'American Ninja Warrior' Academy Coming To Brooklyn's Fourth Ave

BROOKLYN, NY — A "ninja academy" is on its way to the Park Slope border.

The New York City Ninja Academy — the city's first obstacle training facility inspired by the show American Ninja Warrior — will open its second location on Fourth Avenue next month, the company announced.

The new facility, to be called, Brooklyn Ninja Academy, will open in a 7,000-square-foot space near Third Street and include new obstacles not available at the Manhattan flagship.

“The perfect spot found me – an ideal location in Brooklyn with appropriate space and high ceilings, which is a very rare find," franchise owner, Madelyn Scarpulla said in a release. "Not only will the Brooklyn location serve a new community of ninjas, but many of our current Brooklyn families will be spared the long commute to Manhattan’s west side.”

Students at the Ninja Academy will be taught by show alumni, including Darion Bennett, 15-year-old Jordan Carr and 11-year-old Titan Saresky and Kevin Liang. Students can expect guest star ninja coaches including American Ninja Warrior veterans Flip Rodriguez, Najee Richardson, Barclay Stockett, and more to come at both locations, the company said.

Scarpulla opened the first New York City Ninja Academy in 2020 after winning second-place in The New York Public Library’s 11th Annual New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition.

“I was in the process of developing the ninja academy prior to the pandemic,” Scarpulla said. “When I was ready to open the doors, I decided to take a chance knowing that parents were desperate for a physical outlet for their kids, and adults also needed to get out of the house.”

The Brooklyn facility will open in late February.