USA Ninja Challenge has teamed up with the USA Pentathlon Multisport Olympic Team to elevate obstacle racing as a new event in the modern pentathlon. This Olympic sport combines five disciplines: running, shooting, fencing, swimming, and now ninja racing.
Ninja racing has replaced equestrian show jumping, bringing an exciting and accessible new element to the sport. This change reinforces USA Ninja Challenge as a leader in youth athletic training. The partnership connects USA Ninja Challenge gyms to the Olympic movement, giving young athletes a direct path to training for the world stage while creating exciting opportunities for franchisees to grow their businesses and strengthen their presence in local communities.
"I met [the USA Ninja Challenge team] at the Ninja World Cup in Orlando, Florida, around two years ago,” said Kevin Montford, CEO of USA Pentathlon. “This is when we first announced the partnership or the discipline of obstacle or ninja racing being a part of our discipline in the Olympic Games.”
Recognizing the shared values and training potential between ninja courses and pentathlon events, the two organizations began exploring ways to collaborate.
How the Partnership Benefits Franchisees and Communities
This connection allows USA Ninja Challenge gyms to be seen as more than just a place for kids to play. They are now positioned as hubs for Olympic-level training, drawing in families who want their children to develop core skills that translate to success in sports and beyond.
"Ninja is closely related to gymnastics, which is the foundation of all sports," said Dale Grant, president and co-founder of USA Ninja Challenge. "When you're talking about balance, agility, flexibility, core strength and grip strength, it translates to almost every other sport."
This partnership is a major win for franchisees, who can leverage the connection to attract more customers and host special events such as pentathlon training clinics and local competitions. These events generate additional revenue and help franchisees build strong ties with their communities.
Plans are underway to link ninja gyms with other athletic resources, like swimming and fencing clubs, to create comprehensive training hubs for aspiring athletes. This makes it easier for families to find everything they need in one place.
"We want to create resources around the country that have three of the five disciplines — like a ninja gym, a swim team and a fencing club,” Montford said. "If we can put those three together and find somebody in that community to be the resource, when an athlete says, ‘Hey, I’m in Charlotte, North Carolina. I want to get started in pentathlon,’ they’ll have a clear path.”
Additionally, ninja training helps kids develop critical skills like balance, strength and agility, which benefit them in nearly every sport. For parents, this means their children aren’t just getting fit — they’re building a foundation for lifelong success.
For prospective franchisees, the partnership showcases USA Ninja Challenge’s forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation. Aligning with a global sporting movement like the Olympics boosts the brand’s credibility and demonstrates its potential to create meaningful impact on both a local and national level.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.