USA Ninja Challenge

After a distinguished career in the military,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-sam-robins/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=empowering-the-next-generation-how-this-army-veteran-is-transforming-kids-fitness-through-usa-ninja-challenge-2727841" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sam Robins</a>, a retired U.S. Army battalion commander, transitioned from Special Forces to entrepreneurship, recognizing the power of fitness to foster confidence and community among kids.&nbsp;Working with his business partner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-kneller/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=empowering-the-next-generation-how-this-army-veteran-is-transforming-kids-fitness-through-usa-ninja-challenge-2727841" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chad Kneller</a>, another veteran, Robins is providing a safe space for kids of all abilities to have fun while creating healthy habits.“We love the vision of&nbsp;<a href="https://usaninjachallenge.com/franchising/ninja-franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=empowering-the-next-generation-how-this-army-veteran-is-transforming-kids-fitness-through-usa-ninja-challenge-2727841" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">USA Ninja Challenge</a>,” he said. “Getting kids healthy, getting them off the iPad, getting them out of the house … When I was little, kids played outside often in the woods — climbing trees, traversing logs and jumping over creeks. That’s not as common anymore; with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge/info">USA Ninja Challenge</a>, we’re looking to bring back that level of activity.”&nbsp;His commitment to building a fun, inclusive environment where children of all abilities can thrive is evident in his approach. With a vision rooted deeply in military values, Robins emphasizes the importance of a healthy, active, supportive community while working alongside a long-time veteran and friend to grow their impact and build something meaningful for their own families.Robins took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what he had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Sam Robins:&nbsp;I actually joined the Army right out of college. I was graduating and was going to be a CPA. I had resumes out and multiple jobs in progress, and I was really excited about going to be an accountant. Then my buddy called me up and said, “Let’s join the Army.” My dad was in the reserves, but I didn’t know much about that. I was taken by surprise by my friend, but I thought about it over the next couple weeks, and I ended up not being able to stop thinking about it. Every Army commercial I’d ever seen kept popping up in my head, and I suddenly felt like I was running into people who were either in ROTC or veterans returning to school.It started opening up my mind. I prayed about it, talked to a lot of advisors and enlisted in the Army as a finance soldier. I knew little about the Army and nothing about Special Forces. I just knew I loved [teamwork and struggling together]. When I eventually became an officer in the Air Defense Artillery, I met an interesting guy at Fort Campbell. I didn’t even realize he was a soldier — he was just different. Turns out he was in Special Forces. I became good friends with him, and he encouraged me to do it.I went for it. Most people who become a Green Beret have been wanting to do that since they were a kid, but that wasn’t the case for me. I went through the long, arduous process of training and applications, and I loved it. I went on multiple deployments and focused a lot on ingenuity, survivability and doing more with less. I ultimately retired in 2020 after 24 years in the Army. We stayed in Texas, and that’s what brought me to the USA Ninja Challenge opportunity.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Robins:&nbsp;My business partner and I both live in the community. We always talked about starting a business together. I was looking at franchising and he decided that was a path he might want to take, too. He started looking into local franchises, and that’s how we found USA Ninja Challenge. His older son used to coach at this gym, his younger son is on the competition team and my son also goes to classes here.We had been looking and turned down a couple other franchise opportunities, and when we found out that our kids’ gym was up for sale, we thought, “Let’s go for it!” It’s fun for our kids, it’s great for the community, and it was a great way for us to get into business together.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Robins:&nbsp;We want to get this one going. Once it’s rocking and rolling, I think we’re going to want to go to the next thing. That’s part of why we did this together — so we can double the efforts. We can grow exponentially. We have aspirations to own other ninja gyms in the area and potentially move on to other businesses or franchises together. This is our proof of concept that we can work well together really well and I think we have a great plan.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Robins:&nbsp;I want people to know that this journey is a family affair. My wife and kids are actively involved, with my wife heading up social media and my daughters contributing as well. We’ve even incentivized our kids to bring in new members from school. It’s been a great experience for both of our families.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other veterans thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Robins:&nbsp;I think franchises, in general, are awesome for veterans. It’s either about taking command or a change in command, whether you’re starting a new business or taking over an existing one. Veterans have experience moving between responsibilities and learning new skills. You know how to work in a team. This is a small team, and with USA Ninja Challenge specifically, it’s based in fitness and community. The playbook is there, and you have the standard operating procedures; that’s something you know how to follow.ABOUT USA NINJA CHALLENGEUSA Ninja Challenge is the leading kid’s Ninja franchise, offering an exciting obstacle-based fitness experience for children across the United States. Since its founding over a decade ago, USA Ninja Challenge has grown into a trusted brand nearing 40 gyms and more in development. The franchise combines fun and fitness by teaching kids agility, balance, and problem-solving through a series of structured obstacle courses. As the only Ninja franchise partnered with the USA Pentathlon Multisport Olympic Team, USA Ninja Challenge is helping raise awareness for Ninja as an official sport, set to debut in the 2028 Olympics. With low initial investment, high margins, and rapid ROI, USA Ninja Challenge offers franchisees the opportunity to build profitable businesses while making a lasting impact on children's physical fitness and confidence. For more information on USA Ninja Challenge or to learn about franchise opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usaninjachallenge.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=empowering-the-next-generation-how-this-army-veteran-is-transforming-kids-fitness-through-usa-ninja-challenge-2727841" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.usaninjachallenge.com</a>.

How This Army Veteran Is Transforming Kids’ Fitness Through USA Ninja Challenge

USA Ninja Challenge: Veteran-Owned Ninja Gym Franchise Supporting Community

1851 Franchise

After a long, successful career in the U.S. Army, including time spent in Special Forces, Sam Robins now owns a Texas Ninja gym, empowering kids and team members through the business.

Empowering the Next Generation: How This Army Veteran Is Transforming Kids’ Fitness Through USA Ninja Challenge

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USA Ninja Challenge Ends 2025 With 20 Units Awarded, Expanded Leadership Team and a Strong Foundation for a Landmark 2026

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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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<a href="https://www.usaninjachallenge.com/franchising/ninja-franchising">USA Ninja Challenge</a>, the nation’s leading children’s ninja fitness franchise, opened in Santa Maria, California, to bring its movement-based training to kids ages 4 to 17 through a structured, progression-focused obstacle course program. Located inside the Town Center mall in Santa Maria, the gym emphasizes confidence, coordination and screen-free physical activity in a supportive, non-competitive environment, reported&nbsp;<a href="https://www.noozhawk.com/kids-can-now-train-like-ninjas-in-santa-maria/">Noozhawk</a>.The gym officially opened Dec. 20 and is owned by longtime youth mentors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/djibril-coulibaly-b939a8a9/">Djibril</a> and RaShawna Coulibaly. Drawing on years of coaching and teaching experience, the owners designed the space to help children develop foundational movement skills that are often overlooked in traditional sports. The result is a program that focuses on climbing, jumping, swinging and balance while encouraging kids to move at their own pace.<a href="https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge">USA Ninja Challenge</a> uses a tiered program that lets kids move forward as they build skills on different obstacles. Children start at an entry level and advance after showing they can complete specific movements, such as climbing, swinging or jumping. Coaches track progress during class, and students earn different shirt colors as they move up. The structure gives kids a clear sense of progress while encouraging them to keep trying new challenges.Classes are one hour and follow a consistent structure that includes a warm-up and rotation through multiple obstacle stations. The gym maintains small class sizes and a low coach-to-student ratio to ensure safety and individualized instruction. Obstacles can be adjusted to meet different ability levels, allowing children of all backgrounds and skill sets to participate.Popular features include the warped wall, climbing stations and long jump challenges, all designed with padded flooring and safety in mind. The program also supports children who may feel intimidated by traditional team sports by offering an inclusive setting focused on personal growth rather than competition.In addition to weekly classes, the Santa Maria location offers birthday parties and special events, giving families multiple ways to engage with the program. Overall, USA Ninja Challenge Santa Maria provides a structured fitness experience that helps kids build strength, confidence and resilience through movement.Read the full article&nbsp;<a href="https://www.noozhawk.com/kids-can-now-train-like-ninjas-in-santa-maria/">here</a>.&nbsp;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;

Noozhawk: USA Ninja Challenge Launches Youth Obstacle Gym in Santa Maria

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CONCORD, N.H. —&nbsp;<a href="https://usaninjachallenge.com/franchising/ninja-franchising">USA Ninja Challenge</a>, the nation’s leading children’s ninja fitness franchise, is closing out 2025 with record momentum, marking a pivotal year of growth, franchise expansion and strategic investment that positions the brand for a “breakout” 2026.“Big picture, 2025 was really our breakthrough year in terms of organization and growth,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge/how-dale-grant-used-three-decades-of-gymnastics-expertise-to-build-usa-ninja-challenge-2728886">Dale Grant</a>, president of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge/info">USA Ninja Challenge</a>. “This is the year where we set the foundation for everything that 2026 is going to bring. We spent a lot of time strengthening our programs, our training and the support structures that allow our franchisees to thrive.”USA Ninja Challenge’s growth outpaced many other family- and fitness-focused franchise brands in 2025. The company will finish the year with 20 new unit sales and 11 new openings, bringing the system to 46 open locations nationwide.“We opened up California for the first time this year, and we now have four locations open there,” Grant said. “That milestone officially makes us a coast-to-coast brand.”Other key openings included Kansas City, Missouri — a move that Grant says will “start to open up more of the Midwest” — along with continued expansion across Texas and the Northeast.The brand also has six additional locations set to open in the first quarter of 2026, part of a strategic rollout that reflects stronger, more proactive territory planning thanks to new data tools and market insights.One of the most transformative stories of 2025 for USA Ninja Challenge was its investment in building out a robust, scalable corporate team. The brand added key leadership roles and expanded its operational infrastructure — moves designed to dramatically enhance franchisee support.“We took on some investment this year, which allowed us to create the staff we really needed,” Grant said. “In the last five months alone, we put a new COO in place, built our own in-house IT and software development team, expanded our site search and buildout department and just this week added a CMO with many years of franchise experience.”USA Ninja Challenge also expanded its training organization by adding a new team member specializing in Learning Management System (LMS) development and technical training.“Getting these people in place helps us stop wearing so many hats,” Grant said. “It allows us to provide better support to franchisees and brings more consistency to our overall growth rhythm.”In early 2026, the team will continue to strengthen with the addition of a new controller.To deepen franchisee capabilities, USA Ninja Challenge rolled out several new initiatives this year — most notably&nbsp;<a href="https://profitsoup.com/">ProfitSoup</a>, a financial training program designed for franchisees with little to no business background. “It’s based on helping franchisees understand their business better and truly understand their numbers,” Grant said. “It’s one of the most important tools we introduced this year.”The brand also launched its first franchise advisory council, composed of a blend of new and experienced owners, giving franchisees a stronger voice in operational decision-making. “We have a great group involved,” Grant said. “This level of collaboration is going to help us improve the business as a whole.”In October, USA Ninja Challenge celebrated these milestones with its first annual franchisee conference, drawing nearly half the system — including locations not yet open. “The turnout was fantastic,” Grant said. “We rolled out all of our new initiatives, invited key vendors and had incredible feedback from owners.”With its infrastructure strengthened and foundational work completed, USA Ninja Challenge enters 2026 with its sights set on major expansion.“We’re currently on track to install and open two locations per month,” Grant said. “We already have the first four months scheduled. Our goal is to open 24 locations next year and award between 30 and 35 new units.”The brand is also increasing its presence in youth athletics, particularly as the sport of ninja prepares for its debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. “As an Olympic sport, Ninja is going to need a roadmap,” Grant said. “The level system in which we train athletes is going to have to be universalized — and we’re going to be part of shaping that future.”With youth fitness on the rise, enrollment surpassing 8,000 nationwide and the brand’s top athletes continuing to compete at elite events, USA Ninja Challenge is positioned to lead the category into a defining decade.“2025 was about building,” Grant said. “2026 will be about implementing. We now have the people, tools and structure to elevate this brand to an entirely new level.”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>.About USA Ninja ChallengeNinja Challenge is the leading kids’ Ninja franchise, offering an exciting obstacle-based fitness experience for children across the United States. Since its founding nearly a decade ago, USA Ninja Challenge has grown into a trusted brand nearing 40 gyms and more in development. The franchise combines fun and fitness by teaching kids agility, balance, and problem-solving through a series of structured obstacle courses. As the only Ninja franchise partnered with the USA Pentathlon Multisport Olympic Team, USA Ninja Challenge is helping raise awareness for Ninja as an official sport, set to debut in the 2028 Olympics. With low initial investment, high margins, and rapid ROI, USA Ninja Challenge offers franchisees the opportunity to build profitable businesses while making a lasting impact on children's physical fitness and confidence. For more information on USA Ninja Challenge or to learn about franchise opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usaninjachallenge.com/franchising/ninja-franchising">www.usaninjachallenge.com/franchising/ninja-franchising</a>.

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Empowering the Next Generation: How This Army Veteran Is Transforming Kids’ Fitness Through USA Ninja Challenge

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