American Ninja Warrior-Inspired Gym Comes To Naperville

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville is acquiring a gym unlike any other. Think outside the traditional box of just barbells and treadmills. Think: obstacle course. And not just any obstacle course, but one managed by three experts in the field.

Tori Clement and Jesse Labreck are former competitors on NBC’s "American Ninja Warrior." They've since moved to Chicagoland to help offer something different from the conventional gym experience. Joining them is Brian Redard, a season one competitor on Netflix’s “The Ultimate Beastmaster."

The trio has become very close on and off television, which led them to venture out on their own to open Ultimate Ninja in Naperville. Located near the Rt. 59 and Interstate 88 intersection, the gym will be the first brick-and-mortar shop to feature work from the very same company that creates stunt design and equipment for American Ninja Warrior. Clement says the ATS Team will only take about four days to rig the course. American Ninja Warrior fans will recognize a few staples from the show like the work wall, jumping spider and devil steps. There will also be more intricate setups like the shelf grab and wing nuts. That's where a person hangs and gains momentum to swing to the next “wing nut.” Clement refers to that one as a “ninja killer.”

This is the real deal, she says. ATS has set up course equipment and stunt design for shows like "The Bachelorette," where contestants went on a “date” plunging from a Los Angeles skyscraper. Or in The Biggest Loser, where ATS created a giant gumball machine filled with weighted medicine balls. This is no different, says Clements. A lot of what is seen on the show will be replicated in the gym.

But the gym doesn't have much else to do with the show, as the two are unaffiliated. They'll take methods they learned on the show and work them into their own curriculum. Clement hopes to spark in others an interest in obstacle course fitness, similar to how she picked up on it. Like many of the people who end up as contestants on American Ninja Warrior, Clement was an avid watcher of the show.

“I thought it would be cool to find a gym and try out a class. I loved the community of people and a few of them encouraged me to participate in a local competition.” It turned out she had a knack for completing the plywood obstacles in local events. In the middle of the training, she met Labreck, who would later become one of her closest friends and a business partner in Ultimate Ninjas.

Labreck was a fan-favorite on the show in 2016 when she was the first rookie female to qualify for the Las Vegas Finals. Together, they’ll help manage the Naperville location. Labreck will oversee and manage kids' classes, open gym, birthday parties and events. The former Maine track star is launching a one-of-a-kind obstacle training plan for children, too. Kids ages six and older can get in on the fitness fun by taking school classes.

New to the Ultimate Ninja family is UltiFIT, an adult group class fitness program that lightly incorporates the obstacle course. Redard will bring the programs to Naperville while he manages operations at another Chicago location. Adult lessons will be taught Monday through Friday mornings. Weekend classes and nightly open gym will be offered to adults, as well.

Just because the folks in charge are ninja warriors doesn’t mean their clients need to be. Clement wants to make it clear that UltiFit is a “come as you are” kind of class setting.

“When adults see the gym, they can be intimidated. But anyone who is brand new to fitness can get just as much out of a class as someone who is training for their next race.”

Labreck, Clement and Redard have woven through various locations and job stints since their respective time on television. Moving to Chicago wasn't easy for Labreck, whose relationship as a caregiver to a young woman with cerebral palsy was highlighted on her time at ANW.

“It was hard for Jesse to leave Emeline because she wanted to make sure she would be getting the best care. That was her biggest fear,” Clement said.

Labreck hasn't worked with Emeline since Christmastime, but they stay in touch. In fact, Clement says, Emeline’s mother was in town just a few weeks ago and they met for dinner. She used to work in the Naperville area.

Ultimate Ninja's opening day is slated for November 17 at 2012 Corporate Lane in Naperville. Another location in Libertyville is scheduled to open soon under the management of fellow ANW alum Mike "The Stallion" Silenzi. Both locations are hiring front desk clerks, course attendants and instructors.

Above image: Jesse Labreck and Tori Clement, photo courtesy of UltiFIT