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It’s January. The motivation is palpable. You’ve got the new shoes, the water bottle, and a genuine desire to make this year the one where "getting fit" actually happens.
But we all know the "February Fade." Life gets busy, the routine gets boring, and suddenly the gym feels like a chore. Why do so many resolutions fail? Often, it’s a lack of structure, boredom, and going it alone. This year, instead of aimlessly wandering from machine to machine, consider joining a gym focused on functional fitness classes. It might just be the missing link between setting a goal and actually achieving it. What is "Functional Fitness"?Forget isolated bicep curls or staring at a wall while on the elliptical. Functional fitness is about training your body for the activities performed in real life. It involves compound movements like squatting, pulling, pushing, and carrying. It’s training that helps you hike that trail, carry all the groceries in one trip, or keep up with your kids without throwing out your back. Why It’s the Ultimate Resolution HackJoining a structured functional fitness class addresses the main reasons resolutions fail: 1. No More Guesswork (Structure) When you’re new to fitness, walking into a big box gym is intimidating. What do you do? How many reps? In a functional fitness class, the programming is done for you. A qualified coach leads the session, demonstrates the movements, and ensures you are moving safely. You just have to show up and put in the work. 2. Banish Boredom (Variety) Functional fitness workouts rarely repeat day-to-day. One day might be strength-focused with barbells or kettlebells; the next might be high-intensity cardio involving rowing and bodyweight movements. This constant variation keeps your mind engaged and your body adapting, preventing the dreaded workout plateau. 3. The Power of the Pack (Community & Accountability) This is the game-changer. When you join a class, you aren't just a barcode scan at the front desk; you're part of a group. You suffer together, you sweat together, and you celebrate successes together. When the alarm goes off at 6 AM on a cold morning, knowing your class crew expects to see you there is often the only motivation that works. 4. Scalability for Everyone Don't be intimidated by the movements. The beauty of functional fitness is that every workout can be scaled to your current ability level. Grandparents and elite athletes can do the same workout side-by-side, adjusting the weights and movements to fit their needs. Make This Year DifferentDon't just resolve to "go to the gym." Resolve to move better, get stronger for real life, and become part of a community. Find a local gym that offers functional group fitness and try a drop-in class. You might find that this is the year the resolution finally sticks. Created with the help of Gemini.
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Unlocking Lifelong Vitality: Why an Active Lifestyle is Essential at Every Age
In our increasingly sedentary world, the importance of an active lifestyle often gets overlooked, yet its benefits are profound and span across every stage of life. From childhood to our golden years, engaging in regular physical activity is not just about maintaining a healthy weight; it's about fostering mental sharpness, emotional well-being, and a robust body that can tackle life's challenges. More Than Just Muscle: The Holistic Benefits When we talk about an active lifestyle, we're discussing a comprehensive approach to health. Regular movement strengthens our cardiovascular system, improves bone density, and boosts our immune response. But the advantages extend far beyond the physical.
While traditional sports like running, swimming, or cycling are excellent, sometimes the key to staying engaged and motivated is to try something entirely new and exciting. This is where activities like Ninja Warrior training and parkour come into their own. Imagine navigating an obstacle course, testing your grip strength, balance, and agility – just like on a Ninja Warrior course. This isn't just a physical workout; it's a mental puzzle, demanding strategic thinking and problem-solving. Or consider parkour, the art of movement that involves overcoming obstacles in an urban environment. It's about seeing your surroundings differently, finding efficient and creative ways to move through space. These types of activities offer unique benefits:
The beauty of an active lifestyle is that it's accessible to everyone, regardless of age or current fitness level. For children, it's crucial for development and learning healthy habits. For adults, it's about maintaining independence and vitality. For seniors, it's about preserving mobility, preventing falls, and enhancing quality of life. Whether you're taking up a new sport, enjoying a brisk daily walk, or exploring the dynamic world of Ninja Warrior training, every step counts. Embrace the journey of lifelong movement and unlock a healthier, happier, and more vibrant you. Level Up Your Event: Unleash the Fun with a Mobile Ninja Warrior Course!
Planning an event, whether it's a bustling festival, a lively birthday party, a school field day, or a corporate team-building retreat, always comes with the challenge of keeping guests engaged and entertained. While good food and music are staples, what if you could offer an experience that's not only incredibly fun but also promotes active participation and creates unforgettable memories? Enter the traveling Ninja Warrior course – your secret weapon for transforming any gathering into an epic adventure! Imagine the excitement as your guests, regardless of age or fitness level, get the chance to tackle obstacles inspired by the popular TV show. This isn't just about watching; it's about doing. Here’s why bringing a mobile Ninja Warrior course to your event is an absolute game-changer: 1. Ignites Active Engagement for All Ages: One of the biggest hurdles at events can be getting people off the sidelines. A Ninja Warrior course instantly solves this. It's an irresistible magnet for activity! Kids will flock to it, testing their agility and strength. Teens will revel in the challenge, perhaps even competing with friends. And adults? They often surprise themselves with how much fun they have re-discovering their inner athlete. It’s a fantastic way to encourage physical activity in a genuinely exciting format. 2. Boosts Excitement and Creates a Buzz: A Ninja Warrior course is a visual spectacle. The ropes, climbing walls, balance beams, and warped walls immediately elevate the energy of your event. It becomes a central hub of activity, drawing attention and sparking conversations. People will be cheering each other on, sharing tips, and celebrating successes. This level of interactive excitement is hard to replicate with static entertainment. 3. Perfect for a Wide Range of Events:
While many will simply enjoy trying the obstacles, others will embrace the challenge, striving to beat their personal best or compete friendly with friends. This natural sense of healthy competition adds another layer of engagement without being overly intimidating. It's about personal achievement and the thrill of overcoming an obstacle. 5. Memorable Experiences & Photo Opportunities: In an age dominated by social media, a Ninja Warrior course offers incredible content. Guests will be snapping photos and videos of their attempts, triumphs, and hilarious falls. These shareable moments extend the reach and memory of your event long after it's over. 6. Easy Setup & Professional Operation: MLab mobile Ninja Warrior course providers handle all the logistics – from delivery and professional setup to trained staff who supervise the course and ensure safety. This means less stress for you and a seamlessly integrated, high-quality attraction for your guests. Don't settle for ordinary entertainment. If you want to create an event that truly stands out, gets people moving, laughing, and talking for weeks afterward, then look no further than a traveling Ninja Warrior course. It's an investment in fun, fitness, and unforgettable memories! Ditch the Mess, Embrace the Awesome: Why a Ninja Gym is the Ultimate Birthday Party Hack! Let's face it, kids' birthday parties are a joyous occasion, filled with laughter, cake, and sometimes, a chaotic aftermath that leaves parents wondering if they just hosted a tiny tornado. But what if I told you there's a way to celebrate your child's special day without sacrificing your sanity or your spotless living room? Moving your child's birthday party out of your home isn't just a trend; it's a game-changer. And when it comes to creating an unforgettable, stress-free, and seriously fun experience, a ninja gym is in a league of its own. Here's why hosting your child's birthday at a ninja gym is a move you won't regret: 1. Say Goodbye to Cleanup Crew Duty! This is, arguably, the number one perk for any parent. Imagine: the party wraps up, the kids are happily exhausted, and you... simply walk away. No sticky floors, no discarded wrapping paper confetti, no mountain of dishes. The ninja gym handles all the post-party tidying, leaving you free to actually enjoy the memories you just made, rather than dreading the cleanup. It's a luxury you truly deserve! 2. Expert-Led Fun: Instructors to the Rescue! Planning party games and keeping a group of energetic kids engaged can be a daunting task. Enter the ninja gym instructors! These pros are not only skilled in all things ninja warrior, but they're also masters of crowd control and fun facilitation. They'll lead exciting activities, teach cool moves, and ensure every child feels included and entertained. You get to sit back, relax, and watch the magic unfold, knowing your child and their friends are in capable hands. 3. Less Stress, More Celebration! The truth is, hosting a party at home can be incredibly stressful. From decorating to cooking, entertaining to managing unexpected spills, it's a lot to juggle. When you take the party out of your home, you immediately alleviate so much of that pressure. A ninja gym provides the venue, the entertainment, and often even handles the food and cake if you choose. This means you can actually be present at your child's party, soaking in their joy, rather than running around trying to keep all the plates spinning. 4. An Unforgettable, Active Experience Beyond the convenience, a ninja gym offers a unique and exhilarating experience that your child and their friends will talk about for ages. Imagine them tackling obstacle courses, scaling climbing walls, swinging on ropes, and channeling their inner ninja warriors! It's an active, engaging, and healthy way to celebrate, burning off all that excited energy in a structured and safe environment. This isn't just another party; it's an adventure! 5. No Home Damage Worries Let's be honest, we all love our kids, but a dozen excited children bouncing off the walls of your living room can lead to some anxious moments (and potential damage). By moving the party to a dedicated facility, you eliminate any worries about your furniture, walls, or prized possessions. The ninja gym is designed for high-energy play, so you can relax and let the kids be kids without a second thought. 6. Built-in Entertainment No need to brainstorm party games, hire entertainers, or set up elaborate activities. The ninja gym is the entertainment. The various obstacles and challenges provide endless opportunities for play, competition, and teamwork. It's a dynamic environment that naturally keeps kids engaged and having a blast from start to finish. In conclusion, while the idea of a home-based birthday party has its nostalgic charm, the modern parent knows the value of outsourcing the stress and maximizing the fun. A ninja gym birthday party offers the perfect blend of convenience, excitement, and peace of mind. So this year, skip the home chaos and embrace the awesome – your child will thank you, and so will your sanity! This blog was created with the help of Google Gemini Unleash Their Inner Ninja: Why Movement and New Activities are Key for Kids Remember the boundless energy of childhood? That's not just for fun; it's a vital force for development! Encouraging kids to move, explore, and try new physical activities is more important than ever. It's not just about burning off steam; it's about building strong bodies, confident minds, and a lifelong love of activity. Think about it – our bodies are designed to move. For children, this movement is crucial for developing gross motor skills, coordination, balance, and spatial awareness. Every jump, run, and climb contributes to a healthy physical foundation. And when kids engage in a variety of activities, they're not just strengthening their muscles, they're also building resilience and adaptability. This is where activities like Ninja Warrior and parkour truly shine. These aren't just trendy sports; they are incredible, full-body workouts that engage every muscle group. Imagine swinging from monkey bars, scaling walls, and navigating obstacle courses – it's like a playground taken to the next level! Here's why these types of activities are so beneficial:
So, let's encourage our kids to put down the screens and pick up the momentum! Whether it's a dedicated Ninja Warrior class, exploring a local parkour gym, or simply encouraging adventurous play at the playground, every step, jump, and climb contributes to a healthier, happier, and more confident child. What are your favorite ways to get kids moving? Share your thoughts in the comments below! This blog was created with the help of Google Gemini Unlock Your Potential: It's Never Too Late to Embrace Functional FitnessFeeling like you've missed the boat on fitness? Think again! It's truly never too late to embark on a journey towards a healthier and more active life, and functional fitness is a fantastic place to start.
Forget about endless hours on treadmills or isolating specific muscles in the gym. Functional fitness focuses on exercises that mimic everyday movements – think squatting to pick up groceries, reaching for items on a high shelf, or carrying bags. These exercises engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, improving your strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance in ways that directly translate to your daily life. So, how can functional fitness classes help you truly enjoy life more?
Don't let another day go by feeling limited. Take that first step. Explore a functional fitness class in your area. Discover the joy of moving with greater ease, strength, and confidence. It's never too late to invest in your health and unlock a more vibrant and enjoyable life. Your body will thank you for it! If you're interested in MLab's Functional Fitness Classes check them out here. This blog was created with the help of Google Gemini Unlock Your Body's Potential: How Parkour Teaches Effortless MovementWe often move through our days on autopilot, rarely giving conscious thought to the intricate mechanics of our bodies. But what if you could move with greater awareness, efficiency, and control? That's where the principles of parkour come in, offering a unique and powerful pathway to understanding and mastering your physical form. At its core, parkour isn't just about leaping over obstacles. It's about body control. It's about developing an intimate understanding of your capabilities, your limitations, and how to navigate the world around you with precision and grace. Through consistent practice, you learn to:
So, whether you aspire to scale buildings or simply want to move through your day with greater ease and awareness, exploring the principles of parkour can be a transformative journey. It's about unlocking your body's inherent potential and learning to move not just effectively, but intelligently. Start small, find a qualified instructor, and begin to discover the incredible capabilities you already possess. Your body will thank you for it. If you're interested in MLab's Prakour Classes check them out here. This blog was created with the help of Google Gemini More Than Obstacles: The Unbreakable Community of Ninja Warrior In a world often defined by fierce competition and individual glory, there exists a sport that flips the script entirely. Step onto the starting platform of a Ninja Warrior course, and you’ll find yourself immersed in an atmosphere unlike any other. It’s a place where personal challenge meets unwavering camaraderie, where athletes push their limits not just for themselves, but alongside a supportive family forged in the fires of warped walls and salmon ladders. For those unfamiliar, Ninja Warrior might seem like a solitary pursuit. An individual battling gravity, balance, and sheer physical and mental fortitude against a series of daunting obstacles. And while the spotlight shines on the lone competitor navigating the course, the reality behind the scenes, and even echoing from the sidelines, is a powerful testament to the strength of community. Unlike traditional sports where rivalries can be intense and the focus is often solely on outperforming the competition, the Ninja Warrior community thrives on mutual encouragement and genuine support. Walk into any ninja gym or attend a competition, and you’ll witness a unique phenomenon: athletes cheering each other on with fervent enthusiasm, offering tips and advice, and celebrating every success, big or small, as if it were their own.
Why is the Ninja Warrior community so different? Several factors contribute to this extraordinary camaraderie: The Shared Struggle: The obstacles in Ninja Warrior are inherently difficult. They demand immense dedication, perseverance, and often, multiple attempts to conquer. This shared experience of pushing physical and mental boundaries creates a powerful bond between athletes. They understand the frustration of a fall, the elation of a new personal best, and the sheer grit required to keep going. This shared struggle fosters empathy and a deep respect for everyone who steps onto the course. Focus on Personal Growth: While competition exists, the primary focus for many ninjas is on personal improvement. It’s about conquering their own fears, overcoming their individual weaknesses, and pushing their own limits. This internal drive naturally leads to a more supportive environment, as athletes recognize that everyone is on their own unique journey of growth. A Culture of Learning and Sharing: The ninja community is incredibly open and collaborative. Experienced athletes readily share their techniques, training tips, and even offer encouragement mid-course. There’s a genuine desire to see everyone improve and succeed. This culture of learning and sharing elevates the entire sport and strengthens the bonds between its participants. Beyond the Competition: For many ninjas, the sport extends far beyond the competition floor. Ninja gyms become second homes, and fellow athletes become like family. They train together, travel together, and support each other through life’s challenges, both inside and outside the gym. This deep sense of belonging creates a powerful and lasting community. Celebrating Every Victory: Whether it’s a clean run, conquering a nemesis obstacle, or simply making it further than before, every achievement in Ninja Warrior is met with genuine celebration. The cheers from the sidelines are often as loud for the last competitor as they are for the frontrunners. This collective appreciation for effort and progress reinforces the positive and supportive atmosphere. The Impact of Community: This strong community aspect has a profound impact on the athletes: Increased Motivation: Knowing you have a supportive network cheering you on can be a powerful motivator to push harder and overcome challenges. Faster Learning and Improvement: Access to the collective knowledge and experience of the community accelerates individual growth. Enhanced Mental Toughness: The encouragement and belief from fellow ninjas can provide the mental fortitude needed to face daunting obstacles. A Sense of Belonging: Being part of such a positive and supportive group fosters a strong sense of belonging and camaraderie. Greater Enjoyment of the Sport: Ultimately, the supportive community makes the entire Ninja Warrior experience more enjoyable and fulfilling. Ninja Warrior is more than just a test of physical prowess; it's a testament to the power of human connection. It's a sport where the obstacles on the course are matched by the unwavering support off the course. In a world that often emphasizes individual achievement, the ninja community stands as a shining example of how shared passion, mutual respect, and genuine encouragement can create something truly extraordinary. So, the next time you see a ninja conquer a seemingly impossible obstacle, remember that behind that individual feat lies a powerful community, cheering them on every step of the way. If you're interested in MLab's Ninja Classes check them out here. This blog was created with the help of Google Gemini Hello! My name is Michelle Warnky Buurma, and I am excited and so grateful that MLAB OHIO is about to have its 10th birthday as a Ninja, Parkour, OCR, and Fitness gym in Columbus, Ohio. It’s extra special to be in Worthington, which is the city I grew up and went to school in. I can hardly remember what life was like before the gym. In this blog, I’m going to share about our journey here, as well as tips for training, talk with staff, interviews with members, and more! Thanks for joining us.
I am a co-owner of MOVEMENT LAB OHIO (aka MLAB OHIO), along with Chris and Brian Wilczewski. They are brothers from New Jersey, who started the first Movement Lab there. That is the first gym I ever visited and the first indoor Ninja gym in the country! Chris also created the National Ninja League while we were building to open MLAB OHIO. It has grown tremendously and is now called the World Ninja League. One of the most popular questions I get asked is how did I get into ninja? Generally the follow-up question is how did MOVEMENT LAB OHIO get started. To start off this blog, I will share the answers to the first question, then answer the second in a follow-up post! My name is Michelle Buurma now, but my maiden name was Warnky. I combine those names in ninja and motivational speaking, since many still know me by Warnky. I have always been active and competitive. My family says that I always worked hard to keep up with my brother. I loved playing outside for hours in our neighborhood growing up. We played football, baseball, as well as hotbox, and home run derby with tennis balls! My family ended up getting a basketball sport court in our backyard where my brother and dad destroyed me daily! My dad created different tournaments like knock-out and 21, and at the end of the summer, those that held records got Frosties from Wendy's :) My brother always held the title of the most games won, because he played me all the time! I always loved climbing, and I think around 2nd grade, my mom saw a newspaper article about a new climbing gym opening up called VERTICAL ADVENTURES! She and I went to try it out, and I was instantly hooked! We had been doing a monthly family activity of bowling, and we quickly shifted it to indoor Rock Climbing. I fell in love with it. I competed at a few Vertical Adventures competitions around 5th or 6th grade (there weren't teams or regular competitions like there are now). I also traveled to Cincinnati once to compete at ROCK QUEST . Once 7th grade hit, I started doing cross country and track at Worthingway Middle School, then at Thomas Worthington for high school. Then I only had time to climb during the summers. It always took a few weeks out of the summer to get my calluses and upper body strength back to climbing level, but I was always so excited to get back to it. I ended up going to college at University of the Cumberlands and ran cross country and track there, but every summer I'd come back and get some climbing in. After college I served overseas as an English teacher with a Christian organization in Kazakhstan for 5 school years. When I first heard about Kazakhstan on a discovery call with the sending organization, I went to look at a map and was shocked to find that it is the 9th largest country in the world! It is located south of Russia and west of China. The movie Borat introduced many Americans to Kazakhstan, even though it wasn’t realistic and was actually filmed in Romania. In Kazakhstan we walked all the time. I lived in an apartment on the 6th floor and we always took the stairs. It was about a half mile walk (or more) to the bus stop, another mile to the office where my Russian language classes were, a half mile to the school where we taught, another half mile or so to the bus stop at night, then another half mile walk or more to the apartment. The 6 flights of stairs at the end of the day were rough sometimes! :) While there, I kept up my running with a group of friends called "Physculturnicas" who loved to be active outside. We ran a marathon together, went climbing and camping outdoors a few times, and did other active things. I also helped lead and play baseball or football (in the snow) every Saturday with a group of students/former students and some fellow teachers. I also got out of my comfort zone and tried belly dancing my second year there with a friend! I really enjoy dancing, but only at home, or in a comfortable setting which is usually in a crowd or when no guys are around. Thankfully it was an all women’s class! The instructor was so impressively good that I was so focused on trying to recreate the movements, and I didn't get too embarrassed most of the time! During my time in Kazakhstan, I had lost most of my upper body strength due to not using it much, but I was still way more muscular than almost any other female there. People would comment on my arm muscles at times, and I actually got some compliments on them. Growing up I had more often heard comments like- ‘you must use steroids if you’re that strong or muscular’, which made me not really want to get too strong. I enjoyed lifting as well, but never wanted to lift too hard to get too muscular. I realized in college that I never really felt attractive or feminine from all those comments and being muscular, but in Kazakhstan I finally started to appreciate the muscles I had. I was thankful for the way they protected me (story for another time), allowed me to do what I loved, and I could still dress up and be a lady. After 5 years in Kazakhstan, I very distinctly felt God telling me to come back to the States. When I first came back, there were many adjustment challenges like finding my new place in life, finding friends to spend time with, figuring out what I should do with my life, etc. I considered everything. I love massages, so I considered learning to be a masseuse. I considered nursing, firefighting, and so much more. I eventually called around about jobs and started out as a personal trainer at Urban Active, now L.A. Fitness. I also got a job working as a server at Texas Roadhouse-yes their rolls are delicious! As is all of their food! But those two jobs were pretty much opposites-as a trainer I started around 5 or 5:30am, and worked till around 11am or noon. Then I'd go home, prep workouts for the next day's clients, then head into work at Texas Roadhouse around 3:30/4pm and work till late. I was running regularly and I started climbing again. I started bringing some of my fellow servers from Roadhouse to Vertical Adventures to climb, and was getting a lot stronger. But I was also burning the candle at both ends. I started getting sick a lot more since I wasn't getting enough sleep, and needed to start crashing hard and taking a nap in the middle of the day. During this period I tried out my first Obstacle Course Race (OCR) called the Warrior Dash. I ran it with a climbing friend, and a friend from college joined us too. While we were walking to registration I remember one of them mentioning a TV show called "American Ninja Warrior". He asked if I had ever heard of it and said he thought I would love it! My college friend agreed and she said someone from my college had also competed on the show. It sounded cool, but I didn't think much of it. We had a blast at the OCR race! I won my heat for the women easily, but then found out a female in another heat beat me by a few seconds for the overall top finish. I already loved the race, but that lit a fire in me to start racing with other top females! In time I started going out to other OCR races like the Savage Race, Tough Mudder (and the Toughest Mudder 24 hr race, but that's a story for another time!), Mud, Guts, and Glory, OCR World Championships, North American Championships, Spartan Races, and more! I hadn't thought again about that show "Ninja Warrior" until a few days later after a shift at Texas Roadhouse. I was sitting at a table talking with some of my co-workers and eating, then a friend came up bright eyed and banging her hands on the table. "Michelle! Have you seen the show American Ninja Warrior?! You would love it, you need to do it!" She started telling me all about it. My curiosity was fully piqued, so I went to my parents' house and looked it up with them. It was love at first sight! It just clicked. I couldn’t wait to try out some obstacles! But then I hit a roadblock. I didn’t see any females on the show, only men. My mom and I ended up freeze-framing a group picture of the Las Vegas finals competitors, and looked through the faces of 100 competitors. We found 3 ladies out of 100 athletes competing, which was enough for me! I started telling people that I wanted to try Ninja Warrior. Many hadn’t heard of it, and several who knew of the show said, “You’re strong, but you’re not THAT strong!” I thought I was strong enough, but I wanted to go test myself and find out! I searched on facebook and found that there had been a ninja event hosted in New Jersey about a month earlier. I contacted the owner (Chris Wilczewski - now a business partner! ) and asked when their next ninja event was. He said he would probably host another one next year, but that I was welcome to come out any weekend. I took him up on that, and ended up driving 8 hours away with a friend to New Jersey for a 1 day training session! We got in pretty late in the evening Friday night. I knew I’d likely have to wait till the next day to try anything, but we started talking with Chris and some others for a while. After talking for 5 to 10 minutes, I was itching to try something. I asked if I could just quickly try the one obstacle I most wanted to try- the salmon ladder. It was staring at me from the back of the gym and calling my name! Chris said sure, so I headed over and hopped up. I quickly popped it up one rung, and then got one side up another rung, but it was crooked. I heard Chris shouting advice. I hopped it up again and straightened it out. Then I got it up another rung, but it was crooked again! I kept hearing advice being shouted, so I got it level again, and made it to the top! I hopped down, and was so excited! Chris looked shocked and said he had never seen a female get the salmon ladder before! He said I definitely had to try their warped wall the next day, because a female had never gotten it. I could barely sleep that night I was so excited! The next day I came back and tried out everything. I got all of the upper body obstacles, and even learned how to do an 8 foot lache (swinging from one bar to another bar 8 feet away). The warped wall hadn’t been available all day, even though I was dying to try it. At the end of the training session, they did something they called a meathead challenge on the warped wall. They started with a long run up, and slowly made the length of runup shorter and shorter. We played ‘PIG’ so that if you missed the wall, you got a letter. Once you missed 3 times, you spelled PIG and were out. I was out first, as the only female, and the only one who had never tried the wall before. After they finished the challenge, I worked on the wall for about 2 hours. I was getting closer and closer, but wasn’t quite there. All the guys were telling me to take 3 steps on the wall. One time I unintentionally took 4 steps…and my fingers touched the top of the wall! I got so excited and realized I needed to do it differently than the guys. A few tries after that, I got the wall and exploded with excitement! All of the guys started asking me if I was going to do the show. I had no idea how to apply, but told them I wanted to! I came back to Columbus, Ohio fired up. I showed videos of the obstacles to Alexis, the owner of Vertical Adventures. He said that if I could find people to help me build obstacles, he would let me use their tools, help with materials, and let me put up obstacles in the gym after hours. I started building quad steps and quickly had a friend join me to build them. Chris Wilczewski had added me to a Ninja Warrior facebook group, and I posted a picture of our newly built quad steps there! Within a day or two, I found a voicemail on my phone. I listened to it, and to my surprise, it was a producer from American Ninja Warrior! He had seen that I was building obstacles and asked if I was going to apply for the show! I was shocked and over the moon. I called him back and told him I would absolutely love to do the show. He talked to me about how to apply and make a submission video. He said he’d be looking out for my video. I was hooked, and started working on my video right away. Here is my video from 12 years ago. Before long, I got my first acceptance call to be on the show! |
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Michelle Warnky BuurmaMichelle Warnky Buurma is a 11x Ninja Warrior competitor, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, MLab Ohio gym owner, and Obstacle Course Racer. Michelle has been blessed with an incredible husband, Joel, and a beautiful baby Grace who was born 3 months premature, weighing 1lb 14oz! Michelle loves God and people, and aims to live her life serving both with love! She is so grateful for the incredible staff at MLab Ohio who serve so many through the gym and through their lives! Archives
January 2026
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