The Circuit Board is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the ninth obstacle during Indianapolis finals on American Ninja Warrior 8. It is one of the most complex obstacles ever, challenging both physically and mentally.
Competitors had to use two handles with a ball on each handle (one big, one small) and navigate them through a series of 58 holes, with tracks attached across three panels that are 24 feet (7.32 meter) in total length, 15 feet (4.572 meters) above the water. The balls on the handles could only fit in certain holes.
In its debut during Indianapolis finals, eight competitors reached this obstacle. While three competitors (Meagan Martin, Ryan Eliiot, and Dan Polizzi) failed it, the other five competitors completed it.
Other Season Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior 9[]
The Circuit Board returned as the ninth obstacle during Daytona Beach finals on American Ninja Warrior 9, which was very similar to the one used during Indianapolis finals on the previous season, except:
- Some tracks were modified, and
- There were two sets of handles that were placed at the start of the first and third panels (during Indianapolis finals, there was only one set of handles that was placed at the start of the first panel).
Once again, eight competitors reached this obstacle. This time, however, the obstacle had a 50% completion rate, as four competitors (Travis Rosen, Tyler Gillett, Kevin Carbone and Casidy Marks) failed it while the other four (Drew Drechsel, JJ Woods, Jessie Graff, and Sean Darling-Hammond) completed it.
Keylock Hang[]
A modified version of the Circuit Board (named as the Keylock Hang) appeared as the first obstacle in Stage Three on American Ninja Warrior 8, replacing both Psycho Chainsaw and Doorknob Grasper from the previous season. However, there were significant differences between this obstacle and the Circuit Board:
- Firstly, the Circuit Board used two handles with different size balls on each handle, while the Keylock Hang used two handles with same size cylinders on each handle.
- Secondly, on the Circuit Board, competitors needed to fit the balls into series of holes, while on the Keylock Hang, competitors needed to unlock the handles into series of holes.
- Thirdly, the Keylock Hang had three panels, in comparison to four panels on the Circuit Board.
- And lastly, on the Keylock Hang, competitors have to jump to a trampoline and grab the bars that lead directly to the obstacle itself, while on the Circuit Board, competitors have to start directly to the obstacle.
Originally, the Keylock Hang was supposed to be the second obstacle in Stage Three on American Ninja Warrior 8, while the Psycho Chainsaw took its place as the first obstacle (seen via Crashing The Course). However, on the last minute, the producers decided to remove the Psycho Chainsaw for unknown reason, and replaced it with a trampoline and two lachรฉ bars, as a medium to the Keylock Hang. As the result, the number of obstacles during American Ninja Warrior 8's Stage Three was reduced from 8 to 7.
Only Drew Drechsel and Daniel Gil were able to attempt the obstacle. Both of which completed it.
Other Season Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior 9[]
The Keylock Hang returned on American Ninja Warrior 9, as the second obstacle in Stage Three, with several holes and panels were modified. Also, the bars that lead to the obstacle itself were removed, and were replaced by the Floating Boards. Despite that, no competitors failed on this obstacle once again (Sean Bryan, Najee Richardson, and Joe Moravsky were able to attempt and complete the obstacle). However, Najee did have a close call when he almost failed the dismount but was able to pull himself up with his arms, averting disaster.
On American Ninja Warrior 10, the obstacle was replaced by the En Garde.
Other Appearances[]
Circuit Board[]
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
In Ninja Warrior Germany, the Circuit Board (Hangel-Labyrinth, literally Hanging Labyrinth) first appeared in the first Preliminary Round of Ninja Warrior Germany 3, serving as the fifth and also second to last obstacle of said Preliminary Round. In this appearance of the Circuit Board, the obstacle was pretty different compared to the iterations of American Ninja Warrior 8 and American Ninja Warrior 9, with this iteration of the Circuit Board only consisting of two boards, instead of four boards and the competitors, who would attempt this iteration of the Circuit Board also not only had to use a first lachรฉ bar, in order to transfer to the obstacle itself, but they also had to use a second lachรฉ bar, in order to dismount to the landing platform. The obstacle reappeared in the seventh Preliminary Round.
It returned in the Four Nations Special 1, as the second obstacle of Stage Three, directly following the Roulette Cylinder. However, there was one board only (the second board from the regular season).
Then, on Ninja Warrior Germany 4, Circuit Board appeared as the fifth obstacle in the Preliminary Rounds 6 and 7. The lache bar originally placed at the end was replaced by a rope.
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
On Ninja Warrior Poland 2, the Circuit Board appeared as the penultimate obstacle during the semi-finals, immediately following the Salmon Ladder. The obstacle consisted of a bar before the start and only one board. The obstacle turned out to be very difficult as only 16 competitors were able to complete it. For non-finishers in some rounds, getting to this obstacle with the fastest time served as the cutoff for entry to the Finals. It was replaced by the Sky Hooks in the following season.
Ninja Warrior Austria[]
On Ninja Warrior Austria 2, Circuit Board appeared as the fourth obstacle of the Semifinals. There was one board only, with a similar layout to that of Ninja Warrior Poland 2, and a lache bar and both the start and end of the obstacle. It directly followed the Salmon Ladder with no rest.
Ninja Warrior France[]
Le Circuit Imprimรฉ, Ninja Warrior France's official name for the Circuit Board, appeared in Ninja Warrior France 3 as the fourth obstacle of Qualification 2. It consisted of a starting lache bar, and two boards, each 2.4m (7.87ft) in length.
On Ninja Warrior France 6, the Circuit Board reappeared as the seventh and penultimate obstacle of Stage Two, with only one board, and a waiting bar at the end to transfer to the next obstacle, which itself was preceded by two lache bars.
It once again returned in Ninja Warrior France 7, as the second obstacle of Qualification 2. This time, there was one game board only, which was identical to the one from the previous season. Furthermore, the obstacle was preceded by two lache bars, and succeeded by a zipline rope to a cargo net.
Ninja Israel[]
On Ninja Warrior Israel 2, the Circuit Board, locally called ืืื ืืื (literally The Motherboard) appeared as the fifth obstacle in Semifinal 1 and Semifinal 3, which was very similar to the one used in American Ninja Warrior 8 (since the obstacle featured four panels). The obstacle was extremely brutal, as it eliminated four out of five competitors who attempted it, with most competitors who failed on it being from Semifinal 3. Only Gil Marantz cleared the obstacle in Semifinal 1 .
Then, on Ninja Warrior Israel 5, the Circuit Board returned as the sixth obstacle in Semifinal 2 and Semifinal 4. This time, there was a rope placed at the end of the obstacle as a medium of dismount. The obstacle was now paired with the The High Road as part of the Split Decision. This means that once the competitors decided to not press the button of the The High Road, they must attempt the Circuit Board later on the run. However, competitors could still attempt the Circuit Board once they missed the High Road's ring.
Due to being a part of the Split Decision, less competitors attempted the Circuit Board than Ninja Warrior Israel 2 due to the obstacle being more brutal and riskier than The High Road. In Semifinal 2, all competitors were choosing The High Road and cleared it, leaving the Circuit Board unattempted. In Semifinal 4, similar to that happen during Semifinal 1 in Ninja Warrior Israel 2, only 2 competitors, Or Miniely and Shir Shrim attempted the Circuit Board and only Or Miniely failed when transitioning to the rope.
Team Ninja Warrior Germany[]
On Team Ninja Warrior Germnay 2, the Circuit Board appeared as the eighth obstacle of Relay and Seeding in Episode 3. Two boards and a lache bar at the start were present.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the NBC/RTL/Polsat/Keshet 12 broadcast and external information found.
American Ninja Warrior[]
Circuit Board | |||
---|---|---|---|
ANW | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
ANW8 | 5 | 8 | 62.5% |
ANW9 | 4 | 8 | 50% |
Total | 9 | 16 | 56.25% |
Keylock Hang | |||
---|---|---|---|
ANW | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
ANW8 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
ANW9 | 3 | 3 | 100% |
USA vs. The World 3 | 9 | 9 | 100% |
USA vs. The World 4 | 5 | 5 | 100% |
Total | 19 | 19 | 100% |
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
Circuit Board | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
NWG | Stage | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
NWG3 | Preliminary Round 1 | 9 | 22 | 40.90% |
NWG3 | Preliminary Round 7 | 5 | 15 | 33.33% |
Total | 14 | 37 | 37.85% |
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
Circuit Board | |||
---|---|---|---|
NWP | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
NWP2 (Semi-final 1) | 4 | 6 | 66.67% |
NWP2 (Semi-final 2) | 2 | 9 | 22.22% |
NWP2 (Semi-final 3) | 3 | 5 | 60% |
NWP2 (Semi-final 4) | 3 | 7 | 42.86% |
NWP2 (Semi-final 5) | 1 | 7 | 14.29% |
NWP2 (Semi-final 6) | 3 | 6 | 50% |
Total | 16 | 40 | 40% |
Ninja Israel[]
Circuit Board | |||
---|---|---|---|
NWI | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
NWI2 (Semifinal 1) | 1 | 2 | 50% |
NWI2 (Semifinal 3) | 0 | 3 | 0% |
Total | 1 | 5 | 20% |
Trivia[]
- The idea for the Circuit Board came from a traditional gym peg board, but the horizontal and vertical handholds stick because of friction. So, the producers flipped it upside-down and made more of a mind game out of it.