Log Grip (ロッググリップ) is a First Stage obstacle which was firstly introduced in SASUKE 18 as part of the course's renewal after Nagano Makoto's Kanzenseiha in the previous tournament. Competitors must cling onto a vertical log (60 cm/2 feet in thickness) with their arms and legs, while it slid down a 9-metre (29.5-foot) track to the landing platform, which was made very soft to prevent the log from grinding against it destructively. The log contained many small holes to provide some grip.
The track was similar to the one previously used for Sandan Rolling Maruta, but there were several differences:
- The drops were bigger and the track was longer.
- The drops were closer together, almost eliminating a chance to recover from the previous drop.
It was originally placed as the second obstacle, but became the third obstacle from SASUKE 22 to SASUKE 24, with these three obstacles took its previous position as the second obstacle throughout the three tournaments:
- Circle Hammer in SASUKE 22.
- Curtain Slider in SASUKE 23.
- X-Bridge in SASUKE 24.
In SASUKE 25, it was relocated again as the fifth obstacle. Due to this placement, competitors would show fatigue while attempting the obstacle, although interestingly, it had much higher clear rate compared to the previous tournaments. However, it was replaced by the returning Half-Pipe Attack in SASUKE 26.
There have been few minor modifications to this obstacle. Originally, like Sandan Rolling Maruta, wires were installed above the track on the top of the log to help the log stay on the track. However, the wires were removed in the following tournament and the glider at the top was modified from a straight shape with small stopper to instead curve down and hug on the ends of the track. This was likely due to the fact that during the tournament, the wires caused the log to halt on the track, which forced several re-runs.
In SASUKE 21, the actual log was placed lower to the platform and a new mechanism was engineered where once a competitor applied their weight, the log would start down the track. This is likely due to the competitors having a problem while starting the log when the mechanism was yet to be installed, as the competitors had to push the log to make it slide down the track. The new mechanism makes the log much easier to start, and as such, competitors would fail on the obstacle more because of the velocity of the log and resulting shock of the drops.
However, the biggest modification came in SASUKE 29, where upon returning to replace Rolling Escargot from the previous tournament, the obstacle now featured two ledges to hang on instead of holes in the previous versions. For male competitors, the ledges were taller than the ledges used for female competitors. This modification made the obstacle much easier, as many competitors were placing their hands on top of the ledges, providing an extra grip. As the result, only a few competitors failed here.
The higher clear rate on Log Grip's new version prompted the producers to make it harder by making several modifications in SASUKE 31. The track was made steeper and the drops were much larger than usual, which forced competitors to hold on tightly to prevent themselves from falling off the log. It was revealed later that those who cleared had serious bruises due to these modifications, as the steeper track means the log gains a much higher velocity, with the larger drops providing a greater shake to the leg. To avoid further injuries, along with the failure rate not increasing significantly, it was replaced by TIE Fighter in SASUKE 32 after Morimoto Yūsuke's first kanzenseiha.
Giant Log Grip[]
On American Ninja Warrior 8, a giant variant of Log Grip, called Giant Log Grip, appeared as the third obstacle in Stage One, replacing the Silk Slider from the past two American Ninja Warrior seasons. This version had four handles as usual, but:
- The obstacle had a 52-foot (15.8-meter) long track, with three drops, and a dismount onto a small landing pad floating in the water (similar to the Rope Glider and Silk Slider).
- The log also twisted around at the end of the track.
- Competitors also had to time their landing correctly or let the log stop swinging to land.
Compared to the Log Grip used in city courses, the mechanism used to slide the log is similar to the original Log Grip from SASUKE 18, with its straight glider (albeit with right-angled ends) and wires to keep it sliding.
This version of the Log Grip was proven to be lethal, as several competitors either lost their grip or couldn't time the dismount properly. Although only 12 competitors failed on this obstacle, it eliminated several top competitors (e.g. Jo Jo Bynum, Brent Steffensen, Jamie Rahn, Kevin Bull, Meagan Martin, Clayton Wolf, Adam Arnold, Alexio Gomes, Erica Cook, and Cassie Craig). However, no competitor fell on it during USA vs. The World 3.
On American Ninja Warrior 9, the Giant Log Grip was replaced by the Double Dipper.
Other Appearances[]
Log Grip[]
American Ninja Warrior[]
The Log Grip made its first appearance on American Ninja Warrior 3, as the second obstacle during qualifying and semifinal, but the log was much thinner, and the track was slightly longer than the one in SASUKE (at 31 feet/9.4 meters). During semifinal, the log was rotated to make the handholds less available. As the result, these modifications tripped up three competitors: Daron Payne, Luis Moco, and Tim Shieff.
Then, the obstacle returned as the second obstacle in every qualifying region on American Ninja Warrior 4. This time, the log was thicker and made out of wood and the track length is reduced to 24 feet (7.3 meters) and each drop is 1-foot . The obstacle is also known to knock some competitors back into the water once they fail it.
After a one season hiatus, the Log Grip returned as the second obstacle in Dallas on American Ninja Warrior 6, but with four handles instead of holes (two on each side) and only one drop on the track, which is now at 25 feet. Only five competitors are known to have fallen on it, including Jared Greer.
On American Ninja Warrior 7, the Log Grip appeared as the second obstacle in Pittsburgh, which was similar to the one used on the previous season, but with two drops again. At least 12 more competitors fell on it, nearly double the amount known of the preceding season, and competitors like Jessica Britten and Alexi Matousek fell on it.
On American Ninja Warrior 8, the same version of the Log Grip from the previous season returned as the second obstacle in Philadelphia. 12 more competitors are known to have fallen on the obstacle, including P.J. Walsh.
Other SASUKE International Formats[]
The Log Grip has been used on several SASUKE/Ninja Warrior's international formats where two different versions of the obstacle were used.
The version in which four handles were embedded in the log (which is similar to the one used in American Ninja Warrior) were used in:
- Ninja Warrior UK,
- In Ninja Warrior UK 1, as the second obstacle of Heat 1. The track has one drop (similar to American Ninja Warrior 6's version), and a stopper in the middle of the second section.
- In Ninja Warrior UK 2, as the second obstacle of the semifinals. The stopper had been removed.
- In Ninja Warrior UK 3, again as the second obstacle of Heat 1. The track has two drops (similar to American Ninja Warrior 7's version), and a stopper right before the end of the second section.
- Australian Ninja Warrior,
- In Australian Ninja Warrior, as the second obstacle of Semifinals 1 and 2.
- In Australian Ninja Warrior 2, as the second obstacle of Semifinals 2 and 4.
- Ninja Warrior France (which was called locally as La Tyrolienne, literally The Zipline),
- In Ninja Warrior France 6, as the second obstacle of Qualification 3.
- Ninja Israel (which was called locally as אומגת בול העץ, literally Omega The Log),
- Ninja Warrior Poland (which was called locally as Zjazd na Kolumnie, literally Column Descent),
- The Log Grip version in Ninja Warrior Poland 8 was similar to the one used in American Ninja Warrior 6, since the obstacle use an 8-meter metal track with one large drop from every other zipline/slider obstacle across Ninja Warrior Poland. However, unlike American Ninja Warrior, the log was suspended on a chain rather than being directly attached to the sliding ring.
- A similar obstacle, named Cone Descent, appeared on Ninja Warrior Poland 7 as the second obstacle in Heat 3 and Heat 5.
- Ninja Warrior Austria (as the second obstacle of Heat 4).
- Team Ninja Warrior Germany
While the version where two long ledges were embedded in the log (which is similar to the one used in SASUKE) were used in:
- SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia,
- SASUKE Ninja Warrior Mongolia (locally called Сармагчингийн Тэврэпт, literally Monkey Hugs), and
- SASUKE Vietnam (locally called Bám Trụ or Ôm Trụ).
- On SASUKE Vietnam 4. despite the Log Grip being replaced by Tick Tock, Ôm Trụ was still used as the local name of the Tick Tock.
Giant Log Grip[]
Due to the space constraint compared to the American version, the Giant Log Grip in most international SASUKE/Ninja Warrior formats was very similar to the Log Grip (since the track have only three drops).
Ninja Warrior France[]
On Ninja Warrior France 2, the Giant Log Grip, locally called Le Cylindre de l'Extrême (literally The Extreme Cylinder) appeared as the third obstacle in Heat 2. However, the obstacle had a shorter track with three drops, making this version a kind of combination of the regular Log Grip and the Giant Log Grip.
Later, the Silk Slider (Le Vol Plane) in Heat 4 on the same season had a similar concept to this obstacle, with the starting platform and unstable landing pad remained the same.
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
In Ninja Warrior Germany 2, the Giant Log Grip, locally called Stamm-Rutsche (literally Log Slide) appeared as the first obstacle of the Semi-finals Qualifications 2, 3, and 4, which was very similar to the one used in Ninja Warrior France 2.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the TBS/Polsat broadcast and external information found.
SASUKE[]
Log Grip | |||
---|---|---|---|
SASUKE | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
18 | 46 | 68 | 67.65% |
19 | 69 | 87 | 79.31% |
20 | 63 | 85 | 74.12% |
21 | 58 | 73 | 79.45% |
22 | 49 | 66 | 74.24% |
23 | 64 | 72 | 88.89% |
24 | 36 | 60 | 60% |
25 | 21 | 27 | 77.78% |
29 | 83 | 86 | 96.51% |
30 | 76 | 93 | 81.72% |
31 | 68 | 71 | 95.77% |
Total | 633 | 788 | 80.33% |
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
Log Grip | |||
---|---|---|---|
NWP | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
NWP8 (Heat 1) | 22 | 26 | 84.61% |
NWP8 (Heat 2) | 19 | 26 | 73.08% |
Total | 41 | 52 | 78.85% |
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