I think we can all agree that exercise is better when it’s fun. That’s one of the reasons Ninja works so well, especially for kids. Here’s the truth…when something feels fun, kids (and adults) show up differently. There’s more room to laugh…which actually leads to more effort, a willingness to try things even if failure is a possibility, and the discovery of new abilities!
One of the things that I love about Ninja is that you can start at any level of ability. Kids can come as they are and develop at their own speed. As coaches, we always have plans for how to adapt a skill: either breaking it down into smaller parts for the beginner Ninjas, or making it more challenging for the experienced ones.
That’s part of the fun as well. It’s a low pressure environment. You don’t have teammates counting on your performance or the pressure of competing against anyone except yourself!
Yes…it’s worth pointing out that some of the kids still want to compare themselves to other kids. I think that’s human nature. But as coaches we try to constantly remind our Ninjas that they are just trying to improve, grow, and develop at their own pace. Some things come naturally to some, while other things are more difficult and take practice. We all have strengths and weaknesses. If you can only hang onto the bar for 1 second, try to get to 3! If hanging for 5 minutes is no sweat, your next goal should be 6!
In our gym, we do try to emphasize a team mentality…not in terms of comparison or pressure, but simply for encouragement! We love seeing our Ninjas cheer each other on, share advice, and celebrate wins. It kind of feels like the best of both worlds. You’ve got teammates to support you without the fear of letting anyone down.
And then…as kids are smiling and laughing their way across monkey bars, swinging on rings, vaulting over boxes, scaling our climbing wall, or balancing across a beam…something amazing happens. They get stronger.
When you’re having fun navigating obstacles, you’re not thinking “one more rep” or “push through the burn.” 🙂 You’re just trying to complete whatever is in front of you.
All the while, kids are developing full body strength, balance, agility, and endurance.
When they’re laughing as they jump over vault boxes because a coach is “chasing them,” or trying to beat their previous best time through a course, their hearts and lungs are developing endurance and their muscles are growing in strength…and it doesn’t really feel like a workout.
We think that’s pretty awesome. Our core value “Willing 2 Have Fun” isn’t just one of those feel-good add-ons…it plays a real role in what we are trying to accomplish.
