage:
YouTube - Yamada 2nd Stage Sasuke (Ninja Warrior) Fall 2007 Here even the might Yamada can't pass the Salmon climb. The Salmon climb has to be changed because it's impossible. I have only seen a few people pass this obstacle. Watch the clip and 10 seconds into it, you'll see why.
here is Makato Nagano, 1 of 2 competitors to complete the entire 4 stages. PAY ATTENTION to stage 3. It's so hard, it's not even timed. NUTS is a good word to describe it. IF YOU SEE ONE CLIP, WATCH THIS ONE!
YouTube - Ninja Warrior
The 4th stage is simple. In 30 seconds you have to climb 200 feet up in the air. If you make it this far, the odds are still against you.
another pretty good clip featuring Nagano. here he completes stage 1 through 3 but falters on 3. He's one of a few people to complete the salmon climb (a relatively new obstacle) on stage 2:
YouTube - Makoto Nagano sasuke 18
Check it out, you'll be impressed.
Ninja Warrior Rules!!!
