Christina Ortiz, a retired Army veteran and mother of two, found USA Ninja Challenge after searching for a fun and physically engaging activity for her son, who didn’t take to traditional team sports. After discovering parkour, she wanted a safer alternative and found it in ninja training. As she watched from the sidelines, Ortiz was drawn to the gym's obstacle course-style activities, which reminded her of her time in the military.
“It reminded me of a lot of things that we did in the Army, like obstacle course training, and it just looked really fun,” Ortiz said. “One day, I was approached by the manager at the time, who said they were looking for a coach. I thought it was something I could do. I love kids, and I thought this would be a way to give back to the kids.”
With support from her family, Ortiz joined the team as a coach, beginning her journey with USA Ninja Challenge.
Ortiz never planned to own a business; she was happy coaching part-time at USA Ninja Challenge while spending most of her time with her family. Coaching provided a fun, fulfilling outlet and supported her mental health, especially after the isolation of COVID-19. But when the previous owner of the Keller, Texas, location decided to sell, Ortiz’s husband found out and encouraged her to consider it.
“I talked to the previous owner and he told me he didn't have the time to dedicate and commit to being in the gym the way he had hoped to be, and he was hoping that somebody would be interested in purchasing,” Ortiz said. “He was very excited because he thought I would be the perfect person to take it over.”
After several conversations, Ortiz made the leap and officially took over the Keller location in February 2025.
Ortiz’s military background has significantly shaped her approach to coaching and running her USA Ninja Challenge gym. As a former Army veterinary technician and leader of soldiers, she developed strong skills in structure, motivation, and working with people from diverse backgrounds — all of which translate well to her role as a business owner and coach.
“In the Army, you work with so many different kinds of people from all over that you start to understand the psychology of how to get people to do things that maybe they don't want to do,” she said. “In coaching, it's convincing kids that, although they may not be able to do something yet, they can at some point. We have a lot of kids who have special needs, and so we help them through some of the mental parts of it. Ninja is very physical, but it's so much more mental than physical.”
Ortiz says the support from the USA Ninja Challenge corporate team has been outstanding since she took over the Keller location. As a first-time business owner, she appreciates having a strong franchise system behind her. The brand has provided helpful tools, thorough training and ongoing support, including regular calls and guidance whenever needed.
For now, Ortiz’s primary focus is on strengthening the gym’s structure and ensuring kids are getting the most out of their classes. She’s already restructured the class format to better challenge students and help them grow. While expansion could be a possibility down the road, her current priority is building deeper connections within the local community.
“I want the community to know that we're here,” she said. “I want the community to feel like they're part of something.”
Ortiz cares deeply about the kids she works with and brings real leadership experience to the table. At her growing gym, she’s creating something that truly makes a difference in Keller.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.
USA Ninja Challenge
SPONSORED
After starting as a coach at USA Ninja Challenge, Army veteran Christina Ortiz now leads the Keller, Texas, location with a mission to empower kids and build community.
Christina Ortiz, a retired Army veteran and mother of two, found USA Ninja Challenge after searching for a fun and physically engaging activity for her son, who didn’t take to traditional team sports. After discovering parkour, she wanted a safer alternative and found it in ninja training. As she watched from the sidelines, Ortiz was drawn to the gym's obstacle course-style activities, which reminded her of her time in the military.
“It reminded me of a lot of things that we did in the Army, like obstacle course training, and it just looked really fun,” Ortiz said. “One day, I was approached by the manager at the time, who said they were looking for a coach. I thought it was something I could do. I love kids, and I thought this would be a way to give back to the kids.”
With support from her family, Ortiz joined the team as a coach, beginning her journey with USA Ninja Challenge.
Ortiz never planned to own a business; she was happy coaching part-time at USA Ninja Challenge while spending most of her time with her family. Coaching provided a fun, fulfilling outlet and supported her mental health, especially after the isolation of COVID-19. But when the previous owner of the Keller, Texas, location decided to sell, Ortiz’s husband found out and encouraged her to consider it.
“I talked to the previous owner and he told me he didn't have the time to dedicate and commit to being in the gym the way he had hoped to be, and he was hoping that somebody would be interested in purchasing,” Ortiz said. “He was very excited because he thought I would be the perfect person to take it over.”
After several conversations, Ortiz made the leap and officially took over the Keller location in February 2025.
Ortiz’s military background has significantly shaped her approach to coaching and running her USA Ninja Challenge gym. As a former Army veterinary technician and leader of soldiers, she developed strong skills in structure, motivation, and working with people from diverse backgrounds — all of which translate well to her role as a business owner and coach.
“In the Army, you work with so many different kinds of people from all over that you start to understand the psychology of how to get people to do things that maybe they don't want to do,” she said. “In coaching, it's convincing kids that, although they may not be able to do something yet, they can at some point. We have a lot of kids who have special needs, and so we help them through some of the mental parts of it. Ninja is very physical, but it's so much more mental than physical.”
Ortiz says the support from the USA Ninja Challenge corporate team has been outstanding since she took over the Keller location. As a first-time business owner, she appreciates having a strong franchise system behind her. The brand has provided helpful tools, thorough training and ongoing support, including regular calls and guidance whenever needed.
For now, Ortiz’s primary focus is on strengthening the gym’s structure and ensuring kids are getting the most out of their classes. She’s already restructured the class format to better challenge students and help them grow. While expansion could be a possibility down the road, her current priority is building deeper connections within the local community.
“I want the community to know that we're here,” she said. “I want the community to feel like they're part of something.”
Ortiz cares deeply about the kids she works with and brings real leadership experience to the table. At her growing gym, she’s creating something that truly makes a difference in Keller.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.
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