ANW and Sasuke

 

While many people have heard about the television phenomenon American Ninja Warrior, few know about the show’s humble beginnings. In order to fully appreciate the history of ANW, one must first look to Japan:

 

SASUKE began in 1997, produced by the company Monster9. This program followed competitors attempting to complete four stages of obstacles in order to reach completion, called “kanzenseiha.” 1997, an obstacle course show titled SASUKE aired. This show gained a strong following in Japan, but on the now-defunct channel G4, American viewers began tuning into this show, drawn to its new and interesting challenges. In 2007, G4 accepted challengers in the American Ninja Challenge, a program to find American competitors for SASUKE.

 

American Ninja Challenge competitors had to complete tests of speed, endurance, and strength. Of the three competitors brought onto the show, only two completed these tests. Both of these athletes went to Japan, failing in the first stage of SASUKE 19. The next year, the field of competitors expanded to six contestants. These contestants trained even more intensely than the previous year, resulting in three qualifiers for SASUKE 20. Levi Meeuwenberg, one of the three American qualifiers, became the last man standing in SASUKE 20, completing the most obstacles in the shortest amount of time. While none of the competitors reached an exceptional position like this again, the success of American Ninja Challenge led to the creation of the hit television show American Ninja Warrior.

 

The American Ninja Warrior seen today is not the same American Ninja Warrior known today. The first three seasons of ANW aired on G4, featuring a qualifying and final course. At the end of this grueling process, ten competitors would be sent to SASUKE to face Mount Midoriyama.

 

After the success of American Ninja Warrior 3, NBC decided to air SASUKE 27 in the form of a special. G4 and SASUKE, later that year, filed for bankruptcy. NBC, seeing the potential in American Ninja Warrior, took a risk and purchased the rights to ANW. The format of ANW, under the direction of NBC, changed dramatically. Rather than a single qualifying competition, NBC expanded the challenge to include six regional tournaments. Along with ten wildcards, the fifteen finalists of these regional tournaments became the first one hundred contestants at Mount Midoriyama in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Similarly to SASUKE, ANW national finalists would have to complete the four stages of the competition to win the prize of one million dollars and the title of “American Ninja Warrior.” From ANW4 to ANW6, many contestants reached Stage 3, but none could conquer this stage.

 

In ANW7, the sport of Ninja Warrior reached the next level. Seven competitors reached Stage 3, and two completed the stage, the first Americans to ever do so. For Stage 4, Isaac Caldiero and Geoff Britten had to race up a 75 foot rope in under thirty seconds. The fastest climber would win the grand prizes of a million dollars and the title of “American Ninja Warrior.” Geoff Britten completed the course first, reaching the top in 29.65 seconds. Isaac Caldiero followed Geoff Britten, completing the course in 26.14 seconds, and won the money and the title.

 

Since its humble beginnings as American Ninja Challenge, ANW has grown into a phenomenon. Even though no one has completed Mount Midoriyama since Geoff Britten and Isaac Caldiero, thousands of people make videos and camp out for a month beforehand hoping for the chance to compete.

 

 

Sources:
http://sasukepedia.wikia.com/wiki/SASUKE
http://sasukepedia.wikia.com/wiki/American_Ninja_Challenge
http://www.ninjawarrior.info/american-ninja-warrior-vs-sasuke.html