USA Ninja Challenge

Franchising with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usaninjachallenge.com/franchising/ninja-franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=culture-and-lifestyle-benefits-of-franchising-with-usa-ninja-challenge-2728720" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">USA Ninja Challenge</a> offers a unique opportunity that extends beyond financial rewards — it provides franchisees with a culture of community, family, and personal fulfillment. Franchisees find themselves benefiting from a balanced lifestyle, a strong set of core values and opportunities to make a tangible impact on their local communities.1851 Franchise spoke with the brand’s leadership team – CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/riknight/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=culture-and-lifestyle-benefits-of-franchising-with-usa-ninja-challenge-2728720" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Richard Knight</a>, President&nbsp;<a href="https://linkedin.com/in/dale-grant-680a18126/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=culture-and-lifestyle-benefits-of-franchising-with-usa-ninja-challenge-2728720" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dale Grant</a>; and&nbsp;Director of Franchise Development&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuafaber/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=culture-and-lifestyle-benefits-of-franchising-with-usa-ninja-challenge-2728720" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joshua Faber</a>; — as well as top-performing franchisee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-may-1a6a11192/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=culture-and-lifestyle-benefits-of-franchising-with-usa-ninja-challenge-2728720" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Andrea May</a> to learn more about the culture and lifestyle benefits of being a franchise owner with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge/info">USA Ninja Challenge</a>.<h2>Achieving Work-Life Balance</h2>One of the key lifestyle benefits of becoming a USA Ninja franchisee is the flexibility it offers. Many franchisees come from demanding careers that leave little room for personal time, but USA Ninja Challenge gives them the freedom to manage their own schedules.&nbsp;Andrea May, a former teacher and assistant principal, says that transitioning into a franchisee role transformed her life. After experiencing burnout in her previous roles and facing health issues, she needed a career that allowed for more work-life balance. Franchising provided the answer."My lifestyle is completely different now,” May said. “I enjoy being in the gym, but I also have the freedom not to be there every day.”&nbsp;Her schedule now allows her to balance time with her kids, take care of household tasks, and still contribute to her business during her own hours. She works on tasks like booking birthday parties or handling marketing from home, yet still coaches in the gym because she enjoys being involved with the children and the day-to-day operations.&nbsp;For May, USA Ninja Challenge has allowed her to stay connected to her passion for working with children while gaining control over her schedule. This balance is central to the franchise’s appeal. Many franchisees come from backgrounds where their time was not their own.&nbsp;“Franchising with USA Ninja Challenge gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to take control of their financial life, take control of their time, and put more time into their own kids because they're opening their own business and escaping the corporate rat race,” said Faber.USA Ninja franchise ownership offers a rewarding lifestyle that accommodates both career goals and personal well-being.<h2>Building a Business with Values</h2>At the heart of USA Ninja Challenge is a commitment to improving children’s lives through fitness, confidence-building, and personal growth while also serving the surrounding community. The business is about much more than just profitability.&nbsp;"It's all about family and working with children, and then reaching out into the community to give back," said Knight. “Our franchisees are creating long-term relationships with families in their communities. They are giving back to their communities on a regular basis, whether it's to the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, PTA, American Cancer Society or St. Jude's Hospital.”&nbsp;These connections extend far beyond mere business transactions. "We partner with parents to make their kids happy, healthy, and strong," said Jorgen. “It’s rewarding. The idea is that if you focus on the kids, you'll never be poor.”&nbsp;This focus on the well-being of children strengthens the trust between franchisees and their customers, reinforcing the gym as a community hub where families feel connected.&nbsp;May says the focus on helping children develop self-esteem and confidence resonated deeply with her values as an educator and parent. “It's all about teaching kids to tackle one obstacle at a time,” she said, “and helping the kids to grow and to stay active.”&nbsp;This philosophy aligned perfectly with May’s career-long dedication to fostering children’s development, making her transition to franchisee not only logical but personally fulfilling. She particularly enjoys the inclusive environment that USA Ninja Challenge provides for children who may not fit into traditional sports and gives them a space to thrive.This family-centric, child-focused culture also provides franchisees with a sense of purpose beyond business. “It is a business with a soul,” said Faber “It's an opportunity to make a real impact on the community — to make meaningful contributions to the communities — while building a profitable business.”<h2>A Robust Support System</h2>The franchise system offers extensive support, from a six-month marketing plan to ongoing coaching on how to build local relationships. The brand’s thoughtful, values-based approach ensures that franchisees are fully committed to the mission, fostering a cohesive and supportive franchisee network.Franchising with USA Ninja Challenge offers more than financial independence — it provides franchisees with a fulfilling lifestyle rooted in family, community and personal growth. Whether they are balancing time with their families, engaging in meaningful work with children or becoming community leaders, USA Ninja franchisees enjoy a business that offers flexibility and the chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of others. For those looking to escape the rigidity of corporate life, USA Ninja provides the freedom to build both a business and a life that truly aligns with their values.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge">https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge</a>.

photo of a coach and student at USA Ninja Challenge. both are wearing blue shirts and black pants

Culture & Lifestyle Benefits of Franchising with USA Ninja Challenge

1851 Franchise

Franchising with USA Ninja Challenge provides a flexible, family-focused lifestyle, allowing franchisees to balance personal fulfillment, community engagement, and business success.

This brand page has been paid for by USA NINJA CHALLENGE. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Culture and Lifestyle Benefits of Franchising with USA Ninja Challenge

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What Inspired This USA Ninja Challenge Coach to Take Over the Keller Gym

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When&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-umpa-pmp/">Dan Umpa</a> talks about his path to business ownership, it’s clear the story starts long before he ever heard of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usaninjachallenge.com/franchising/ninja-franchising">USA Ninja Challenge</a>. It traces back to Long Island, where he grew up watching the Coast Guard pilots stationed near Robert Moses and Jones Beach. Those early memories shaped his sense of purpose.“I always used to look up to those guys,” Umpa said. “They were there in people’s times of need… their whole point of being there is to save lives and help people.”That instinct to serve stuck. After high school, Umpa set his sights on the U.S. Naval Academy, drawn to what he described as a “leadership laboratory” where he could immerse himself in both academics and military training. He graduated in 2009 with a degree in robotics and engineering — a foundation that would later make&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge/info">USA Ninja Challenge</a> feel surprisingly familiar.He went on to become a naval aviator, flying search-and-rescue helicopters — “the Swiss Army knife of the Navy,” as he calls them — where adaptability, readiness and problem-solving weren’t just professional expectations, but survival tools.<h3>Leading From the Front</h3>Umpa says his military experience is woven into the culture of his Ninja gym. One lesson stands above the rest: “Never tell somebody to do anything you're not willing to do yourself.”It’s a principle that guides how he leads employees, works with families and inspires students. Whether it’s cleaning, fixing equipment or moving obstacles, he makes sure his team sees him doing the work too. “I'm leading from the front,” he said. “I am just as willing and able to do it as they are.”That consistency sets the tone. “If you're not willing to do it yourself, how can you possibly ask somebody else to do it?” he said.<h3>Semper Gumby: “Always Flexible”</h3>Umpa jokes that his gym operates under its own motto — a twist on the Marine Corps’ Semper Fidelis. “We call it Semper Gumby, always flexible,” he said.Working with kids means no two days look the same. The military prepared him for exactly that. As a pilot, he trained for endless scenarios and learned how to adjust in real time while still keeping the mission at the center.“You have to maintain that flexible mindset with the overall mission goal still in mind,” he said. “If you're not… and you're just staying rigid where you're at, it's not going to work.”That approach translates directly to his role as a franchise owner: navigating parent expectations, staff needs, facility operations, class flow and the emotional dynamics of young athletes.<h3>Why USA Ninja Challenge Was the Right Fit</h3>While reviewing franchise opportunities, Umpa kept coming back to his engineering background. USA Ninja Challenge allowed him to build — not just a business, but the environment itself.“I always enjoyed building things,” he said. “This looked like an amazing opportunity to not just build a business but to have a business where I get to build things.”That includes designing obstacles, shaping class progression, developing coaches and strengthening the community inside his gym. He also saw strong brand health and momentum.&nbsp;But most importantly, he loved the structured, skill-based curriculum. “That’s what differentiates us from any other kids' activity,” Umpa said. “They're not going to get the same experience as if they had our expert coaches actually guiding them through a skill progression program.”<h3>Why Veterans Excel as Franchise Owners</h3>Umpa believes veterans bring natural strengths to franchise ownership — especially leadership, composure and adaptability.“People who have served have leadership experience under stressful situations,” he said. “Their ability to handle those stressful situations and think calmly sets the veteran community a little bit apart.”But he returns again to the concept of flexibility. Veterans are trained to understand a mission, recognize a changing situation and adjust intelligently.“You have that knowledge to say, ‘All right, well, I recognize the situation now. I need to change and do something different to be able to complete this mission,’” he said.That mindset isn’t only useful at USA Ninja Challenge — it’s foundational to entrepreneurship itself. “Not every day is going to be a bed of roses,” he said. “I love having the easy days but I'm always ready for the hard ones.”<h3>His Advice to Fellow Veterans</h3>For veterans considering franchising, Umpa offers one central reminder: “Remember your training.”Military service doesn’t just prepare service members to follow steps — it prepares them to think, lead and problem-solve.“It was a framework that taught you how to learn,” he said. “It taught you the principles of leadership. Try to keep that flexible mindset and remember the framework your training led you through.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.">https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.</a>&nbsp;

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Chicago Dad of Six Turns Passion for Kids Into a Thriving USA Ninja Challenge Business

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Marine Corps Veteran and Husband Bring USA Ninja Challenge to Poway, California, to Get San Diego Kids Moving

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Amy Harley and Patrick Gregory Team Up To Revitalize USA Ninja Challenge in Rochester, New York

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Culture and Lifestyle Benefits of Franchising with USA Ninja Challenge

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