Take a peek inside a Ninja Warrior gym

Watch kids at play in a park and you’ll see a freedom of movement that only the young have. They run, jump, swing on monkey bars. The more daring ones balance on the fulcrum of the teeter-totter. Ever wish you could join them?

I recently got a chance to play like a kid again at Kor Komplex in St. Charles, Mo. When I left, I had two immediate and conflicting thoughts: When did I become so fearful? And, when can I go back?

The Ninja Warrior Experience

My husband and I started watching American Ninja Warrior a couple summers ago. For those not familiar with the popular show, competitors move through an increasingly difficult obstacle course set up in their city. If they finish the course, they move on to the national finals round in Las Vegas.

While watching qualifying rounds broadcast from Kansas City, the announcer mentioned Kor Komplex, where competitor Kirsti Meyer trained. I jokingly told my husband I was going to check it out and maybe try out for the show. But then I thought, why not?

Kor Komplex offers 15 different obstacles in its 3,300 square feet of space. Physically, they are designed to challenge your upper body and core strength, coordination, agility, balance and grip. Mentally, they challenge your determination and grit.

Everyone has to take a 90-minute class before they can use the gym on their own. The coaches demonstrate the obstacles and talk about safety. Then, for a half an hour, they cut you loose to play while sticking around to help.

When I went on a Saturday afternoon, there were about five adults and a half-dozen kids. We were divided up, with Meyer coaching the adults. That day I realized, even after two years of CrossFit training, I still lack strength, balance and agility.

Kor Komplex’s obstacles include the cliffhanger, pegboard, salmon ladder, devil steps, rumbling dice, quad steps and warped wall. All of these are on American Ninja Warrior at least once during each season, and I tried them all.

They were hard. Really hard.

Don’t be afraid to play

I tried not to get discouraged. It was unrealistic for me to think I could easily do these obstacles on the first try. Still, it was hard to wrap my head around my lack of strength and some of my fears—fear of heights, fear of tripping and fear of breaking a bone. Where was that childhood bravado? I think we lose some of that as we get older and understand the risk.

But the coaches also reminded me of two important “laws” of working out: Repetition builds muscle memory, and the only way to reach a goal is through progression. If I keep playing, I will get better.