Ninja Warrior Britain

  I personally loved the first episode of Ninja Warrior UK.

Admittedly I am a little biassed having been involved with the production as a course tester, as well as being involved at Ninja Warrior in Sweden, Turkey and as a competitor at the Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup in Malaysia 2014. 

So here are a few of my thoughts in response to some of the negative comments on social media and reviews of the show although I am pleased that the vast majority seem to have really enjoyed the show.

Japan and USA

People need to consider that Sasuke is 30 tournaments in! The obstacles have evolved drastically over the last 18 years that it has been running, as have the athletes. Take a look back at the first Sasuke to see where things began. Similarly American Ninja Warrior is now preparing for its 7th series, the facilities that people have developed to train specifically on these obstacles are unbelievable. If you look back to their first series you will see how far the show has come from being filmed in a car park to today's multi-million dollar production.

Easy?!

If you think the course isn't hard, keep an eye on the calibre of athlete that gets taken out over the series! Try to consider that these guys have not been allowed any practice on the course, and the pressure you are under in front of the audience and the camera. If you're still not convinced see how you feel about the later stages and if they don’t do it for you I hope to see you on series 2 winning it with ease! Some people thought Ninja Warrior Sweden also looked easy, but take a look at some of the athletes that got taken out at the early stages!

Indoor venue

Couple of points-

1) For those really stuck on tradition, Sasuke 1 was actually filmed indoors so maybe that can appease you a little?

2) Its filmed in England! Have you seen our weather? Just not practical to try and film it outdoors. Its not possible to run the course safely in the wet and you need it to be consistent for all competitors.

Contestants:

It is a great tradition of Sasuke and Ninja Warrior to have contestants from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. Thats what Ninja Warrior UK has. Kuramochi Minoru aka Mr Octopus is a Sasuke regular and typically goes in on the first obstacle, alongside comedians, singers and people from all walks of life that also fail early on. However on occasion they go on to exceed expectation and we all love an underdog don't we? For me this does not detract from spectacle of the better athletes, it just adds some fun and widens the appeal of the show-helping to engage a younger audience and inspire the next generation.

We had the everyday heroes with the likes of Corbin Mackin and Steve Lebourn and also have some athletes of very elite ability. Tim Champion for example went straight from his heat to the British Gymnastics Championships plus some #ThisGirlCan gold from freerunner Katie McDonnell. We have the passion from the likes of Dion Trigg who has been waiting years for this opportunity and you will do well to find a bigger Sasuke fan in the UK. We also have GB Climbers and World Champion Freerunners to look forward to. Not such a bad crop.

Total Wipeout & Gladiator comparisons

Yes people do fall in to water and cause a splash-just like Sasuke and American Ninja Warrior. I find some of the falls very amusing and I have managed to laugh at myself plenty of times when I have fallen off obstacles doing the testing. Again something that adds some humour and entertainment to the show. People loved both these shows for a variety of reasons and I personally feel that Ninja Warrior UK has definitely managed to capture many of the better elements.

Presenters

Something else people think is easier than it actually is, especially with it being a totally new show. I think the combination has worked well, a real sense of fun is generated by all three presenters. I completely accept this is a very subjective topic with people having very different tastes, however I really respect the job they've done bringing the show to life and I do expect the tone to get a little more serious as the show progresses to the later stages.

All in all-the show was great entertainment. A diverse range of competitors who took viewers through the journey and hopefully inspired people to get more active and give it a go themselves.

I look forward to next weeks episode and for me this glass is way more than half full and hope you enjoy the show too!