Ninja is an exciting and challenging sport for athletes ages 6–15 that combines strength, agility, coordination, balance, speed, and mental focus. Being part of a Ninja Team gives athletes the opportunity to challenge themselves, learn new skills, and build confidence while becoming part of a supportive team environment.

At Shining Light Gymnastics, our goal is to help athletes become stronger, more confident, and more resilient through positive coaching, purposeful training, and plenty of encouragement. Ninja teaches athletes to approach challenges with determination, learn from mistakes, and keep going when a skill doesn’t come easily.

Our Ninja Teams are invitation-based programs for athletes who demonstrate the physical ability, focus, work ethic, and desire to take their training to the next level. Team athletes are expected to be committed to their training, supportive of their teammates, and willing to push themselves beyond their comfort zone.

Ninja Team

Our Ninja Team program is designed for athletes who are ready for a greater challenge and want to pursue Ninja as a competitive sport. Athletes develop skills across a variety of obstacles while building the strength, speed, coordination, endurance, and body control needed to navigate increasingly challenging courses.

Training focuses on both individual skill development and competition preparation. Athletes learn how to approach obstacles strategically, manage pressure, and adapt when a course presents something unexpected.

As athletes progress through the program, they are challenged with more advanced obstacles and higher levels of competition. Each athlete develops at their own pace, with coaches helping them identify areas for growth and set achievable goals along the way.

• Training commitment: 1.5 hours a week

What Athletes Gain

Ninja Team is about much more than completing obstacles. Athletes develop:

• Strength and body control
• Agility, speed, and coordination
• Balance and spatial awareness
• Mental focus and problem-solving
• Confidence and independence
• Perseverance and resilience
• Goal-setting and work ethic
• Teamwork and camaraderie

Whether an athlete is flying through an obstacle they once thought was impossible or encouraging a teammate through a difficult challenge, Ninja Team gives kids opportunities to discover what they are capable of—and then challenge themselves to go even further.

Competition

Our Ninja Team athletes compete through the United Ninja Athlete Association (UNAA), representing Shining Light Gymnastics at UNAA competitions. These events give athletes the opportunity to put their training to the test, experience the excitement of competing under pressure, and celebrate the progress they have made.

Most importantly, we want our athletes to learn that success isn’t always about finishing first. It’s about showing up, working hard, overcoming challenges, and becoming better than they were yesterday.