Tick Tock

American Ninja Warrior - Crashing the Course- Los Angeles (Digital Exclusive)

The Tick Tock was revealed during American Ninja Warrior 8's "Crashing the Course" series, as an obstacle featured in Los Angeles course

The Tick Tock is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the second obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 8 in Los Angeles.

The obstacle consisted of a trapeze swing, in which competitors must swing from to reach a 100-pound pendulum, which was 11 feet apart (the pendulum has a ledge on it). Then, competitors must work their way around this pendulum and jump off to the cargo net (10 feet away from the pendulum), which was attached on the landing platform.

This obstacle is similar to the Double Pendulum, which was used from SASUKE 32 to SASUKE 34 and in KUNOICHI 10, except there is no trampoline at the start, the addition of a cargo net at the end, and a different type of the trapeze.

The Tick Tock was proven to be intense for competitors, with many failing to reach the middle of the pendulum. Several competitors also had trouble dismounting, as they failed to swing enough momentum to hang onto the cargo net. A total of 43 competitors fell on this obstacle during Los Angeles qualifiers, including Brennan Mejia, Kapu Gaison, Paige Chapman, Sandy Zimmerman, and Arnold Hernandez (who was disqualified for tapping the truss at the end).

During Los Angeles finals, the obstacle was modified, where the cargo net was removed (similar to the Double Pendulum), and a larger distance between the trapeze swing and the pendulum. Only Natalie Duran and Steve Seiver failed on this obstacle during Los Angeles finals.

Other Season Appearances

American Ninja Warrior 9

American Ninja Warrior 9's Tic Toc in San Antonio

The Tick Tock (renamed as the Tic Toc) returned as the second obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 9 in San Antonio.

During San Antonio qualifiers, the obstacle was proven to be just as deadly as during Los Angeles qualifiers on the previous season, taking out Kat Ratcliff, Artis Thompson III, and many other competitors. Ultimately, it eliminated the same amount of competitors as in Los Angeles qualifiers on the previous seaaon, with a total of 43 eliminations on the obstacle. The Tic Toc eliminated the highest amount of competitors on a single obstacle than any other obstacle during city qualifiers round on American Ninja Warrior 9.

Also during San Antonio qualifiers, only 4 female competitors were able to complete this obstacle. Because of this, it ultimately served as the cut off for the top 5 female competitors.

Unlike during Los Angeles finals on the previous season, no modification was made to the obstacle during San Antonio finals. As a result, no competitors failed on the obstacle.

Swing Surfer

American Ninja Warrior 9's Swing Surfer in Stage Two

A variation of the Tick Tock appeared as the fourth obstacle in Stage Two on American Ninja Warrior 9, and was named as the Swing Surfer, replacing the Butterfly Wall from the past three American Ninja Warrior seasons. However, unlike the Tick Tock, the obstacle featured:

• No trapeze swing,
• A thinner pendulum (almost shaped like an upholstery hammer, with one side of the foothold being longer than the other), and
• The cargo net was replaced by a rope.

Competitors must make a run-up and leap to the pendulum, which was 13 feet away. Then, they must work their way around the pendulum and jump off to the rope, which was 12 feet away from the pendulum. From there, they must climb up using the rope (in a similar fashion with the Rope Climb, but with addition of logs placed horizontally to the wall). Finally, they must drop down to the landing platform.

Just like the Butterfly Wall in its first appearance on American Ninja Warrior 6, the Swing Surfer only eliminated 2 competitors, in which it knocked out Ian Dory and Mike Bernardo. In both cases, they didn't get a good run-up from the starting platform and failed to hold on to the pendulum. 

During USA vs. The World 4, the Swing Surfer eliminated Morimoto Yūsuke from Team Asia and Marco Jubes from Team Latin America.

Other Season Appearances

American Ninja Warrior 10

American Ninja Warrior 10's Swing Surfer in Stage Two

On American Ninja Warrior 10, the Swing Surfer returned as the fourth obstacle in Stage Two. This time, the obstacle was proven to be extremely easy, as no competitor fell on it.

American Ninja Warrior 11

On American Ninja Warrior 11, the Swing Surfer returned once again as the fourth obstacle in Stage Two. This time, the rope was removed and the wall was embedded with ledges where competitors must transit after working their way around the pendulum.

Although just two competitors (Alex Blick and Lorin Ball) fell on the obstacle, numerous competitors had some problems climbing up the ledges such as Nate Burkhalter.

Competitors' Success Rate

• All results based on the NBC broadcast and external information found

ANW	Clears	Attempts	Percentage
ANW9	27	29	93.1%
ANW10	14	14	100%
ANW11	23	25	92%
USA vs. The World 4	4	6	66.67%
USA vs. The World 5	4	4	100%
Total	72	78	92.31%

Other Appearances

Australian Ninja Warrior 3's Swing Surfer

On Australian Ninja Warrior 3, the Swing Surfer appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 3, with a trampoline added to the staring platform and after reaching the pendulum, competitors must make a jump directly to the landing platform.

This time, the obstacle became significantly more brutal than the one used on American Ninja Warrior, as several competitors either failed to land on the pendulum after bouncing from the trampoline or failed to jump to the landing platform. It shockingly eliminated Jack Wilson from the competition in Heat 3.

Jumper Cables

American Ninja Warrior 10's Jumper Cables in Los Angeles

Another variation of the Tick Tock, called as the Jumper Cables, appeared as the second obstacle in Los Angeles on American Ninja Warrior 10. However, unlike the Tick Tock, the obstacle featured:

• Nunchuck-shaped handles (similar to the ones used on the Flying Nunchucks and Chain See-Saw),
• Punchbag-shaped pendulum with no ledge below it (similar to the one used on the Wall Drop and Bouncing Spider), and when the competitors grabbed the pendulum, it would slide down a track (much like the Log Grip), and
• No cargo net.

During Los Angeles qualifiers, compared to the Tick Tock during the past two American Ninja Warrior seasons, the Jumper Cables did less damage, as 22 competitors fell on this obstacle. However, among those competitors who failed, 3 of them (Jake Dyke, Natalie Duran, and Steve Seiver) had failed on the original Tick Tock on American Ninja Warrior 8 (with Natalie Duran and Steve Seiver failing during that season's Los Angeles finals).

During Los Angeles finals, only 2 competitors (Selena Laniel and Samantha Bush) fell on the obstacle.

The Grab Bag during Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day 2

This variation of the Tick Tock was attempted early during Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day 2. However, the obstacle was named as the Grab Bag, and the nunchuck-shaped handles were replaced with a small trapeze swing, in order to make the obstacle easier for celebrity competitors. Among the 8 celebrity competitors who attempted the obstacle, only Colton Dunn failed to complete it.

Other Appearances

Ninja Warrior UK 4's Bag Catch

On Ninja Warrior UK 4, the Jumper Cables appeared as the second obstacle during the finals' Stage 1, and was called as the Bag Catch. However, the nunchuck-shaped handles were replaced with a small handle (almost similar to the one used on the Spinball Wizard). Only Owen McKenzie failed on this obstacle.

Competitors' Success Rate

• All results based on the NBC broadcast and external information found

ANW	Clears	Attempts	Percentage
ANW10 (qualifiers)	69	91	75.82%
ANW10 (finals)	32	34	94.12%
Total	101	125	80.8%

Other Appearances

American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja

The Tick Tock appeared as the second obstacle on American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja, but with few modifications. The trapeze bar was absent and the cargo net was placed lower, having the competitors to swing on the pendulum and then jump to the cargo net. These made the obstacle similar to the Swing Surfer.

SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia

SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia 2017's Tick Tock in Final Stage

On SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia 2017, the Tick Tock appeared as the second obstacle during Final Stage.

However, the obstacle was more similar to the Double Pendulum (with the absence of the trampoline). Among the 3 competitors who attempted it (Tri Mardyanto, Yosua Laskaman Zalukhu, and Angga Cahya), 2 of them (except Tri Mardyanto) could complete it.

During SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia: International Competition, the obstacle took out Asrul Sani from Team Indonesia, who was the only competitor to failed at this obstacle.

Ninja Warrior UK

Ninja Warrior UK 4's Tic Toc

On Ninja Warrior UK 4, the Tic Toc appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 3. However, the obstacle featured no trapeze swing, requiring the competitors to make a run-up and leap to the pendulum (in a similar fashion to the Swing Surfer or the Tick Tock from American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja).

SASUKE Vietnam

SASUKE Vietnam 4's Tick Tock

On SASUKE Vietnam 4, the Tick Tock (called locally as Ôm Trụ) appeared as the second obstacle in Stage 1, replacing the Log Grip from the past three SASUKE Vietnam seasons. The obstacle had a similar specification from the Tick Tock used on American Ninja Warrior. However:

• the trapeze swing used for the obstacle was the same trapeze bar used for the Giant Swing and Double Pendulum.
• the cargo net was similar to the Tick Tock used on American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja, and
• if the competitors wrapped or touched the pendulum with any parts of their bodies but didn't reach the pendulum on their first attempt, they would be disqualified.

This obstacle became deadly on the debut season, as many competitors couldn't hold on to the pendulum after the transition, got disqualified, or just hold the pendulum by two hands and never could pull up back. Most shockingly, it wiped out Lê Văn Thực (SASUKE Vietnam 2's winner) from the competition.

On SASUKE Vietnam 5, the obstacle was moved to the second obstacle in Stage 2.

Trivia

• The Tick Tock was designed/sketched after a punching bag.
• The obstacle originally was going to have two pendulums, but was decided to just have one pendulum due to it becoming far more difficult.
• On SASUKE Vietnam 4, the Tick Tock shared the same local name as the Log Grip (as Ôm Trụ).