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Striding Steps - Skills Competition - ANW AllStar 1

American Ninja Warrior: All Stars Special 2's Striding Steps

The Striding Steps is an obstacle that debuted on American Ninja Warrior: All Stars Special 2 and has been a regular event for the Skills Competition on multiple All Star Specials since then. It is considered to be a supersized version of the Sonic Swing from the Team Ninja Warrior/Ninja vs. Ninja spin-offs.

The obstacle consists of nine different-shaped pedestals (called steps) and a rope. The steps were spaced five feet apart from each other and varied in size. They would decrease in diameter until the fifth step, after which point they would increae in diameter until the last step was the same size as the first. Competitors must sprint across the steps, jump to the rope, swing back to the steps, sprint across them in the other direction, climb a rope wall, and hit a buzzer at the top.

The original competition consisted of only one set of steps. Four competitors would face off in a single-elimination bracket, and each person would have one chance to clear the obstacle. The contender who cleared the obstacle in the fastest time would advance to the final matchup, in which they must run across the steps twice before climbing the rope wall.

The Striding Steps recieved a significant modification in American Ninja Warrior: All Stars Special 4: The obstacle now featured two sets of steps. Eight competitors would face off in a head-to-head matchup, and the first competitor to reach the buzzer would advance to the next round. However, in each round, competitors would only have to run across the steps once. The head-to-head format allowed for a more exciting special.

In the American Ninja Warrior: All Star Spectacular special, the Striding Steps recieved a slight modification: The rope wall was replaced with a shorter wall that competitors must hop over.

While the concept is simple, many competitors failed at this obstacle due to losing their balance. The sheer size of the obstacle required good balance and precision to clear, and its usage in a speed-based competition only made its difficulty more difficult.

There have been multiple winners throughout the obstacle's history:

Regular Season Appearances[]

American Ninja Warrior 13[]

Striding Steps - Stage 2 - ANW13

American Ninja Warrior 13's Striding Steps in Stage Two

As time went on, the Striding Steps gained enough difficulty and a notorious reputation to appear on the regular American Ninja Warrior course. The obstacle made its regular season debut as the first obstacle in Stage Two on American Ninja Warrior 13, replacing Giant Walk the Plank from its past recent appearance. There were some changes made for the obstacle:

  • The number of steps was decreased to eight.
  • Each step would continuously decrease in diameter, and the final pedestal was eight inches wide.
  • After reaching the rope, competitors would swing directly into the next obstacle.

The Striding Steps was a significant break compared to the patterns of previous obstacle in its position: It was the first obstacle in that position in which competitors had to rely primarily on their lower body, and it was one of only a few obstacles in Stage Two that did not have a particular focus on the upper body. Furthermore, it led directly into the next; in other words, there was no landing mat or footrest after the obstacle. Finally, it was a very fast-paced obstacle compared to the previous obstacles that required more time and energy to clear.

On its first appearance in regular course, only three competitors failed to complete it: Donovan Metoyer, Kai Beckstrand, and most shockingly, Joe Moravsky (the Striding Steps champion of American Ninja Warrior: All Stars Special 4), which led him to his earliest failure to date in a course run.

American Ninja Warrior 14[]

ANW14 Striding Steps

American Ninja Warrior 14's Striding Steps

The Striding Steps reappeared as the first obstacle in Stage Two on American Ninja Warrior 14. This time, the steps were arranged in a decreasing-increasing formation; the first four were arranged from the largest diameter to the smallest, and vice versa with the final four. Due to this modification, along with the fact that competitors could easily build this obstacle in their gyms and train extensively on it, the Striding Steps became lesser of a threat. In fact, it only eliminated one competitor: Jackson Twait.

American Ninja Warrior: Women's Championship 3[]

The Striding Steps returned as the first obstacle in Stage Two on American Ninja Warrior: Women's Championship 3. Out of all 6 women that attempted it, no one failed the obstacle.

American Ninja Warrior 15[]

ANW15 Striding Steps

American Ninja Warrior 15's Striding Steps

The Striding Steps reappeared as the first obstacle in Stage Two on American Ninja Warrior 15. This time, only 7 uniformly sized steps were featured. Due to the nature of Stage Two being a side-by-side course, there would be instances competitors would fail the obstacle due to rushing. However, this did not occur.

Other Appearances[]

Australian Ninja Warrior[]

Aunw6 sprinting steps

Australian Ninja Warrior 6's Sprinting Steps in Power Pool

Aunw6 shrinking steps semifinals

Australian Ninja Warrior 6's Sprinting Steps in Semifinals

The Striding Steps (renamed as the Sprinting Steps) appeared as the first obstacle on Australian Ninja Warrior 6 during the heats' Power Pool, semifinals, and Stage One. In Power Pool, the number of steps has been reduced to six. While in Semifianls and Stage One, the number of steps has been increased to eight (like American Ninja Warrior's version). Due to the nature of the Power Pool, semifinals, and Stage One being a side-by-side course there would be instances where competitors would fail the obstacle due to rushing.

Ninja Israel[]

NWI5 Striding Steps

Ninja Israel 5's Striding Steps

On Ninja Warrior Israel 5, the Striding Steps, locally called הסטפר (literally Stepper) appeared as the first obstacle during the Heats and Semifinals. This time, the number of steps has been reduced to six, making the obstacle very similar to the one used during Power Pool in Australian Ninja Warrior 6. Due to the nature of the Heats and Semifinals being a side-by-side course on the first three obstacles, there would be instances where competitors would fail the obstacle due to rushing.

Competitors' Success Rate[]

  • All results based on the NBC/Keshet 12 broadcast and external information found
ANW Clears Attempts Percentage
ANW13 26 29 89.66%
ANW14 25 26 96.15%
Women's Championship 3 6 6 100%
ANW15 28 28 100%
Total 85 889 95.51%

Ninja Israel[]

NWI Stage Clears Attempts Percentage
NWI5 Heat 1 10 10 100%
Heat 2 20 20 100%
Heat 3 12 12 100%
Heat 4 20 20 100%
Heat 5 20 20 100%
Heat 6 12 12 100%
Heat 7 20 20 100%
Heat 8 12 12 100%
Heat 9 12 12 100%
Heat 10 21 24 87.5%
Heat 11 20 20 100%
Heat 12 19 20 95%
Repechage Heat 12 12 100%
Semifinal 1 10 10 100%
Semifinal 2 10 10 100%
Semifinal 3 10 10 100%
Semifinal 4 10 10 100%
Semifinal 5 12 12 100%
Repechage Semifinal 8 8 100%
Total 270 274 98.54%


Trivia[]

External Links[]

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