Unstable Bridge

Unstable Bridge (アンステーブルブリッジ) is a Second Stage obstacle that was added to SASUKE 23 course, replacing the Swing Ladder as the fourth obstacle. It became the third obstacle in SASUKE 24, with the Stick Slider's removal.

The obstacle featured two wooden planks to swing from. Both planks were 60cm in width and 1.8m in length. The first one was hung by four metal chains, held by one in each corner. The second plank was hung by only two metal chains, each down the center of the plank, one at each end. This would force the plank to easily tilt to either the left or right side if the competitor either did not transfer from the first plank correctly, or if they lost their balance while maneuvering across to the other end.

Similar to Delta Bridge, the competitors must hold onto to both sides while crossing. While crossing the first plank, competitors must use momentum to reach the second plank. On the second plank, competitors must reach the other side while keeping both ends even.

This obstacle was much harder than Swing Ladder. Although the obstacle can be beaten by those who take their time on it, like many other Second Stage obstacles, the timer forces people to rush through, causing many failures. In its first tournament, it eliminated American qualifiers Richard King (who failed the transition to the second plank) and Brian Orosco (who failed trying to reach for the ending platform) and SASUKE 22 finalist Urushihara Yuuji (who lost his balance when reaching the other side). In SASUKE 24, it eliminated Kawaguchi Tomohiro, and Sato Jun in SASUKE 25.

From SASUKE 24 to SASUKE 27, Unstable Bridge was the third obstacle, replacing the Stick Slider and immediately following Salmon Ladder or Double Salmon Ladder from SASUKE 25 to SASUKE 27. The obstacle's previous position as the fourth obstacle was taken by the revamped Balance Tank.

Then, from SASUKE 28 to SASUKE 30, the obstacle was placed after Swap Salmon Ladder, but the second board was taken out, and only the four-chained board remained. This version was much easier, as no competitors failed or even showed signs of struggling. It was removed in SASUKE 31, as it was replaced in favor of Salmon Ladder Kudari.

American Ninja Warrior Appearances
Unstable Bridge appeared in American Ninja Warrior 3 as the eighth obstacle during semifinal, immediately following Salmon Ladder. However, this obstacle was much more brutal than in SASUKE, as only Ryan Stratis could complete it, likely due to the fatigue from the other competitors, setting a record with the highest knockout rate of any obstacle in American Ninja Warrior history, taking out 13 out of 14 competitors who attempted it, making a 92.86% knockout rate, which stood for years before being beaten by Angry Birds which had a 100% knockout rate in American Ninja Warrior 11. This unexpected high number of falls was likely due to fatigue, windy weather condition that made the second plank keep swinging, and the planks being held by bungee cords instead of chains.

Las Vegas National Finals
Later, Unstable Bridge appeared as the third obstacle in Stage Two from American Ninja Warrior 4 to American Ninja Warrior 7, after Double Salmon Ladder, with the distance between two planks was 1.5 feet apart. Several top competitors had been eliminated from this obstacle, including Paul Kasemir, Brian Arnold, Noah Kaufman, and Drew Drechsel twice.

From American Ninja Warrior 4 to American Ninja Warrior 6, the obstacle immediately followed Double Salmon Ladder with no rest, while in American Ninja Warrior 7, there was a resting bar placed after Double Salmon Ladder, which gave competitors the chance to rest before attempting the obstacle.

In American Ninja Warrior 8, the obstacle was replaced by Wave Runner, which was a combination of Unstable Bridge and Hourglass Drop.

Ninja Warrior UK
The Unstable Bridge appeared as the third obstacle during the finals' Stage 2 on Ninja Warrior UK and Ninja Warrior UK 2, immediately following the Salmon Ladder.

SASUKE Vietnam
From SASUKE Vietnam 1 to SASUKE Vietnam 3, Unstable Bridge, called locally Cầu Treo, appeared in Stage 2, immediately following Salmon Ladder. In SASUKE Vietnam 1, it was the third obstacle in Stage 2. From SASUKE Vietnam 2 to SASUKE Vietnam 3, it was moved to the fifth obstacle in Stage 2.

In its first two seasons, there was only one plank supported by four chains at the corners of the plank, two at each end, making it similar to Unstable Bridge from SASUKE 28 to SASUKE 30.

In SASUKE Vietnam 3, the number of planks was increased to two, with the second plank supported by just two chains at the center of the plank, one at each end, making it similar to Unstable Bridge used from SASUKE 24 to SASUKE 27. This made the obstacle harder, as many competitors failed at the transition to the second plank.

In SASUKE Vietnam 4, the obstacle was replaced by Rope Swing, and both Salmon Ladder and Rope Swing were combined and counted as one obstacle; the obstacle was named Salmon Ladder with Rope, called locally Thang Cá Hồi - Đu Dây.

SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia
In SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia, Unstable Bridge appeared as the fifth obstacle in Semifinal Stage 1, but was not preceded by any obstacle with no rest, similar to SASUKE 23 version of Unstable Bridge. However, this obstacle was brutal, as most of the competitors who attempted it failed to complete it, with most of them failing to make the transition to the second plank.

Australian Ninja Warrior
In Australian Ninja Warrior, Unstable Bridge appeared as the fourth obstacle in Stage Two, immediately following Salmon Ladder. However, unlike in SASUKE and American Ninja Warrior, the obstacle featured two planks, with each plank supported by just two chains at the center of the plank, one at each end.

Then, in Australian Ninja Warrior 2, Unstable Bridge was the seventh obstacle in Stage Two, also immediately following Salmon Ladder. This time, the first board was supported by four chains, while the second board was supported by three chains, two at one end and one at the other end.

In Australian Ninja Warrior 3, Unstable Bridge was the third obstacle in Stage Two. This time, both planks were supported by four chains, and there was a resting bar placed before the first plank, similar to the obstacle used in American Ninja Warrior 7. The obstacle was also combined with Salmon Ladder as one full obstacle. Therefore, the obstacle was named Salmon Ladder to Unstable Bridge. This version would eventually return in Australian Ninja Warrior 4, once again as the third obstacle in Stage Two. This would also return in Australian Ninja Warrior 5 as the second obstacle in Stage Two.

A unique method of attempting the obstacle was introduced in this show, as competitors would hold only one side of the board in a similar fashion to the Cliffhanger, which is due to the fact that the boards are on four chains, making it stable for competitors to hold onto just one side.

Ninja Warrior Poland
In Ninja Warrior Poland, the Ruchome Kładki (Ninja Warrior Poland's official name for the Unstable Bridge) appeared in the final as the fourth obstacle in the first part of Stage Two, immediately following the Salmon Ladder. During this season, only Michał Baryza fell on the transition between the two boards.

Competitors' Success Rate

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

American Ninja Warrior
アンステーブルブリッジ 搖擺危橋