Flying Shelf Grab

The Flying Shelf Grab is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the eighth obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 7 during Kansas City finals.

It consisted of two suspended shelves with a 2-inch ledge on both shelves, and the gap between the shelves was 6 feet.

After completing the Salmon Ladder, competitors must make the transition to a stationary bar in front of them. From there, they must swing forward to the first shelf. Once on the first shelf, they must build enough swing and momentum to make a transition to the second shelf. And finally, they must swing to the landing platform to advance.

In its debut during Kansas City finals, the Flying Shelf Grab knocked out several top competitors like Michael Silenzi, Dave Cavanagh, Ethan Swanson, Jon Stewart, Kevin Hogan, and Dan Banura. In total, 7 out of 23 competitors who attempted this obstacle failed to complete it. However, 16 competitors completed the obstacle, and as such, the next obstacle, the Body Prop, became the cut off for the top 15 competitors to advance to Las Vegas national finals.

American Ninja Warrior 8
The Flying Shelf Grab returned on American Ninja Warrior 8, as the eighth obstacle during Philadelphia finals. However, the gap between the shelves was increased to 8 feet.

This time, the obstacle took out 5 out of the 15 competitors who attempted it, which were Carl Fantauzzo, Brandon Pannell, Richard Shoemaker, Nick Kostreski, and Anthony DeFranco. Because only 10 competitors completed the obstacle during Philadelphia finals, the Flying Shelf Grab became the cut off for the top 15 competitors to advance to Las Vegas national finals, and all five competitors who failed on the obstacle still advanced to Las Vegas national finals.

American Ninja Warrior 10
On American Ninja Warrior 10, the Flying Shelf Grab appeared as the fourth obstacle during Los Angeles finals, replacing the Sky Hooks during Los Angeles qualifiers. This time, the obstacle featured 3 shelves, with the second shelf being placed slightly higher than the other 2 shelves.

Due to its placement as the fourth obstacle, there was a trampoline at the start of the obstacle, as a medium to reach the first shelf. Despite that, the obstacle was proven to be much easier than on American Ninja Warrior 7 and American Ninja Warrior 8, as it only wiped out Anthony Trucks and Jeremy Rivette.

This variation of the Flying Shelf Grab was attempted early during Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day 2. However, there were two laché bars placed before the first shelf and after the third shelf, and the gap between each shelf was 5 feet, in order to make the obstacle slightly easier for celebrity competitors. Among the 6 celebrity competitors who attempted the obstacle, only Nikki Bella and Gregg Sulkin failed to complete it. Akbar Gbaja-Biamila had his veteran partner Kevin Bull complete the obstacle. Despite that, Akbar was credited $5,000 from that completion for Red Nose Day charity.

Australian Ninja Warrior
On Australian Ninja Warrior, the Flying Shelf Grab (simply called as the Flying Shelf) appeared as the seventh obstacle in Semifinal 2. However, competitors needed to climb up a rope. Then, they must swing forward to reach the first shelf.

Then, the obstacle appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 1 on Australian Ninja Warrior 2. This time, there was a trampoline and a laché bar at the start of the obstacle, as a medium to reach the first shelf.

On Australian Ninja Warrior 3, the Flying Shelf Grab (called as the Flying Shelf) appeared as the seventh obstacle during the semifinals. This time, similar to its appearance on American Ninja Warrior, the obstacle was preceded by the Salmon Ladder with no rest, and both of them were combined and counted as one obstacle (rather than one separate obstacle each).

On Australian Ninja Warrior 4, the Flying Shelf Grab appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 2 and Heat 3, and later in Stage One. This time, similar to the one used during American Ninja Warrior 10's Los Angeles finals, the obstacle featured three shelves, with the second shelf being placed higher than the first and third shelves. Also, two parallel bars were added as the start of the obstacle as a medium to reach the first shelf. This version also appeared on Australian Ninja Warrior 5, as the fourth obstacle of Path A in Heat 1.

On Australian Ninja Warrior 5, the Flying Shelf Grab appeared twice during the season:
 * Firstly, as the fourth obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 3, in which the obstacle was paired with the Bar Hop as part of the Crossroads' Path A.
 * Secondly, as the fourth obstacle during the semifinals. This time, the obstacle received a major modification, as the second shelf was replaced by a spinning wheel from the Corkscrew. Also. a pole was added at the start before the laché bars. Therefore, this obstacle was called as the Flying Shelf Grab to Corkscrew. This change seemed to be effective, as many competitors either lost the grip on the spinning wheel or failed the transition to the final shelf.

Ninja Warrior UK
On Ninja Warrior UK 4, the Flying Shelf Grab appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 1. However, competitors needed to jump from the trampoline and reached the first bar, then made the transition to the second bar, and finally reached the first shelf.

Although only 5 out of 14 competitors fell on this obstacle, the Flying Shelf Grab eliminated Jonny Urszuly, who was the Last Man Standing on the previous season. Despite that, he was still able to qualify to the semi-finals, as the top 15 competitors from each heat would qualify to the semi-finals on that season (unlike during the past 3 Ninja Warrior UK seasons, when only the top 10 competitors from each heat would qualify to the semi-finals).

Then, on Ninja Warrior UK 5, the Flying Shelf Grab appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 4. The obstacle remained unchanged from the previous season.

Ninja Warrior Poland
In Ninja Warrior Poland, the obstacle appeared as a 4 in Heat 2 and Heat 6. It consisted of only one shelf onto which the participant had to jump off the springboard, then swing hard enough to jump onto the rope ladder. In Ninja Warrior Poland 2, it appeared in the final as the seventh obstacle in the 2nd stage. The distance between the first and second shelf is 2.5 meters, and the distance between the second and third shelf is 3 meters. In addition, the middle shelf was suspended lower than the others, which made the jump very difficult (it required more swinging). To grab the first ledge, the participant had to climb the rope leading to it and grab onto it. Of the 4 people who managed to complete the first 5 obstacles in time, only Robert Bandosz managed to complete this obstacle in its entirety by going to the next one. On the other hand, the participants who were eliminated by this obstacle were: Sebastian Kasprzyk, Bolesław Sobierajski and Michał Grochoła. In Ninja Warrior Poland 3, it appeared in every Heat as the fourth obstacle. Here again a springboard was set up in front of the obstacle. A total of 3 shelves and a rope ladder were above the water, and the distance between each shelf was 1.8 meters. Then the shelves also appeared in the final as the fourth obstacle, only this time the distance between each shelf was 2.6 meters and the rope ladder was removed. 3 participants were eliminated on this obstacle.

Ninja Warrior France
The Flying Shelf Grab appeared as the fourth obstacle of Stage Two in Ninja Warrior France 5, proceed with the previous obstacle Salmon Ladder with a waiting bar.

This obstacle appeared again as the sixth obstacle (second obstacle of untimed part) of Stage Two in Ninja Warrior France 6, now having a trampoline as a medium to reach the first one, the second shelf was placed higher, and a waiting bar at the end to transfer to the next obstacle.

Ninja Israel
In Ninja Warrior Israel 2, appeared as the second obstacle of Stage Two, combined with an Hourglass-shaped board. After jumping to the second ledge, competitors have to swing their gear and jump onto the board. The Flying Shelf Grab appeared later as the eight obstacle of Stage One in Ninja Warrior Israel 4, connected to the previous obstacle by a laché.

However, unlike other versions which were based on American Ninja Warrior 7's version, this obstacle was similar to the one in American Ninja Warrior 12's Power Tower. It featured 2 hanging shelves, with the second shelf had thicker ledge, each will drop down once competitors applied their weight onto its ledge. Competitors had to make a huge transfer from the laché to the first hanging shelves, then made another huge transfer to the second one, and then made a dismount.

This modification seemed to be brutal, as at least 7 competitors failed on this obstacle, mostly on the transition to the second shelf.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the NBC broadcast and external information found