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Ninja Obstacle SPoTlight – The Versa Ladder

We sound like a broken record, but as it’s name suggests, we created the Versa Ladder with the idea of versatility in mind for your Ninja course. It really doesn’t make sense to have 100 obstacles in your gym with 50 in storage when you can have 50 obstacles hanging on your rig that have the same functionality as the 100. That’s a little exaggeration but you get the point.

We comfortably placed 3 different obstacles on the Versa Ladder which also caters to 3 different skill levels. Can’t get much better than that right? So, let’s take a look at each…

  • Standard Monkey Bars – Beginner
    • These are pretty self explanatory and pretty much a must in every Ninja gym. The Versa Ladder has a set of rungs that are static and welded to the outside rails of the element. The rungs are perfectly spaced for beginner Ninjas but no reason all levels and athlete sizes can’t use them as they please.
  • Cliffhanger Ledges – Intermediate 
    • Another Ninja staple – We opted to go with a more mid level (2in) friendly ledge along all four sides of this obstacle. That’s not to say you can’t swap them out for some 1 “inchers” to make it wicked hard. OR no reason why you can’t mix them up. The combinations are endless really. What I love about the ledges on each end of the obstacle, is they make for a fun transition to or from another obstacle. A recent trade show we did, we had a simple leche bar with a nice 6ft leche to the cliffhanger ledge. Great fun!
  • Floating Monkey Bars – Intermediate/Advanced
    • A fresh Ninja element, The floating monkey bars present its own unique challenge. The motion through the obstacle is similar to the monkey bars except there is one big difference – the rungs aren’t attached! Don’t worry, we added some nice cups for you not much bigger than the rung where you can place them. Therein lies the challenge. Our cup diameter is slightly bigger than the rung itself. This means you have to be hyper focused on placing that rung properly, otherwise you will be hanging from one arm for a long time – and any Ninja will tell you that can be a course run killer. Also, it’s worth mentioning these rungs are carbon fiber which are very light and safe.

Here is a photo of that beautiful and versatile piece of equipment:

How about a video too!

This would look amazing on your Ninja frame, don’t you think?

Hit me up if you want to talk about it!

Brad@interactivesportszone.com

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AG Ninja Goes to Fargo, ND

The AG Ninja team had the opportunity to work on a brand new Ninja facility in Fargo, ND, starting with the custom design all the way to the installation. This facility is no joke!

Click on the facebook link below to view photos from the installation.

 

Check out video footage of this awesome new space. You’ll be ready for some obstacle training after you watch!

 

 

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AG Ninja Goes to Lancaster, CA

The AG Ninja team had a blast working on this project in Lancaster, CA. From the custom design to the cool color-scheme, this facility is full of safe and challenging AG Ninja obstacles for all age groups.

Click on the link below to view photos of the design concept, installation and final product – who’s ready to tackle that wall?

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AG Ninja Goes to Wake Forest, NC

Wake Forest, NC is now home to a new state of the art Ninja facility, which boasts many exciting obstacles for kids of all ages. The AG Ninja team custom designed this space to allow for ninja training, parties and camps. Our team was involved every step of the way from the design process to the installation.

Click on the facebook link below to view photos from our installation

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AG Ninja Goes to Fort Worth, TX

The AG Team completed another fun project in Fort Worth, Texas in April, 2018. This facility is able to offer parties and classes for multiple ages with their dynamic AG Ninja equipment.

Click the facebook link below to view the photos of AG Ninja’s work at this awesome new ninja facility.

 

Check out the video below to see how our team’s process works – from custom design to complete installation, watch as this Ninja facility takes shape!

 

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AG Ninja Goes to Boerne, TX

Wow! This project will excite every gym owner to see the potential any space can have. This facility packs a lot of punch as the owner wanted to really optimize the space and maximize the obstacles utilized for training and entertainment. The AG Ninja team custom designed this space with that goal in mind. Our team manufactured the AG Ninja equipment and provided installation to make this facility a ninja reality!

Click on the facebook link below to see photos of the installation and final look at the brand new facility.

 

 

Watch the video below to see a gym owner’s dream become a reality as we take you on a tour of the process of an AG Ninja creation from start to finish!

 

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AG Ninja Goes to Bend, OR

The AG Ninja team had the opportunity to work on this really cool project in Bend, Oregon at Free Spirit Yoga Fitness Play. Our team had such a fun time from the start of the design process to the final installation. The results couldn’t make us happier!

Click on the facebook link below to view photos of the final installation.

 

Check out the video below to see the original design come to life!

 

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AG Ninja Goes to Charleston, SC

Another awesome ninja facility with a creative design by Interactive Sports Zone and equipment provided by AG Ninja. This was a 6-week project for our team, from design to install. What a cool concept – parents can shop in the mall while their kids blow off some energy – sounds like a win, win!

Check out photos of the facility by clicking the following facebook link.

 

Watch as AG Ninja takes Flip! Ninja from an owner’s dream, to a design concept, and then to reality! (Some cool GoPro video footage included)

 

 

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Evolution of Design

It’s no mystery that to be successful in business, one must evolve and adapt to the ever-changing consumer demand. Sometimes it’s not necessarily a change in consumer taste, but also recognizing that the things you are currently doing could be done a little better, thus making for happier customers. Stagnant companies become obsolete and ultimately fade away.

Really listening to your customers and evaluating their feedback is critical to ensuring you are offering the right products in the right way.

Over the last 3 years, we’ve completed dozens of large projects across the country. Many of them have gone smoothly, but a few had some bumps in the road, which can be expected with a growing company. The biggest mistake for us on these handful of challenging ones would have been to fight through the challenges and then to ignore them and move on to the next project. However, we have taken away something valuable from every project to ensure that any problems which may have arisen are not repeated on future projects.

As we reflect on ways in which our obstacle designs have changed, below are some updated features we thought were worth highlighting.

  • Mounting of Various obstacles – It may sound simple, but we’ve made quite a few changes to how our obstacles are hung. Two things gym owners want to see with hanging things are flexibility and ease. Obstacles that are mounted should have the ability to be adjusted in some manner, and they should be fairly simple to install.

The Flying Rings – original hanging design versus new hanging design

The flying Rings are a great obstacle, but the original design had a few limiting features. The most significant limiting feature was the fact that we started off welding the drop down sticks to the crossbar. Functionally, they were fine, but it meant these crossbars were not usable for any other obstacle. This wasn’t good for our customers. So, we changed the hooks to a bolt-on design and gave them a cool look as seen in the above photo.

  • Aesthetics – We are big on looks! When we sell a product to a customer, not only is it going to function well and last long, but it is going to look great. We put a lot of effort into creating a “look” to our Ninja line. We want people to walk into a gym and say “Ah, that’s ag Ninja’s stuff.” The Flying Rings pictured above were part of the group of obstacles that we felt needed that extra flare. Additionally, the flying bar trainer is another great example of an obstacle that had a drastic face lift as well as some beneficial material changes.

The Flying Bar Trainer – original design versus new design

The original design of the Flying Bar Trainer consisted of wood and steel mounting pieces. In addition, it was one of those obstacles that had the mounting bracket which prevented variation in the width of the obstacle. In the new design, there is more attention to the aesthetics while also allowing for variation in width.

Below are a few other examples of some obstacles in which we added some of our own touches that are more visually appealing…

  • Functionality – A lot of work goes into the design of a product to ensure that it functions the way we intended. After we design, we manufacture, and then we test it to ensure it is safe. Even then, you really don’t get good quality feedback until it is out there being used on a regular basis. Often times, the product gets into the hands of the customer, and everything is perfect. Sometimes, however, there are minor flaws a customer will point out that they may be able to live with but want you to be aware of for future customers. This feedback is invaluable, and we absolutely welcome it. A few examples of products that have had some design tweaking along the way to allow for better functionality include a few of our obstacles hung by a swing and our slanted steps.

Obstacles hung by a sling – We have a number of obstacles which freely hang by way of a sling. Determining the best way for a sling to attach to an obstacle has changed a few times. After evaluating feedback and testing various methods, we nailed down a good looking solution.

 

 

Slanted Steps – Slanted Steps are a must in a ninja facility, so it’s pretty important that they function well. Version 1 of the steps looked great, but they had a few characteristics which may not be desirable in all training situations. So, we went back to the drawing board to develop a step that was versatile and allowed for ninjas of all ages and sizes to use them.

 

Obstacle Training, in my opinion, will continue to grow and will be around for a long, long time. Methods will change, regulations may change, and customer taste is always a moving target. It’s a mighty fun ride for us, and we know the importance of continuing to evolve so that we aren’t left watching the train leave while we are sitting at the station.

 

Brad Thornton

Chief Operations Officer/Designer/Co-Owner

Brad@InteractiveSportsZone.com

 

 

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AG Ninja Goes to St. George, Utah

AG Ninja is excited to showcase our latest install at Bare Foot Gymnastics in St. George, Utah in June 2019! Bare Foot Gymnastics was looking to expand their facility to include Bare Foot Ninja. After contacting AG Ninja, we custom designed their expansion to maximize their available space while utilizing the most obstacles to cater to multiple age groups and skill levels. After AG Ninja manufactured and installed the equipment, the finished product captured everyone’s attention in the gym! Bare Foot Ninja now offers Ninja classes, and we are excited to see what big things come out of this new facility. Check out the photos below to see the before and after of the installation. Be sure to scroll down to view videos of the obstacles in use!

 

 

 

Check out a demonstration of the AG Ninja Salmon Ladder at Bare Foot Ninja

 

 

Demonstration of the AG Ninja Cliff Hanger – hang on; it’s a nail biter!

 

Are you ready to create your own Ninja facility? We are here to help you every step of the way so that this popular and ever-growing sport can find its way into your reality! Start the process by filling out our 3D gym design form.