Matthew LaVoie's Ninja journey began long before it was a household word. He first got involved as a young child, taking “Mommy and Me” classes at a local gymnastics studio. When the owner introduced one of the first Ninja programs in New England in 2013, LaVoie was among the small group of kids invited to try it out.
LaVoie was part of the first group he jokingly called the “pioneer ninjas.” However, what began as a small experiment soon became the foundation of his athletic career. By 2014, he was competing, winning his age group, and realizing he could hold his own against older athletes. “To be told that I beat everyone really put a spark to the tinder,” LaVoie said.
That spark carried him for years. He trained multiple days a week, poured his energy into competitions, and became the very first Level 6 athlete in the USA Ninja Challenge system. Today, at 20, LaVoie is in the Navy training as a nuclear mechanic, but the lessons of Ninja continue to shape his path.
LaVoie says Ninja is about far more than physical skill. The program taught him discipline, resilience, and how to handle failure. “Patience, humility… humility is a big one,” he said. He admits he wasn’t the most humble kid, but Ninja pushed him to grow beyond raw competitiveness.
The sport also forced him to slow down and focus. Early in his competition career, he would rush through obstacles he knew well, only to fail on simple moves like slackline traverses or long jumps. With the help of his coaches, he learned to stop, take a deep breath and reset.
That small adjustment carried into his life beyond the gym. “I actually now have the words ‘take a breath’ tattooed on the inside of my right forearm,” LaVoie said. “Sometimes you just need to take a breath.”
Before enlisting, LaVoie returned to the Concord USA Ninja Challenge gym as a coach. He worked with kids on their first ropes, walls, and courses, helping them push through the same challenges he once faced.
He recalls one student who struggled to climb the knotted rope required for Level 1. “He persevered through everything,” LaVoie said. “He had help along the way. And that’s what the coaches are there for.”
For USA Ninja Challenge franchise owners, the chance to make a lifelong difference in a child’s life is one of the most rewarding parts of ownership. Franchisees create environments where kids learn discipline and confidence that extend well beyond Ninja courses. That lasting impact on families and communities is what continues to fuel USA Ninja Challenge’s growth across the country.
Looking back, LaVoie says the lessons of Ninja shaped his character just as much as his athleticism. The mix of physical training, mental challenge, and supportive community prepared him not just for competitions but for the next stages of life.
What stands out most to him today is how those lessons continue to ripple outward. Kids may show up to Ninja classes for the fun of climbing ropes or conquering warped walls, but they leave with tools that carry into school, work, and relationships — patience, persistence, and the ability to recover from failure.
For LaVoie, that growth is what defines success in the program. “Ninja is 90 percent failure, but that 10 percent is so sweet and so beautiful,” he said. “Perseverance and dedication breed greatness.” His journey shows how the sport is less about trophies and more about shaping confident, capable humans ready to take on whatever obstacles life throws their way.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.
USA Ninja Challenge
SPONSORED
Matthew LaVoie grew up in the USA Ninja Challenge program, and his story shows how the sport helps kids build confidence, perseverance, and skills they carry into adulthood.
Matthew LaVoie's Ninja journey began long before it was a household word. He first got involved as a young child, taking “Mommy and Me” classes at a local gymnastics studio. When the owner introduced one of the first Ninja programs in New England in 2013, LaVoie was among the small group of kids invited to try it out.
LaVoie was part of the first group he jokingly called the “pioneer ninjas.” However, what began as a small experiment soon became the foundation of his athletic career. By 2014, he was competing, winning his age group, and realizing he could hold his own against older athletes. “To be told that I beat everyone really put a spark to the tinder,” LaVoie said.
That spark carried him for years. He trained multiple days a week, poured his energy into competitions, and became the very first Level 6 athlete in the USA Ninja Challenge system. Today, at 20, LaVoie is in the Navy training as a nuclear mechanic, but the lessons of Ninja continue to shape his path.
LaVoie says Ninja is about far more than physical skill. The program taught him discipline, resilience, and how to handle failure. “Patience, humility… humility is a big one,” he said. He admits he wasn’t the most humble kid, but Ninja pushed him to grow beyond raw competitiveness.
The sport also forced him to slow down and focus. Early in his competition career, he would rush through obstacles he knew well, only to fail on simple moves like slackline traverses or long jumps. With the help of his coaches, he learned to stop, take a deep breath and reset.
That small adjustment carried into his life beyond the gym. “I actually now have the words ‘take a breath’ tattooed on the inside of my right forearm,” LaVoie said. “Sometimes you just need to take a breath.”
Before enlisting, LaVoie returned to the Concord USA Ninja Challenge gym as a coach. He worked with kids on their first ropes, walls, and courses, helping them push through the same challenges he once faced.
He recalls one student who struggled to climb the knotted rope required for Level 1. “He persevered through everything,” LaVoie said. “He had help along the way. And that’s what the coaches are there for.”
For USA Ninja Challenge franchise owners, the chance to make a lifelong difference in a child’s life is one of the most rewarding parts of ownership. Franchisees create environments where kids learn discipline and confidence that extend well beyond Ninja courses. That lasting impact on families and communities is what continues to fuel USA Ninja Challenge’s growth across the country.
Looking back, LaVoie says the lessons of Ninja shaped his character just as much as his athleticism. The mix of physical training, mental challenge, and supportive community prepared him not just for competitions but for the next stages of life.
What stands out most to him today is how those lessons continue to ripple outward. Kids may show up to Ninja classes for the fun of climbing ropes or conquering warped walls, but they leave with tools that carry into school, work, and relationships — patience, persistence, and the ability to recover from failure.
For LaVoie, that growth is what defines success in the program. “Ninja is 90 percent failure, but that 10 percent is so sweet and so beautiful,” he said. “Perseverance and dedication breed greatness.” His journey shows how the sport is less about trophies and more about shaping confident, capable humans ready to take on whatever obstacles life throws their way.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.
Sign up for the 1851 Franchise newsletter to get our biggest stories before everyone else
By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.
No related articles found
