Arm Rings, romanized as Arm Ring (アームリング), was a Third Stage obstacle that introduced as the first obstacle in SASUKE 16, replacing Rumbling Dice that had been used since SASUKE 9. Competitors must hang from two rings on different-shaped sliding horizontal 5.5 m track and negotiate several separate rises on the left track and dips on the right track. To make it through the obstacle quickly, competitors would do a strong push in the beginning to make it to the middle and would use the rings to bounce on the poles to get momentum.
Jordan Jovtchev attempting Arm Rings in SASUKE 16
Close range view of the transition from Arm Rings to Arm Bike as seen during Takahashi Kenji's run in SASUKE 18
In SASUKE 18, after clearing the obstacle, competitors must grab a horizontal bar as an intermediary to the next obstacle, Arm Bike. However, this design was only used in that tournament, as Arm Bike was replaced in the following tournament.
Although the obstacle was placed for nine tournaments, it served as more of an energy drainer. The only two competitors to ever fail it, Nakata Daisuke (in SASUKE 17) and Yamamoto Shingo (in SASUKE 23), did so due to both of them being injured prior to Third Stage. The high clear rate, combining with Urushihara Yuuji's Kanzenseiha in SASUKE 24, prompted the producers to replace it with Roulette Cylinder in SASUKE 25.
Other Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior[]
American Ninja Warrior 4's Arm Rings in Southwest and Northwest regions
American Ninja Warrior 6's Arm Rings in Denver
Arm Rings appeared in American Ninja Warrior 4, as the eighth obstacle during Southwest and Northwest region finals, and then returned on American Ninja Warrior 6 during Denver finals, once again as the eighth obstacle. It was 20 feet (6.096 meters) long. For reference, the U-shaped dip on the right-hand track is 12 feet (3.66 meters) from the start.
However, the obstacle was proven to be a little harder, as some competitors ran out of energy as they were doing the obstacle. Also, the track was at the same length, but the rises and dips on the track were slightly different than in SASUKE.
Several competitors who failed on this obstacle were Michael Zernow (during American Ninja Warrior 4's Southwest region finals) and Lance Pekus (during American Ninja Warrior 6's Denver finals).
Ninja Warrior UK[]
Ninja Warrior UK's Arm Rings
In Ninja Warrior UK and Ninja Warrior UK 2, Arm Rings appeared as the eighth obstacle during the semi-finals, which was similar to the one used in SASUKE (since the obstacle was not preceded by any obstacle with no rest).
Ninja Warrior France[]
Ninja Warrior France 1's Arm Rings
In Ninja Warrior France, Arm Rings appeared as the seventh obstacle in Finals' Stage One, which was very similar to the one used in SASUKE (since the obstacle was not preceded by any obstacle with no rest).
Ninja Warrior France 2's Arm Rings
It returned in Ninja Warrior France 2, as the fourth obstacle in the Semifinals, which was very similar to the one used in American Ninja Warrior (since the obstacle was directly following the Salmon Ladder).
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
Ninja Warrior Germany 1's Arm Rings
In Ninja Warrior Germany 1, Arm Rings was the fourth obstacle of Semifinals 3, which was very similar to the one used in American Ninja Warrior (since the obstacle was directly following the Salmon Ladder)
Ninja Warrior Denmark[]
Ninja Warrior Denmark's Arm Rings
In Ninja Warrior Denmark, Arm Rings appeared as the eighth obstacle of the semifinals, which was very similar to the one used in American Ninja Warrior (since the obstacle was directly following the Salmon Ladder).
Ninja Israel[]
Ninja Israel's Arm Rings
In Ninja Warrior Israel, the Arm Rings, locally called צינור הטבעות (literally Ring Tube) appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 4 and Heat 13. Unlike SASUKE, the obstacle would involve two separate pairs of tracks. The first track was longer than the second track. After reach the end of the first track, competitors must transition to the next pair of rings at the second track.
Ninja Israel 3's Arm Rings
Then, in Ninja Warrior Israel 3, the Arm Rings appeared as the fourth obstacle in Heat 1, Heat 11 and Heat 12. It is paired with the Crank It Up as part of Route B of the Crossroads. This time, the obstacle featured various handles placed in between the tracks. In addition, a rope was added at the start of the obstacle, as a medium to reach the pair of rings on the first pair of tracks.
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
Ninja Warrior Poland 7's Arm Rings
In Ninja Warrior Poland 7, the Arm Rings, locally called Trasa Pierścieni (literally The Route of the Rings) appeared as the seventh obstacle in Stage One. The obstacle featured only a track (similar to the SASUKE version), but there was a parallel bar at the beginning of the obstacle as a medium to get to the pair of rings. All competitors who attempted this obstacle completed it.
Ninja Warrior Poland 9's Arm Rings
Then, on Ninja Warrior Poland 9, the Arm Rings reappeared as the seventh obstacle in Stage One, unchanged compared to the seventh season. Again, none of the competitors failed it.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the TBS/NBC/Polsat broadcast and external information found.
SASUKE[]
| SASUKE | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 8 | 8 | 100% |
| 17 | 7 | 8 | 87.5% |
| 18 | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| 19 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 20 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 21 | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| 22 | 4 | 4 | 100% |
| 23 | 6 | 7 | 85.71% |
| 24 | 7 | 7 | 100% |
| Total | 39 | 41 | 95.12% |
American Ninja Warrior[]
| ANW | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANW4 (Southwest region) | 13 | 19 | 68.42% |
| ANW4 (Northwest region) | 16 | 17 | 94.12% |
| ANW6 | 14 | 16 | 87.5% |
| Total | 43 | 52 | 82.69% |
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
| NWP | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| NWP7 | 10 | 10 | 100% |
| NWP9 | 8 | 8 | 100% |
| Total | 18 | 18 | 100% |
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