LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A local gym owner with Lexington roots will be hosting a showcase and open gym that is free to the public on Sunday.
Brendan Kelly, who grew up in Lexington and attended Henry Clay High School, opened Ultimate Ninja Athletics at the beginning of 2020. The gym is home to many obstacles that replicate those seen on American Ninja Warrior, a show that appears on NBC and tests people on obstacles that require strength, balance and agility. Kelly said the event is taking place to give people a chance to see if ninja training is right for them free of charge. The show is scheduled to begin filming its 13th season in the beginning of 2021.
"I think a lot of people are unsure if ninja training is something they'd be interested in, so this is a way for them to come in free of charge and play around in our facilities to see if they like it," Kelly said. "I've mastered a lot of these obstacles, and I'm using this as an opportunity as a way to teach anyone how to train and master any obstacle."
Some of the obstacles that are replicated at Ultimate Ninja are the salmon ladder, warped wall and cliffhangers. Kelly himself has competed on four different seasons of American Ninja Warrior and has made it to the finals in Las Vegas.
The gym also contains a foam pit and several other areas suited for children.
"We've hosted birthday parties for kids ranging from 6-12 years old, and then in the same day, turned around and hosted training sessions for moms and dads in their 40s and 50s," Kelly noted. "We really do offer something to everyone, no matter your size, age, etc. I firmly believe there isn't anything like it here, and that was a big part of my vision when we opened: to offer something to everyone and make working out as fun as possible."
The open gym is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
