The Rolling Maruta (ローリング丸太), called as the Rolling Log on the G4 broadcast, was an obstacle featured in the First Stage, usually as the second obstacle.
It was firstly introduced in SASUKE 3, and instantly became one of the hardest obstacles in the stage, eliminating 41 competitors in that tournament. This obstacle and the Rope Climb helped decrease the First Stage clears from 34 (in SASUKE 2) to 13.
Competitors must straddle and cling to a log, 40 centimeters in diameter, before kicking the ground to begin its roll down a 15° decline track. The log had only two wooden bars to hold on to while the obstacle was spinning, which the log was notorious for either halting or coming off the track.
The original version lasted from SASUKE 3 to SASUKE 12. After Urushihara Yuuji's kanzenseiha in SASUKE 24, it was brought out of retirement for SASUKE 25, but was replaced by the Hazard Swing in the next tournament.
The Rolling Maruta has eliminated some of the top competitors, such as Yamamoto Shingo and Nakata Daisuke.
In SASUKE 5, Yamada Katsumi almost failed on this obstacle, when at the end of the track, the log suddenly came off the track. However, he was thrown to the landing platform and managed to save himself.
Drawing of the Rolling Maruta
Competitors' Success Rate
- All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found
| SASUKE | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 22 | 63 | 34.92% |
| 4 | 65 | 76 | 85.52% |
| 5 | 77 | 96 | 80.20% |
| 6 | 88 | 95 | 92.63% |
| 7 | 79 | 90 | 87% |
| 8 | 25 | 50 | 50% |
| 9 | 24 | 32 | 75% |
| 10 | 31 | 40 | 77.5% |
| 11 | 35 | 75 | 46.67% |
| 12 | 31 | 34 | 91.18% |
| 25 | 40 | 47 | 85.11% |
| Total | 517 | 698 | 74.06% |
- It was noted that 41 competitors failed there in SASUKE 3 and over 40 competitors failed there in SASUKE 11. Also, it was noted that 51 competitors failed the Jump Hang in SASUKE 6. Therefore, those competitors must have got past the Rolling Maruta.
- In a special before SASUKE 15, the completion percentage was said to be (from SASUKE 5 to SASUKE 14, including the Sandan Rolling Maruta found below) 645 clears out of 965 attempts for a percentage of 66.8%. It was unknown how competitors did in each specific tournament. Therefore, these numbers were not included in the tables above or below.
Sandan Rolling Maruta
In order to usher in a new era in SASUKE 13, the creators of SASUKE modified the Rolling Maruta into the Sandan Rolling Maruta (三段ローリング丸太).
The difference was that there were two drops in the tracks, rather than a straight track as used by the original Rolling Maruta.
The log was also notorious for coming off the track (as happened to Ishimaru Kenjirō and Sudō Genki, both in SASUKE 13) or halting its spin midway.
It was replaced with the Log Grip in SASUKE 18, after Nagano Makoto's kanzenseiha in SASUKE 17. Yamada Katsumi attempted the Sandan Rolling Maruta, SASUKE 17
Competitors' Success Rate
- All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found
| SASUKE | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 30 | 40 | 75% |
| 14 | 38 | 46 | 82.61% |
| 15 | 21 | 26 | 80.77% |
| 16 | 30 | 42 | 73.17% |
| 17 | 42 | 48 | 89.74% |
| Total | 154 | 192 | 80.21% |
American Ninja Warrior Appearances
American Ninja Warrior 4's Rolling Log in Stage One
American Ninja Warrior 5's Rolling Log in Denver
American Ninja Warrior 6's Rolling Log in St. Louis
American Ninja Warrior 7's Rolling Log in Orlando
American Ninja Warrior 8's Rolling Log in Indianapolis
American Ninja Warrior 9's Rolling Log in Cleveland
The Rolling Maruta (called as the Rolling Log) appeared as the second obstacle on:
- American Ninja Warrior 4 in Stage One,
- American Ninja Warrior 5 in Denver,
- American Ninja Warrior 6 in St. Louis,
- American Ninja Warrior 7 in Orlando,
- American Ninja Warrior 8 in Indianapolis, and
- American Ninja Warrior 9 in Cleveland.
It was proven to be a tough obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 6, as it had took out competitors like Bill Westrick and Luis Moco.
However, it was far more difficult, starting on American Ninja Warrior 7, as the log was thinner. It spun around 7-9 times before hitting the landing platform, rather than just 3-4 times on American Ninja Warrior 6. Most competitors had thus lost focus after the frantic rolling of the log, as many were shown to having refocus before the next obstacle. On American Ninja Warrior 7, it was revealed that the Rolling Log had taken out 21 competitors during Orlando qualifiers and 2 more competitors during Orlando finals.
During American Ninja Warrior 7's Orlando qualifiers, two competitors used a very unusual way to complete the obstacle:
- Jonathan Brown skipped the obstacle entirely, by jumping from the starting platform, directly to the landing platform, and
- Bart Copeland attempted the obstacle by walking on the top of the log (in a similar fashion with the Balance Tank or Enchū Nori).
However, both of them were allowed to continue their run, before eventually failing on the same next obstacle (the Paddle Boards).
On American Ninja Warrior 8, the log was modified with block-shaped holes to hold on instead of ledges. Later, the same version would be used on American Ninja Warrior 9.
Due to the obstacle's design, it was nearly impossible for the log to come off the track.
The obstacle shockingly eliminated Lorin Ball during American Ninja Warrior 8's Indianapolis finals.
Other Appearances
Ninja Warrior UK
Ninja Warrior UK 3's Rolling Log
The Rolling Log appeared as the second obstacle during the finals' Stage 1 on Ninja Warrior UK 3, and then as the seventh obstacle during the finals' Stage 1 on Ninja Warrior UK 4, which was very similar to the Rolling Log from American Ninja Warrior 8.
SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia
SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia's Rolling Log in Semifinal Stage 2
On SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia, the Rolling Log appeared as the second obstacle during Semifinal Stage 2, which was very similar to the one used from SASUKE 3 to SASUKE 12.
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