Photo credits: Permian Basin Ninja Academy

What to know: Permian Basin Ninja Academy is bringing ninja-style obstacle training to Midland, offering classes for kids, teens, and adults in a sport inspired by American Ninja Warrior. The program combines strength, agility, and endurance training with a structured progression from beginner to competitive levels, including camps and regional competitions.

For many athletes, it provides an alternative to traditional team sports, while also building discipline, confidence, and community. With growing participation, summer camps filling quickly, and local athletes already competing at high levels, the academy is becoming a new outlet for Midland families to stay active and try something different.

The academy has seen athletes reach the highest levels of the sport, including Lumi Rivera, known as “The Ducky Ninja,” who competed on American Ninja Warrior Season 18, as well as regional finalists Kendra Nyrkkanen and Jacob Doan.

The big picture: The academy is built on the same foundation as American Ninja Warrior, obstacle-based training that tests strength, agility, balance, and endurance, but brings that experience into a local, accessible setting. That mix of challenge and fun is a big reason the sport continues to grow. It’s not just for elite athletes. It’s for anyone willing to try something different.

“You would think not having the upper body and everything else would hold you back, but once you get in here and you try it, you finally look at it and think, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so fun. This doesn’t even feel like a workout,’” program director Kendra said.

The academy offers a full progression of classes. “Mini Ninjas” (ages 3–5) focus on motor skills and movement, while youth levels introduce strength, coordination, and obstacle technique. As athletes advance, they build into more complex skills like swinging, balance, and timing, all key components of ninja-style courses.

“A lot of the level one kids come in because they don’t want traditional team sports,” Kendra said. “This is a very niche space. I like to say ninja is for my ‘weirdos,’ the ones who don’t really feel like they fit anywhere else. And here, they do.”

Go deeper: For athletes like Jacob Doan, that unique environment is exactly what drew him in, and what’s kept him growing in the sport.

“I got started because I really liked parkour and would watch videos online, and eventually I found American Ninja Warrior,” Doan said. “I love everything about it, the movement. I have ADHD, so I like being able to move and climb. I can do a lot of things with this.”

Now a competitor and coach, Doan is taking that passion to the next level, traveling to competitions across Texas. That competitive pathway is a major part of what the academy offers.

“Usually when you go to a competition, there are between 25 and 50 competitors, and it gets tough because some are really competitive,” he said. “My goal is always to get a full clear, hitting all of the obstacles within the rules and getting all the points.”

Doan added that what he loves the most about coaching is being able to see the younger athletes grow and refine their techniques by watching the older competitors.

What they’re saying: Josiah, 15, is one of those athletes preparing to compete at the academy’s home event on May 2.

“I’ve been doing Ninja for about four years, and my favorite thing is hanging and doing the throwback,” he said. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is discipline,” Josiah added that his goal “is to win.”

Beyond competition, the academy has become a community space. Parents often join after watching their kids train. Cara Holcomb, a longtime member and parent, said that’s exactly how she got started.

“My son started first, and then Kendra told all of us moms, ‘Y’all should try it,’ and that’s when I got hooked,” Holcomb said. “What I love most is that it’s upper body, lower body, and cardio all in one. And for anyone new, just try it. You can start anywhere.”

What’s next: For families looking to get involved, the next opportunity is right around the corner. Summer camps are set for June 1–5 and June 15–19, with the June 8–12 session already full. Those who sign up by May 10 will also receive a free camp shirt!