Ninja gym for kids opens in East Rochester
Children swing on rings, hoist themselves up cargo nets and balance on one of many foam-shaped pads at the newest ninja gym in the Rochester region.
USA Ninja Challenge, which offers a ninja obstacle course and activities geared toward children and teens, opened last month on West Commercial Street in East Rochester.
The 2,200-square-foot gym is located at 445 W. Commercial St., directly behind the Tim Horton's coffee shop. Inside the venue, children will hone their ninja skills, climbing ropes and ladders, swinging on rings, ropes and ladders and scrambling up rock walls and over cargo nets.
The location features an indoor obstacle course and offers classes for beginners though advanced athletes, birthday parties and camps during school breaks.
A grand opening is planned for Saturday, April 13.
Programs are geared for children as young as 4 and teens and offer a progressive achievement system for skill sets utilizing obstacles such as slack lines, rope walls, climbing ropes, traverse obstacles, swinging rings, box jumping and the iconic warped wall, said Melissa McCarthy of Penfield, who owns and operates the East Rochester franchise.
A family nurse practitioner who has been in health care for the last 15 years, McCarthy said she launched a local franchise of the New Hampshire-based company as part of a career change as she has two young children - a 1-year-old and a 2-year-old.
"I love the idea of promoting fitness for youth," she said, adding that the children will be able to socialize and connect while also incorporating exercise. The activities keep the kids challenged while also having fun, which will also provide a confidence boost as children learn and hone new skills.
The venue charges an annual $40 fee. Monthly class fees vary by age but are $75 to $85 per month for weekly classes.
The location is not the first ninja gym in the area. The Warrior Factory, opened in 2017 in Henrietta and is owned and operated by Greece resident and American Ninja Warrior competitor and a business partner. That business, which is roughly 7,000 square feet, caters to adults, teens and children with classes as well as open play time in the space.
Northern Hemisphere Gymnastics in Webster also offers ninja-themed classes, camps, parties and open gym times for children and adults. The gym, open since 2006, started building Ninja Warrior-style equipment nearly a decade ago, and started offering weekly ninja classes for kids and adults in 2015.
McCarthy said she does not initially plan to offer open play sessions at the East Rochester gym.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: USA Ninja Challenge opens in East Rochester NY
