The Split Decision is a course gimmick, first introduced on American Ninja Warrior 13. Albeit before American Ninja Warrior, it was originally introduced on Ninja Warrior France 2.
In essence, this feature is a point on the course where the competitors will have to pick between two different obstacles, a very similar feature to that of the Crossroads in VIKING, and has been used in multiple international Ninja Warrior formats such as Ninja Israel and Ninja Warrior France, or also can be traced to the split-stage format of SASUKE Vietnam. Ninja Warrior Poland and Ninja Warrior Hungary also used this concept, but these instances are mostly considered as Crossroads.
This format appeared during qualifiers, semifinals, and Stage One of the national finals:
- In the qualifiers, the Split Decision occurred at the third obstacle, in which competitors must choose between two different balance obstacles.
- In the semifinals, the Split Decision occurred at the ninth obstacle, allowing competitors to choose between an intense upper body obstacle or a difficult balance obstacle (similar to the Split Decision in the qualifiers of Ninja Warrior France 2 and Ninja Warrior France 3).
- In the national finals, the Split Decision occurred at the eighth and final obstacle in Stage One, giving competitors the option to choose between the easier, but more time-consuming Fly Hooks, or the riskier but faster option, The High Road.
Other Season Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior 14[]
Split Decision returned during American Ninja Warrior 14. In qualifiers, it was used in the same manner as in the previous season - at the third obstacle, giving competitors a choice between two balance obstacles, in the semifinals at the ninth obstacle giving ninjas a choice between intense upper body obstacles or risk it on a difficult balance obstacle and in the national finals at the eighth and final obstacle in Stage One with the return of the Fly Hooks and The High Road.
Despite the difficulty it posed, it was removed altogether in American Ninja Warrior 15.
Other Appearances[]
Ninja Warrior France[]
Originally, the Split Decision first debuted in Ninja Warrior France 2, and occurred at the first obstacle in the qualification heats. The original format, which was later used during the semifinals of American Ninja Warrior, in which the Split Decision allowing competitors to choose between an intense upper body obstacle (slider obstacle in several heats) or a difficult balance obstacle. The Split Decision later returned on Ninja Warrior France 3 with no change compared to the previous season.
On Ninja Warrior France 4, the Split Decision was removed due to the introduction of the new qualifiers format, the Crossroads. However, the Split Decision later returned on Ninja Warrior France 7, which occurred at the second obstacle in the qualification heats. This time the format of Split Decision was very similar to the one used during the Las Vegas National Finals of American Ninja Warrior, in which competitors choose between an intense upper body obstacle or The High Road.
On Ninja Warrior France 8, the Split Decision returned, occurred at the fourth obstacle in the qualification heats. This time, competitors choose between two intense upper-body obstacles. Due to the new Head-to-head format, the fact regarding which competitor would attempt which obstacle of the Split Decision was determined by the competitor who pressed their respective buzzers first. In addition, it works on a first-come-first-serve basis where the competitor that arrived first gets to choose to either attempt obstacle (A) or obstacle (B), forcing the opponent to attempt the other one. For example, if a competitor pressed their buzzer first, then said competitor would attempt obstacle (B), while the other competitor would be forced to attempt obstacle (A) and vice versa.
Ninja Israel[]
On Ninja Warrior Israel 5, the Split Decision was introduced, occurred at the sixth obstacle in the Semifinals, which was very similar to the one used during the Las Vegas National Finals of American Ninja Warrior, in which competitors choose between an intense upper body obstacle or The High Road.
Obstacle List[]
American Ninja Warrior[]
ANW | Round | Episode | Obstacle #1 | Obstacle #2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
13 | Qualifiers | 1 | Domino Effect | Spinning Log |
2 | Broken Bridge | Burn Rubber | ||
3 | Domino Effect | Spinning Log | ||
4 | Log Runner | Block Run | ||
5 | ||||
Semifinals | 1 | Tuning Forks | ||
2 | ||||
3 | The Dungeon | Diving Boards | ||
4 | ||||
Las Vegas National Finals | Stage One | The High Road | Fly Hooks | |
14 | Qualifiers | 1 | Domino Effect | Serpent |
2 | ||||
3 | Log Runner | Burn Rubber | ||
4 | ||||
5 | Broken Bridge | |||
Semifinals | 1 | Dragonback | Spin Zone | |
2 | ||||
3 | Flipped Around | Diving Boards | ||
4 | ||||
Las Vegas National Finals | Stage One | The High Road | Fly Hooks |
ANW Special | Round | Obstacle #1 | Obstacle #2 |
---|---|---|---|
Women's Championship 2 | 2 | Diving Boards | |
Family Championship | 1 & 2 | Domino Effect | Burn Rubber |
Women's Championship 3 | Stage One | The High Road | Fly Hooks |
Ninja Warrior France[]
NWF | Round | Episode | Obstacle #1 | Obstacle #2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Qualification Heats | 1 | Big Dipper | Escalator |
2 | Swing Circle | Double Prism Tilt | ||
3 | Big Dipper | |||
4 | ||||
3 | 1 | Rolling Pin | Razor's Edge | |
2 | Snake Crossing | |||
3 | Cargo Crossing | Razor's Edge | ||
4 | Snake Crossing | |||
5 | Hang Glider | Tilting Table | ||
7 | 1 | The High Road | Iron Maiden | |
2 | Circuit Board | |||
3 | Clear Climb | |||
4 | Swinging Blades | |||
8 | 1 | Kickboards | Giant Cubes to Cargo Net | |
2 | Curved Body Prop | Kaleidoscope to Cargo Net | ||
3 | Butterfly Wall | Carnival | ||
4 | Rolling Log | Clockwork |
Ninja Israel[]
NWI | Round | Episode | Obstacle #1 | Obstacle #2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Semifinals | 1 | The High Road | Roulette Cylinder |
2 | Circuit Board | |||
3 | Falling Shelves | |||
4 | Circuit Board | |||
5 | Roulette Cylinder | |||
Repechage |
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the NBC/Keshet12 broadcast and external information found
American Ninja Warrior[]
ANW | EP | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|
ANW13 | QF EP 1 | 33 | 48 | 68.75% |
QF EP 2 | 41 | 52 | 78.95% | |
QF EP 3 | 39 | 51 | 76.47% | |
QF EP 4 | 43 | 48 | 89.58% | |
QF EP 5 | 43 | 53 | 81.13% | |
SF EP 1 | 4 | 15 | 26.67% | |
SF EP 2 | 5 | 7 | 71.43% | |
SF EP 3 | 6 | 9 | 66.67% | |
SF EP 4 | 12 | 17 | 70.59% | |
Stage One | 27 | 37 | 72.97% | |
Women's Championship 2 | 3 | 4 | 75% | |
ANW14 | SF EP 1 | 4 | 9 | 44.44% |
SF EP 2 | 1 | 3 | 33.33% | |
SF EP 3 | 6 | 11 | 54.55% | |
SF EP 4 | 6 | 12 | 50% | |
Stage One | 25 | 30 | 83.33% | |
Women's Championship 3 | 3 | 7 | 42.86% | |
Total | 301 | 403 | 74.69% |
Ninja Israel[]
NWI | Stage | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|
NWI5 | Semifinal 1 | 3 | 5 | 60% |
Semifinal 2 | 3 | 3 | 100% | |
Semifinal 3 | 2 | 3 | 66.67% | |
Semifinal 4 | 3 | 4 | 75% | |
Semifinal 5 | 4 | 6 | 66.67% | |
Repechage Semifinal | 3 | 4 | 75% | |
Total | 18 | 25 | 72% |
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