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The Ninja Nation Story: An Unlikely Kids Gym Franchise

Lucas Clarke • Mar 16, 2023

People don’t usually think of Ninja sports and obstacle course racing as a match with a kids gym franchise.


But Ninja sports and obstacle course racing has captured America’s imagination. People of all ages love to watch and imagine themselves overcoming obstacles, just like the first
American Ninja Warrior, Geoff Britten.


Match Ninja Nation, the country’s leading provider of world-class obstacle course arenas, with the excitement kids (and their parents) have about the Ninja sports movement, and you have a kids gym franchise opportunity that’s ripe for the investing.


What We Do at the Ninja Nation Kids Gym Franchise


We are a world-class obstacle course provider at Ninja Nation, and while our target audience is mainly youth, we serve ninjas of all ages interested in playing, training, and/or competing in ninja sports and obstacle course training. 


Our mission? We’re out to create one million heroes. That’s one million kids and adults pushing their minds and bodies to new heights to find their next level of determination, perseverance, and self-confidence. 


At Ninja Nation kids’ gym franchises, we help kids and adults alike find new, exciting, and fun ways to work their bodies, get fit, and challenge themselves. We change our courses each week to keep challenges fresh and dynamic, unlike a boring static jungle gym or regular fitness center. 


Ninja Nation coaches keep the obstacles versatile to help participants develop new skills and grow their abilities for specific achievements—strength, balance, flexibility, agility, and endurance. 


We meld the worlds of sport and entertainment, which appeals within the kids gym franchise space. Our programming includes youth focused boutique fitness concepts heavily influenced by entertainment—birthday parties, day camps, open gym time, and more. 


Our programming fits 3 categories: 

  • Play – Play encompasses 75% of what we do at Ninja Nation—open gym, birthday parties, field trips, camps, and team building. Our guests have fun, move their bodies, and challenge themselves.
  • Train – When they’re ready for the next step, we encourage them to train. This involves our different class offerings. 
  • Compete – Some of our guests continue on from there to Compete in local, regional, and national competitions.


We also have the ability to take Ninja Nation kids gym franchises mobile with two unique franchise models. More about that in a moment.


How the Ninja Nation Concept Grew to the Kids Gym Franchise We Are Today


Wayne Cavanaugh began the Ninja Nation in 2017 out of a desire to have a place where kids (and adults) can play, train, and compete in a safe, open, well-lit, and clean facility. 


Ninja Nation is somewhere kids can learn lifelong lessons of determination, persistence, and a growth mindset. Ninja Nation is also a place where kids can form healthy fitness habits that are rooted in fun and challenge that will serve them for a lifetime.


Geoff Britten—yes, the first
American Ninja Warrior to complete the show’s obstacle course—joined the team in January 2018 to develop the Arena spaces and the coach training program. Lucas Clarke, VP of Marketing, was brought on board to develop all aspects of the Ninja Nation kids gym franchise brand look and feel, as well as round out the digital and in-person guest experience. Andrea Eastman, the first manager hired to head up the Arena, developed the staff training and operations guidelines for the business in anticipation of the first Arena opening in Lafayette, CO in July of 2018.


Together as a team, they set out to bring amazing ninja style franchised kid gyms to the US that feature classes, open gyms, and the best birthday parties available on the planet. 


After that first location in Lafayette, Colorado, two more Ninja Nation locations opened, another in Colorado and one in Texas.


Ninja Nation Programs


The Ninja Nation mission is to provide a fun, safe, and engaging space where everyone can be a hero. We help people find their strength, endurance, and power to overcome obstacles, get up when they fall, and keep going no matter how much they may want to quit. That’s how you make a hero.


Our programs are designed not only to help people find that core of inner fortitude, but they’re also fun and exciting. 


We offer:

  • Classes for kids and adults
  • Private lessons
  • Open gym
  • Ninja Nights
  • Day and summer camps
  • Birthday parties
  • Team building events
  • Field trips and group bookings


We also have curriculums designed to build Ninjas for competitions, no matter the age group or ability level. 


The Benefits of Ninja Nation Kids Gym Franchises and Ninja Sports


There’s so much that can be learned through Ninja training that can be applied outside an obstacle course. 


Not only does Ninja Nation bring fun to fitness, but we also teach about teamwork and community, perseverance, balance, determination, strength, confidence, and believing in oneself. And yes, we also help people learn to fail. 


Because every Ninja falls now and then. The trick to building a hero is getting back up every time.


Part of our passion is teaching America’s youth about perseverance, strength, and overcoming obstacles in a way that’s fun, engaging, and most of all, instills the habits of fitness. Childhood rates of obesity and diabetes are at record levels, and we want to give children a reason to get up and get moving.



Perhaps the biggest benefit of a Ninja Nation kids gym franchise is creating a safe, fun, clean environment where people of all ages can get active, healthy, and have fun in a way that reverses poor self-image, low confidence, and can reduce mental health stressors.


The Ninja Nation Investment Opportunity


We’re on a mission to create one million heroes across the USA, and we’re doing that by offering Ninja Nation kids gym franchise opportunities. 


There are two investment options available: 

  1. Ninja Nation Mobile—take the course where the Ninjas are as a high-visibility showpiece at events indoors, outdoors, or virtually anywhere. Talk about agility! It’s the perfect attraction for fairs, festivals, schools, and more. The mobile unit is actually 2 mobile courses and 2 warped walls, making double the impact!

  2. The Complete Ninja Nation Package—open a static facility as a home base for your franchise, enhanced by a single mobile unit and one warped wall available for taking Ninja Nation anywhere.


We’re excited to bring this opportunity to interested entrepreneurs who match our energy. This is an unparalleled investment opportunity with one of the Ninja obstacle course industry’s biggest brands at golden time when we’re growing rapidly. 


Investing in a Ninja Nation kids gym franchise is your chance to help us create one million heroes!


Are you ready to become part of a world-class brand with some of the best minds in Ninja sports at the helm at a time when our investment potential is at its highest?
Contact us today to learn how!


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Training and Skill Development Franchisors provide comprehensive training programs that equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to run your business successfully. This training can also enhance your business acumen, which can be valuable in future ventures. Exclusive Territory Many franchises offer exclusive territory rights. This means that you won't face direct competition from other franchise locations in your area, allowing you to build a loyal customer base and a successful business. Brand Loyalty Customers often exhibit strong brand loyalty to well-known franchises. This loyalty can lead to repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals, helping you maintain a steady flow of customers. Independent business owners can benefit from the built in customer base and instant brand recognition of the franchisor. Research and Development Franchisors typically invest in ongoing research and development to keep their businesses competitive. 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Whether you are a seasoned business owner or a first-time entrepreneur, choosing a Ninja Nation franchise offers a unique opportunity to make a positive impact, generate profits, and foster a sense of belonging in your local community, especially for kids. Fill out this online contact form to get started today.
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