Rope Ladder

Rope Ladder (ロープラダー) is a First Stage obstacle which debuted as part of the renewal in SASUKE 18, placed as the final obstacle until the introduction of the Lumberjack Climb in SASUKE 30.

Directly succeeding Tarzan Rope, the obstacle is a cargo net that the competitors must climb up to reach a platform. The finish button is located a few metres away from the platform, as opposed to being directly atop the Rope Climb, its predecessor. Due to the time limit in First Stage, the obstacle is considered a time waster, as every competitor who failed this obstacle timed out.



It could be considered a cousin of Net Bridge which was introduced in the same tournament, as both obstacles required competitors to cross a cargo net to get from beginning to end; Net Bridge had to be traversed horizontally, with additional climb required, making it look close to being traversed diagonally, while Rope Ladder being traversed vertically.

This obstacle was also used in KUNOICHI 8 as the final obstacle in First Stage, directly after Ikadawatashi. However, it is named as Shomouheki. Also, due to the format of the tournament, it was possible for four competitors to attempt it at once.

In international rebroadcasts, it was originally called Rope Ladder, however, as the tournament progressed, it and Tarzan Rope were lumped together to be known as the Final Climb.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found.

American Ninja Warrior


Rope Ladder appeared as the ninth and final obstacle in semifinal from American Ninja Warrior 1 to American Ninja Warrior 3, and then in every region finals course in American Ninja Warrior 4, except in Northeast and Southeast regions, where the obstacle was placed as the tenth and final obstacle. In American Ninja Warrior 1 and American Ninja Warrior 4, the obstacle was called Cargo Climb, while in American Ninja Warrior 2 and American Ninja Warrior 3, the obstacle was called Cargo Net.

Since there was no time limit during semifinal/region finals, the obstacle was served as both time and energy wasters, as competitors tried to complete the obstacle as fast as possible, due to the fact that only fifteen competitors who completed the semifinal/region finals course in the fastest time, or made it the furthest if less than fifteen competitors completed the course, would advance to the finals in American Ninja Warrior 1, Boot Camp finals in American Ninja Warrior 2 and American Ninja Warrior 3, or Las Vegas national finals in American Ninja Warrior 4.

In American Ninja Warrior 5, the obstacle was replaced with Spider Climb, with the implementation of new rule that competitors who completed the city finals course would automatically advance to Las Vegas national finals.

Las Vegas National Finals


Later, the Rope Ladder appeared as the final obstacle in Stage One from American Ninja Warrior 4 to American Ninja Warrior 6. However, just like during G4's broadcast of Ninja Warrior, the obstacle was combined with Tarzan Rope, and collectively both called Final Climb.

In American Ninja Warrior 7, the Tarzan Rope part of Final Climb was replaced by an angled platform at the starting platform and three jumping bars, resulting in the introduction of a new obstacle, Triple Swing, with Rope Ladder considered part of the obstacle.

Also, starting in American Ninja Warrior 7, the Rope Ladder was considered part of these obstacles:
 * Triple Swing (American Ninja Warrior 7),
 * Flying Squirrel (American Ninja Warrior 8 and American Ninja Warrior 9),
 * Twist & Fly (American Ninja Warrior 10 and American Ninja Warrior 11).
 * Fly Hooks (American Ninja Warrior 13)

SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia
In SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia, Rope Ladder appeared twice:
 * Firstly, as the fourth and final obstacle in Challenge Stage, which was similar to Cargo Climb/Cargo Net from American Ninja Warrior 1 to American Ninja Warrior 4. However, unlike during those four American Ninja Warrior seasons, since the competitors who completed the course would automatically advance to the next stage (Warrior Stage), the obstacle was only served as the energy waster.
 * Secondly, as the sixth and finals obstacle in Semifinal Stage 1, which was similar to Cargo Climb/Cargo Net from American Ninja Warrior 1 to American Ninja Warrior 4 once again. This time, due to the stage's time limit, competitors must complete the obstacle and hit the buzzer at the top before the time ran out, in order to advance to the next stage.

Then, in SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia 2017, the Rope Ladder appeared in Semifinal Stage 2. This time, similar to its appearance during Stage One in American Ninja Warrior 7, the obstacle was considered as a part of Triple Swing, which appeared as the sixth and final obstacle in that stage.

SASUKE Vietnam
Rope Ladder (called locally Thang Lưới or Bám Lưới) appeared as the sixth and final obstacle in Stage 1A in SASUKE Vietnam 1, SASUKE Vietnam 3, and SASUKE Vietnam 4, and Stage 1B on SASUKE Vietnam 2, which was similar to the one used in SASUKE and the obstacle was preceded by the Circle Slider with no rest.

In SASUKE Vietnam 1, the obstacle had a 94.64% completion rate in Stage 1A, eliminating three out of 56 competitors who attempted it, with all of them failing while making the transition from Circle Slider.

In SASUKE Vietnam 5, Rope Ladder and Circle Slider were moved to the sixth and final obstacle in Stage 2, replacing Double Warped Wall from the past four seasons, which was moved to the fifth and final obstacle in Stage 1A on that season.

ロープラダー 天羅地網